Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 45
Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence
प्रेता ऊचुः / अवेहि तत्त्वमेवैतत्प्रेता वै कर्मजा वयम् / ब्राह्मण उवाच / किंनामानः किमाचाराः कथञ्चेमां दशां गताः
pretā ūcuḥ / avehi tattvamevaitatpretā vai karmajā vayam / brāhmaṇa uvāca / kiṃnāmānaḥ kimācārāḥ kathañcemāṃ daśāṃ gatāḥ
众饿鬼（Preta）说道：“当知此真实：我们这些饿鬼，确由自身之业（karma）所生。”婆罗门问道：“你们名为何？行为何行？又如何堕入此等境地？”
Pretas and a Brāhmaṇa (dialogue within Garuda Purana narration)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Concept: Preta-state is karmaja—arising from one’s own deeds; accountability and causality in post-mortem experience.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha and its experiential fruition; the jīva’s continuity through subtle body and impressions (saṃskāra).
Application: Treat actions as seeds with inevitable results; adopt daily self-audit (ācāra) and restraint to avoid harmful karmic trajectories.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa (karma-based classification of pretas and their sufferings)
FAQs
This verse explicitly states that pretas are “karma-born,” meaning the post-death condition is shaped by one’s actions, making ethical conduct and prescribed duties central to avoiding distress after death.
It frames the preta condition as a result of karma and introduces inquiry into identity and conduct, implying that the soul’s post-death experience is investigated and understood through the lens of deeds and dharmic behavior.
Live with accountability—align daily conduct with dharma, avoid harmful actions, and support proper rites for the departed, recognizing that consequences are tied to karma rather than chance.