Shloka 39
Babhruvāhana Meets a Preta: Vṛṣotsarga, Heirless Death, and the Signs of Preta-Affliction
कथयस्वः मम प्रीत्या प्रेतराज यथातथम् / तथा पृष्टः स वै राज्ञा उवाच सकलं स्वकम्
kathayasvaḥ mama prītyā pretarāja yathātatham / tathā pṛṣṭaḥ sa vai rājñā uvāca sakalaṃ svakam
कथयस्व मम प्रीत्या प्रेतराज यथातथम्। तथा पृष्टः स वै राज्ञा उवाच सकलं स्वकम्॥
Narrator (describing the dialogue setup between a king and Yama, the Preta-raja)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Satya-vacana and authoritative testimony regarding the unseen (preta-rajya) as a means to right understanding.
Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa (reliable means of knowledge) and viveka between appearance and the law-governed moral order.
Application: Seek truthful counsel from competent sources; approach death/afterlife teachings with humility and precision rather than speculation.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: Yama–preta dialogues and narrative confessions (contextual parallel passages)
FAQs
This verse emphasizes that teachings about death, the preta-state, and Yama’s realm should be heard exactly as they are—without distortion—because they guide correct understanding and dharmic conduct.
It functions as a narrative hinge: once Yama is requested to speak truthfully, the text proceeds into a detailed account of post-death realities, setting up subsequent descriptions of the preta’s experiences and moral causality.
Approach teachings on death rites, karma, and ethics with sincerity and accuracy—seeking reliable sources and practicing dharma consistently rather than relying on rumor or fear-based interpretations.