Shloka 41
Vaitaraṇī: Torments of the Sinful, Sins Enumerated, and the Vaitaraṇī Go-dāna Rite
इतीदमुक्तं तव पक्षिराज विडम्बनं जन्तुगणस्य सर्वम् / प्रेतस्य मोक्षाय तदौद्ध्वन्दैहिकं हिताय लोकस्य चरेच्छुभाय तु
itīdamuktaṃ tava pakṣirāja viḍambanaṃ jantugaṇasya sarvam / pretasya mokṣāya tadauddhvandaihikaṃ hitāya lokasya carecchubhāya tu
โอราชาแห่งนก ข้าพเจ้าได้กล่าวแก่ท่านแล้วว่า ความเป็นไปทั้งสิ้นของหมู่สัตว์โลกนี้คือมายาอันล้อเลียนแห่งสังสารวัฏ เพื่อโมกษะแก่เปรต และเพื่อประโยชน์เกื้อกูลแก่โลก—ให้ชนทั้งหลายดำเนินในทางอันเป็นมงคล—จึงแสดงคำสอนว่าด้วยภาวะหลังความตายและภาวะเมื่อยังมีร่างกายนี้
Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda, Pakshiraja/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Moksha
Beneficiary: Pitr
Concept: Worldly existence is a deceptive play; knowledge of post-death and embodied states is taught for the preta’s liberation and for guiding the living toward auspicious action.
Vedantic Theme: Viveka between transient saṃsāra and liberating knowledge; compassion as motive for instruction; orientation toward mokṣa while living.
Application: Use afterlife teachings to cultivate detachment, perform appropriate rites for the departed, and align daily choices with śubha (ethical, sattvic) conduct.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of preta-state, yamadūta/yamapatha, narakas, and ūrdhvadaihika rites (contextual); Garuda Purana on śubha-acara and śrāddha as welfare for both dead and living (contextual)
FAQs
This verse frames the discourse as guidance meant specifically for the preta’s liberation (mokṣa) and as a benefit to the living, encouraging auspicious conduct.
It indicates that the instruction covers the post-death condition (preta-state) and its resolution toward liberation, presented as a corrective to the delusions that bind beings.
Treat life’s pursuits as potentially deceptive (viḍambana), and choose dharmic, auspicious actions while also performing duties for the departed with the intention of welfare and release.