Shloka 21
The Preta’s Staged Journey to Yama’s City: Monthly Śrāddha Supports, Vaitaraṇī Crossing, and the Witnesses of Deeds
तत्पुरं स व्यतिक्रम्य तर्जितो यमकिङ्करैः / प्रयाति चित्रनगरं विचित्रो यत्र पार्थिवः
tatpuraṃ sa vyatikramya tarjito yamakiṅkaraiḥ / prayāti citranagaraṃ vicitro yatra pārthivaḥ
ครั้นข้ามพ้นนครนั้นแล้ว ถูกบริวารแห่งยมข่มขู่ เขาจึงมุ่งไปสู่นครจิตรนคร ที่ซึ่งกษัตริย์มีรูปอันพิสดารน่าอัศจรรย์
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: The jīva is compelled onward after death, encountering regulated stations according to karmic governance.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-niyati under īśvara; the embodied identity is left behind while the subtle being is led by cosmic law.
Application: Cultivate dharma and remembrance of Hari; perform timely śrāddha so the departed is not left helpless on the path.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: city
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of the southern path (dakṣiṇa-mārga) and Yama’s attendants (yamakiṅkara); Garuda Purana: accounts of intermediate cities/stations encountered by the preta
FAQs
This verse places Citranagara as a distinct station on the post-death route, emphasizing that the soul is moved from one ‘city’ to another under the authority of Yama’s system of judgment and control.
It portrays the departed being forcibly directed onward—intimidated by Yama’s attendants—showing the after-death journey as regulated and unavoidable, with successive realms encountered in sequence.
Live with accountability: the verse reinforces that actions have consequences and that one should follow dharma, reduce harmful conduct, and support death-rites and remembrance practices with sincerity.