Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 21
ये पुनः पृष्ठदेशे तु हन्यते भयविक्लवाः । भुज्यमानाः परैस्ते च प्रेताः स्युस्त्रिदशाधिप
ye punaḥ pṛṣṭhadeśe tu hanyate bhayaviklavāḥ | bhujyamānāḥ paraiste ca pretāḥ syustridaśādhipa
Namun mereka yang dibunuh dari belakang karena gentar oleh takut, dan ditundukkan oleh pihak lain—wahai penguasa para Tiga Puluh (Indra), mereka menjadi preta, roh gelisah.
Viṣṇu
Tirtha: Dhārātīrtha (contextual)
Type: tirtha
Listener: Indra (tridaśādhipa)
Scene: A stark contrast is drawn: those struck from behind while fleeing in fear become pretas; imagery focuses on the moment of panic, the blow from behind, and the ensuing restless spirit-state.
FAQs
Cowardice and panic at death are portrayed as spiritually destabilizing, yielding preta-bhāva rather than auspicious gati—even within a tīrtha narrative.
Dhārātīrtha remains the Adhyāya’s setting, though this verse focuses on the negative outcome for the fearful and fleeing.
None; it is a doctrinal statement about preta-gati.