Shloka 10
Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence
एते चान्ये च बहवो वृक्षास्तेषु न दृश्यते / पक्षिणामपि वै पन्था मनुष्यस्य कुतः पुनः
ete cānye ca bahavo vṛkṣāsteṣu na dṛśyate / pakṣiṇāmapi vai panthā manuṣyasya kutaḥ punaḥ
มีต้นไม้เหล่านี้และอีกมากมาย แต่ไม่เห็นหนทางอยู่ท่ามกลางนั้นเลย แม้แต่นกยังหาทางผ่านไม่ได้ แล้วมนุษย์จะยิ่งหาได้อย่างไร?
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: In post-mortem transit, ordinary capacities fail; the jīva’s condition is constrained by karma and by the laws of Yama’s path.
Vedantic Theme: Aśaraṇatā (lack of refuge) in saṃsāra; the need for higher refuge beyond bodily agency.
Application: Do not rely on mere strength or cleverness; cultivate merit, truthfulness, and devotion so the ‘path’ is opened by grace and right conduct.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: forest
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated motifs of pathlessness and inescapable regions on the yamamārga (general parallel)
FAQs
It emphasizes how the post-death route (Yama-mārga) is not an ordinary, visible road; it is difficult to navigate without spiritual merit and proper guidance, underscoring the seriousness of after-death teachings and rites.
By stating that even birds cannot find a way, the verse conveys the extreme inaccessibility of the terrain—symbolizing that a departed being (preta) faces daunting, subtle obstacles and cannot rely on normal physical means to proceed.
Live ethically and cultivate dharma so the journey is not burdened by fear and confusion; also perform prescribed death-related observances for ancestors with sincerity, treating them as support for the departed rather than mere custom.