Shloka 74
Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence
शीघ्रं स च मया भ्राता लुब्धेनैकः पृथक्कृतः / आप्तवान्परमं दुःखं सोन्नवस्त्रविवर्जितः
śīghraṃ sa ca mayā bhrātā lubdhenaikaḥ pṛthakkṛtaḥ / āptavānparamaṃ duḥkhaṃ sonnavastravivarjitaḥ
വേഗത്തിൽ തന്നെ ലോഭവശാൽ ഞാൻ എന്റെ സഹോദരനെയും വേർതിരിച്ച് ഒറ്റയ്ക്കാക്കി; അപ്പോൾ അവൻ ആഹാരവും വസ്ത്രവും ഇല്ലാതെ പരമദുഃഖം അനുഭവിച്ചു।
Garuda (Vinata-putra), narrating to Lord Vishnu
Concept: Greed (lobha) and betrayal of kin produce severe duhkha as karmaphala.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandhana through raga-dvesha; suffering as consequence of avidya-driven grasping.
Application: Cultivate non-greed and protect dependents; share resources, especially with siblings and the vulnerable.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: themes of preta-state arising from neglect, cruelty, and deprivation; Garuda Purana Shraddha-khanda: relief of departed through offerings by relatives
FAQs
This verse highlights that greed-driven actions—such as abandoning or isolating one’s own kin—ripen into severe suffering, symbolized here by deprivation of basic necessities like food and clothing.
Within the Preta Kanda narrative, suffering is shown as a direct karmic outcome: harmful choices made in life manifest as hardship and lack during the vulnerable post-death condition.
Avoid exploiting or abandoning relatives for gain; practice generosity and responsibility—ensuring others’ basic needs—so that one’s conduct aligns with dharma rather than greed.