Shloka 33
Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence
इत्युक्तः स महाघोरं कृत्वा रोषं सुदुः सहम् / जग्राह प्रेतरूपं तत्प्रेतानामपि दुः खदम्
ityuktaḥ sa mahāghoraṃ kṛtvā roṣaṃ suduḥ saham / jagrāha pretarūpaṃ tatpretānāmapi duḥ khadam
Setelah ditegur demikian, dia—amat mengerikan—membangkitkan kemarahan yang dahsyat dan sukar ditahan, lalu mengambil rupa preta, rupa yang membawa derita bahkan kepada preta yang lain.
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Preta-kanda dialogue)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Concept: Terrifying forms and sufferings arise as consequences and instruments within the moral cosmos; even pretas experience duḥkha—suffering propagates in tamasic cycles.
Vedantic Theme: Tamas and krodha as binding forces; transformation of form reflects guṇa-dominance and karmic theater (nāṭaka) of saṃsāra.
Application: Avoid rage and harmful cycles; recognize how fear and cruelty multiply suffering; choose sattvic means where possible, reserving force for protection.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: liminal/cremation-ground-adjacent conflict space
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: preta-svarūpa, ghoratā, and mutual suffering among preta-beings
FAQs
This verse highlights the preta-form as an intensely fearsome condition that amplifies suffering, underscoring why post-death rites and dharmic living are emphasized to avoid prolonged preta distress.
It depicts the after-death journey as involving experiential states and forms (like the preta-condition) shaped by forces such as anger and karmic momentum, where suffering can intensify in the subtle/liminal phase.
Cultivate self-control (especially over anger) and support dharmic death-rites (e.g., śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna where applicable) as a traditional way to reduce fear and instability associated with the preta stage.