Garuda Purana

कुलमार्गांश्च सन्त्यज्य परधर्मरतस्तथा । विद्यावृत्तविहीनश्च स प्रेतो जायतेध्रुवम् ॥ २,२२.

He who abandons the path of his lineage, delights in another’s dharma, or is devoid of learning and livelihood—he certainly becomes a preta.

अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । युधिष्ठिरस्य संवादं भीष्मेण सह सुव्रत । तदहं कथयिष्यामि यच्छ्रुत्वा सौख्यमाप्नुयात् ॥ २,२२.

Here they recite an ancient story, the conversation between Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma, O virtuous one. I will tell it, by hearing which one attains happiness.

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । केन कर्मविपाकेन प्रेतत्वमुपजायते । केन वा मुच्यते कस्मात्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह । यच्छ्रुत्वा न पुनर्मोहमेवं यास्या मि सुव्रत ॥ २,२२.

Yudhiṣṭhira said: By what result of actions does one become a preta? By what is one freed, and from what? Tell me this, grandfather, so that, having heard it, I may never again fall into delusion, O virtuous one.

भीष्म उवाच । येनैव जायते प्रेतो येनैव स विमुच्यते । प्राप्नोति नरकं घोरं दुस्तरं दैवतैरपि ॥ २,२२.

Bhishma said: By the very cause by which one is born as a preta, by that same cause one is released; otherwise, one attains a terrible hell, difficult to cross even for the gods.

सततं श्रवणाद्यस्य पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनात् । मानवा विप्रमुच्यन्ते आपन्नाः प्रेतयोनिषु ॥ २,२२.

By the constant hearing and recitation of whose meritorious stories, people are freed from falling into the state of pretas.

श्रूयते हि पुरा वत्स ब्राह्मणः शंसितव्रतः । नाम्ना सन्तप्तकः ख्यात स्तपोर्ऽथे वनमाश्रितः ॥ २,२२.

It is heard, O dear one, that in ancient times there was a brahmin named Santaptaka, renowned for his strict vows, who took up residence in the forest for the sake of austerity.

स्वाध्याययुक्तो होमेन यो (या) गयुक्तो दयान्वितः । यजन्स सकलान्यज्ञान्युक्त्या कालं च विक्षिपन् ॥ २,२२.

Engaged in self-study, devoted to oblations, endowed with compassion, performing all sacrifices properly, and passing time in this way,

ब्रहामचर्यसमायुक्तो युक्तस्तपसि मार्दवे । परलोकभयोपेतः सत्यशौचैश्च निर्मलः ॥ २,२२.

Practicing celibacy, steadfast in gentle austerity, filled with fear of the next world, pure in truthfulness and cleanliness,

युक्तोऽहि गुरुवाक्येन युक्तश्चातिथिपूजने । आत्मयोगे सदोद्युक्तः सर्वद्वन्द्वविवर्जितः ॥ २,२२.

Obedient to the words of his teacher, diligent in honoring guests, always intent on self-discipline, free from all dualities,

योगाभ्यासे सदा युक्तः संसारविजिगीषया । एवंवृत्तः सदाचारो मोक्षकाङ्क्षी जितेन्द्रियः ॥ २,२२.

Constantly engaged in the practice of yoga, desiring to conquer worldly existence, of good conduct, seeking liberation, and having mastered his senses,

बहून्यब्दानि विजने वने तस्य गतानि वै । तस्य बुद्धिस्ततो जाता तीर्थानुगमनं प्रति ॥ २,२२.

Many years passed for him in the solitary forest; then his mind turned toward visiting holy places.

पुण्यैस्तीर्थजलैरेव शोषयिष्ये कलेवरम् । स तीर्थेत्वरितं स्नात्वा तपस्वी भास्करोदये । कृतजाप्यनमस्कारो ह्यध्वानं प्रत्यपद्यत ॥ २,२२.

"I will wear out this body with the holy waters of sacred places." Thus, the ascetic, having bathed at sunrise in a holy place, performed his recitations and salutations, and set out on his journey.

एकस्मिन्दिवसे विप्रो मार्गभ्रष्टो महातपाः । ददर्शाध्वनि गच्छन्स पञ्च प्रेतान् सुदारुणान् ॥ २,२२.

One day, the great ascetic brahmin, having lost his way, saw five dreadful pretas as he traveled along the road.

अरण्ये निर्जने देशे संकटे वृक्षवर्जिते । पञ्चैतान्विकृताकारान्दृष्ट्वा वै घोरदर्शनान् । ईषत्सन्त्रस्तहृदयोऽतिष्ठदुन्मील्य लोचने ॥ २,२२.

In a deserted, lonely place in the forest, difficult and devoid of trees, he saw those five with deformed appearances, terrifying to behold; his heart was slightly frightened, and he stood with eyes wide open.

अवलम्ब्य ततो धैर्यं भयमुत्सृज्य दूरतः । पप्रच्छ मधुराभाषी के यूयं विकृताननाः ॥ २,२२.

Then, steadying himself and casting off fear, he spoke sweetly from a distance: "Who are you, with such distorted faces?"

किञ्चाशुभं कृतं कर्म येन प्राप्ताः स्थ वैकृतम् । कथं वा चैकतः कर्म प्रस्थिताः कुत्र निश्चितम् ॥ २,२२.

"What unwholesome deed have you done that you have attained such a condition? And how did you all come together, and where are you certainly going?"

प्रेतराज उवाच । स्वैः स्वैस्तु कर्मभिः प्राप्तं प्रेतत्वं हि द्विजोत्तम । परद्रोहरताः सर्वे पापमृत्युवशं गताः ॥ २,२२.

The king of pretas said: By our own actions, O best of brahmins, we have attained the state of pretas; all of us, addicted to harming others, have fallen under the sway of sinful death.

क्षुत्पिपासार्दिता नित्यं प्रेतत्वं समुपागताः । हतवाक्या हतश्रीका हत संज्ञा विचेतसः ॥ २,२२.

Constantly afflicted by hunger and thirst, we have come to this state of pretas; deprived of speech, deprived of prosperity, deprived of consciousness, and bewildered.

न जानीमो दिशं तात विदिशं चातिदुः खिताः । क्व नु गच्छामहे मूढाः पिशाचाः कर्मजा वयम् ॥ २,२२.

We do not know the direction or the region, O dear one, so distressed are we; where indeed shall we go, we who are deluded, spirits born of our own actions?

न माता न पितास्माकं प्रेतत्वं कर्मभिः स्वकैः । प्राप्ताः स्म सहसा जातदुः खोद्वेगसमाकुलम् ॥ २,२२.

We have no mother or father; by our own actions we have suddenly attained this preta state, filled with newly arisen suffering and agitation.

दर्शनेन च ते ब्रह्मन्मुदिताप्यायिता वयम् । मुहूर्तन्तिष्ठ वक्ष्यामि वृत्तान्तं सर्वमादितः ॥ २,२२.

By seeing you, O brahmin, we have become gladdened and refreshed; stay for a moment, and I will tell you the entire story from the beginning.

अहं पर्युषितो नाम एष सूचीमुखस्तथा । शीघ्रगो रोघ (ह) कश्चैव पञ्चमो लेखकः स्मतृतः ॥ २,२२.

I am called Paryuṣita; this one is Sūcīmukha, and likewise Śīghraga, Rodhaka, and the fifth is known as Lekhaka.

एवं नाम्ना च सर्वे वै संप्राप्ताः प्रेततां वयम् । ब्राह्मण उवाच । प्रेतानां कर्मजातानां कथं वै नामसम्भवः । किञ्चित्कारणमुदिश्य येन ब्रूयाः स्वनामकान् ॥ २,२२.

Thus, by these names, we have all attained the state of pretas. The brāhmaṇa said: How do pretas, born of various actions, come to have such names? Please state some reason by which you each bear your own name.

प्रेतराज उवाच । मया स्वादु सदा भुक्तं दत्तं पर्युषितं द्विज ॥ २,२२.

The king of the pretas said: I always ate and gave away stale food, O brāhmaṇa.

शीघ्रं गच्छति विप्रेण याचितः क्षुधितेन वै । एतत्कारणमुद्दिश्य नाम पर्युषितं मम ॥ २,२२.

When a hungry brāhmaṇa asked, I would quickly go; for this reason, my name is Paryuṣita.

शीघ्रं गच्छति विप्रेण याचितः क्षुधितेन वै । एतत्कारणमुद्दिश्य शीघ्रगोऽयं द्विजोत्तम ॥ २,२२.

When a hungry brāhmaṇa asked, I would quickly go; for this reason, this one is called Śīghraga, O best of brāhmaṇas.

सूचिता बहवोऽनेन विप्रा अन्नाधिकाङ्क्षया । एतत्कारणमुद्दिश्य एष सूचिमुखः स्मृतः ॥ २,२२.

Many brāhmaṇas were pointed out by him, out of excessive desire for food; for this reason, he is known as Sūcīmukha.

एकाकी मिष्टमश्राति पोष्यवर्गमृते सदा । ब्राह्मणानामभावेन रोध (ह) कस्तेन चोच्यते ॥ २,२२.

He always ate sweet food alone, except for those he was obliged to support; in the absence of brāhmaṇas, he is called Rodhaka.

पुरायं मौनमास्थाय याचितो विलिखेद्भुवम् । तेन कर्मविपाकेन लेखको नाम चोच्यते ॥ २,२२.

Formerly, remaining silent, when asked, he would scratch the ground; by the result of that action, he is called Lekhaka.