Shloka 32
Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence
तमवोचं महायक्षं त्वं हि प्रतिभटो भव / प्रेतान्नाशय तद्भूयः शवञ्च हर तद्गतम्
tamavocaṃ mahāyakṣaṃ tvaṃ hi pratibhaṭo bhava / pretānnāśaya tadbhūyaḥ śavañca hara tadgatam
Aku berkata kepada Yakṣa agung itu: “Engkau harus menjadi juara yang teguh. Musnahkan para preta di sana sekali lagi, dan angkutlah mayat itu—bersama apa pun yang telah masuk ke dalamnya.”
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Concept: Protection of social-ritual order by removing disruptive preta-forces and properly handling the dead body.
Vedantic Theme: Adharma as tamasic intrusion; restoration of order through rightful force (dharma-rakṣaṇa).
Application: Address harmful influences decisively; in modern terms, intervene to protect vulnerable spaces/people and follow proper protocols around death and grief.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: battle/incident site near a corpse
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta-affliction around corpses; need for rites and protective measures
FAQs
This verse treats pretas as disruptive post-death entities that can interfere with the dead body and the transition after death, requiring protection and removal.
By showing that the post-death condition can involve hostile or restless beings around the corpse, it implies the journey is not only metaphysical but also ritually safeguarded through protective actions.
It supports the traditional emphasis on prompt, orderly last rites and maintaining a protected, disciplined environment around the deceased, avoiding fear-based practices while following dharmic procedures.