Shloka 36
Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna
प्रेत उवाच / देवद्रव्यं च ब्रह्मस्वं स्त्रीबालधनसञ्चयम् / ये हरन्ति नृपश्रेष्ठ प्रेतयोनिं व्रजन्ति ते
preta uvāca / devadravyaṃ ca brahmasvaṃ strībāladhanasañcayam / ye haranti nṛpaśreṣṭha pretayoniṃ vrajanti te
Preta itu berkata: “Wahai raja yang terbaik, mereka yang mencuri harta para dewa (devadravya), kekayaan milik para Brahmana (brahmasva), serta simpanan harta wanita dan kanak-kanak—mereka itu menuju kelahiran sebagai preta.”
Preta (departed spirit)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Concept: Karma-phala: stealing consecrated/entrusted wealth and exploiting the vulnerable leads to preta-yoni.
Vedantic Theme: Adharma strengthens bondage (bandha) and tamas; violation of sacred trust obstructs auspicious gati.
Application: Avoid misappropriation of religious/charitable funds, institutional assets, and dependents’ savings; practice restitution and transparent stewardship.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: lists of sins leading to preta conditions and narakas; emphasis on devadravya-apahāra and brahmasva-haraṇa as grave offenses
FAQs
This verse treats devadravya as sacred trust; stealing it is a grave adharma that leads to severe post-death consequences, specifically the attainment of preta-bhāva (restless spirit state).
It states that those who unlawfully take dedicated or protected wealth—especially deity property, Brahmin property, and the savings of women and children—do not proceed smoothly after death but fall into the preta condition, marked by instability and suffering.
Avoid misappropriating religious/charitable funds, exploitative seizure of inheritances or dependents’ savings, and any theft from vulnerable groups; uphold financial dharma as a direct safeguard against harmful karmic outcomes.