Shloka 96
Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence
विनीतत्वाविनीतत्वे जानीमो नैव नः प्रभो / श्रीकृष्ण उवाच / एवं वदत्सु प्रेतेषु तथा श्रुतवति द्विजे
vinītatvāvinītatve jānīmo naiva naḥ prabho / śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca / evaṃ vadatsu preteṣu tathā śrutavati dvije
హే ప్రభో, వినయం ఏది, అవినయం ఏది—మాకు నిజంగా తెలియదు. శ్రీకృష్ణుడు పలికెను—ప్రేతులు ఇలా పలుకుతుండగా, ద్విజుడు అలాగే వింటుండగా…
Śrī Kṛṣṇa (narrative transition after the pretas’ statement)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Concept: Discerning vinaya (humility) from avinaya (impropriety) requires guidance; right understanding is taught through śravaṇa (listening) to the divine/wise.
Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa as a prerequisite for right knowledge; removal of avidya through authoritative instruction.
Application: When unsure about ethical qualities, seek competent instruction; cultivate listening before asserting certainty.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: narrative transitions where Bhagavan instructs after preta confessions (contextual parallel)
FAQs
This verse frames humility as a subtle moral quality that beings may fail to recognize in themselves; in the after-death context, such self-knowledge is crucial for aligning with dharma and avoiding harmful conduct.
It situates the teaching within the preta narrative—departed spirits speak and a dvija listens—showing that instruction about conduct and its consequences is delivered as part of the soul’s post-death journey discourse.
Practice self-audit in speech and behavior: cultivate humility, avoid pride, and seek correction from learned counsel—ethical restraint is treated as spiritually consequential in Garuda Purana style teachings.