Sudharmā the Merchant

Sudharmā was a vaṇika (merchant). In the course of his travels he met the preta (the restless spirit of a dead person) of Somaśarman. Sudharmā did not run away. He helped to bring about the śrāddha rites (the rites for the dead) that Somaśarman’s own descendants had neglected, and so the preta was set free. The Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa tells this in Chapter 53.

The meeting

Sudharmā was going about his trade when the preta of Somaśarman appeared before him. Most people would be terrified by such a sight and would flee. Sudharmā stopped instead. He spoke with the spirit and asked about its condition and what could be done to help.

Sudharmā had no tie of blood to Somaśarman. He was a stranger and a merchant. He was not a ṛṣi, and he was not a brāhmaṇa trained in funeral rites. He helped out of compassion alone.

Somaśarman’s release

Through the śrāddha rites that Sudharmā helped to bring about, Somaśarman was set free.

Sources

• Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 53