Shloka 19
Entry into Yama’s Abode; Nature, Causes, and Signs of the Preta-State
एको दुष्कृतकर्मा च एकः सन्ततिमाञ्जनः / एकः सम्पीड्यते प्रेतैरेकः सुतधनान्वितः
eko duṣkṛtakarmā ca ekaḥ santatimāñjanaḥ / ekaḥ sampīḍyate pretairekaḥ sutadhanānvitaḥ
એક મનુષ્ય દુષ્કૃત્ય કરનાર હોય છે, અને એક સંતતિસંપન્ન. એકને પ્રેતોએ પીડિત કરે છે, અને એક પુત્ર તથા ધનથી યુક્ત હોય છે.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Concept: Unequal life outcomes (sin, progeny, wealth, torment) arise from unseen causal forces—karma and preta-doṣa—manifesting as suffering or prosperity.
Vedantic Theme: Adṛṣṭa-phala (unseen karmic result) shaping prārabdha; saṃsāra marked by duḥkha and contingency.
Application: Self-audit of conduct, seek remedial rites/ethical correction when persistent misfortune or disturbances appear; cultivate dharmic living to avoid papa and its sequelae.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: preta-lakṣaṇa and preta-doṣa symptom lists (adjacent verses 2.20.20-23)
FAQs
It highlights that beings experience markedly different outcomes—suffering or well-being—based on karmic causes, seen here as sin leading to distress and other merits correlating with family continuity and prosperity.
It indicates that after death some become vulnerable to preta-related torment, suggesting an unsettled post-death condition, while others experience comparatively auspicious circumstances, reflecting divergent karmic trajectories.
Cultivate ethical conduct and avoid harmful actions; support dharmic living and family responsibilities, and when death occurs, follow appropriate śrāddha/antyeṣṭi practices to reduce unrest associated with preta states.