Shloka 71
Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence
अभुञ्जं सर्वमागत्य यावज्जीवं तु तद्धनम् / मित्रं पूरे हि निः क्षिप्य यदहं शीघ्रमागतः
abhuñjaṃ sarvamāgatya yāvajjīvaṃ tu taddhanam / mitraṃ pūre hi niḥ kṣipya yadahaṃ śīghramāgataḥ
“Setelah aku menguasainya, aku menikmati seluruh harta itu sepanjang hayatku; kemudian aku menghalau sahabatku keluar ke kota, dan aku sendiri segera kembali.”
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in Preta Kanda context)
Concept: Betrayal of a friend for wealth is pāpa generating adverse consequences; enjoyment (bhoga) does not erase moral debt.
Vedantic Theme: Rāga-lobha as kleshas binding the jīva; adharma leads to duḥkha-phala.
Application: Maintain fidelity to friendship and fairness in wealth; practice aparigraha and restitution when wrong has been done.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: urban
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: pāpa-karmas leading to preta states and suffering; Garuda Purana: condemnation of droha (treachery) and lobha
FAQs
This verse highlights that enjoying wealth selfishly and discarding others (even a friend) is a moral failure that becomes karmically significant in the afterlife narrative of the Preta Kanda.
In the Preta Kanda, such confessional statements illustrate the kinds of actions reviewed and judged; the text frames unethical conduct—like betrayal for wealth—as a cause for suffering under Yama’s order.
Treat wealth as a trust, not a license for harm: avoid exploitation, honor friendships and obligations, and practice generosity—actions emphasized as protective dharma against future suffering.