Shloka 35
Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence
बाहुभ्यां द्वौ द्वौ च पद्भ्यां मूर्ध्नैकं च समाहरत् / प्रेतानथापि सहसा जघान दृढमुष्टिना
bāhubhyāṃ dvau dvau ca padbhyāṃ mūrdhnaikaṃ ca samāharat / pretānathāpi sahasā jaghāna dṛḍhamuṣṭinā
बाहुभ्यां द्वौ द्वौ पद्भ्यां द्वौ द्वौ मूर्ध्ना चैकं समाहरत्। अथ प्रेतान् सहसा दृढमुष्टिना जघान॥
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra within the Preta Kanda dialogue context)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Concept: Protection through strength when confronted by destructive beings; disciplined force as a dharmic response to adharma.
Vedantic Theme: Indriya-bala and buddhi-niścaya: firm resolve can cut through fear-born projections.
Application: When confronting harm, combine strategy with restraint; act swiftly to prevent escalation.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.7.34 (advance); Garuda Purana 2.7.36-38 (counterattack and outcome)
FAQs
This verse depicts pretas as aggressive, obstructive beings in the post-death landscape, emphasizing the vulnerability of the departed and the need for dharmic living and proper funerary rites.
By portraying sudden attacks and violent encounters with pretas, the verse supports the Preta Kanda theme that the soul’s journey can be perilous and shaped by unseen forces and karmic conditions.
Live ethically to reduce harmful karmic outcomes, and follow traditional antyeṣṭi and śrāddha practices (as appropriate to one’s tradition) to support the departed and minimize preta-related disturbances.