Shloka 58
Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence
बालो ऽपि भयसन्त्रस्तः पिपासुर्व्यसुरापतत् / पुत्रशोकान्मृता माता कूपे प्रास्य निजं वपुः
bālo 'pi bhayasantrastaḥ pipāsurvyasurāpatat / putraśokānmṛtā mātā kūpe prāsya nijaṃ vapuḥ
बालो ऽपि भयसन्त्रस्तः पिपासुर्व्यसुरापतत् / पुत्रशोकान्मृता माता कूपे प्रास्य निजं वपुः
Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Cruel actions can precipitate cascading suffering: death, grief, and self-destruction; papa bears multi-generational and collateral consequences.
Vedantic Theme: Samsara’s duhkha intensifies through ignorance and attachment; compassion is dharma that prevents such spirals.
Application: Prevent harm to dependents; provide support to the bereaved; treat grief with care; uphold non-violence and social responsibility.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: well / water source
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: narratives where specific sins lead to specific sufferings; emphasis on consequences affecting others (general)
FAQs
The verse highlights how intense fear and overwhelming grief can precipitate tragic, untimely deaths, which the Preta Kanda treats as significant conditions affecting the post-death state and the need for proper rites and support for the departed.
By presenting deaths caused by terror, thirst, and grief-driven self-destruction, it points to disturbed end-of-life conditions—often discussed in the Preta Kanda as leading to instability in the immediate post-death (preta) phase, where rituals and guidance help the transition.
Cultivate steadiness in crises, offer compassionate mental-health support during bereavement, and if a sudden death occurs, perform appropriate family rites (such as śrāddha/pinda-related observances per tradition) with calm intention and community support.