Shloka 38
Preta-mārga Supports (Dāna), Chitragupta’s Accounting, and the Enumeration of Narakas
ततः संवत्सरस्यान्ते प्रत्यासन्ने यमालये / बहुभीतकरे प्रेतो हस्तमात्रं समुत्सृजेत्
tataḥ saṃvatsarasyānte pratyāsanne yamālaye / bahubhītakare preto hastamātraṃ samutsṛjet
Kemudian, pada penghujung setahun, ketika kediaman Yama semakin dekat, preta yang diliputi banyak ketakutan hanya mampu mara sejauh satu jengkal tangan pada satu-satu ketika.
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: As the soul nears Yama’s domain, fear and limitation manifest according to one’s karmic burden; the journey is not freely chosen.
Vedantic Theme: Jīva’s dependence under karma-bandha; saṃsāric compulsion (avaśatā) prior to liberating knowledge.
Application: Live with dharma and cultivate sattva to reduce fear at death; prepare through confession, restitution, and devotional remembrance.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: loka/ālaya
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: fearsome approach to Yamālaya and the constrained movement of preta; Garuda Purana: descriptions of Yamadūtas and terrors on the path
FAQs
This verse highlights that nearing Yama’s realm is depicted as intensely fear-inducing for the preta, emphasizing the gravity of post-death accountability and the need for dharmic living and proper rites for the departed.
It portrays the preta’s journey as slow and difficult—so constrained by fear and suffering that progress is described as only “a hand’s length,” indicating an arduous transition toward Yamaloka over the course of a year.
Live ethically to reduce harmful karmic burdens and, in traditional practice, support the departed through śrāddha and related rites as acts of duty and remembrance.