Preta

Preta
ガキHungry Ghost
MTTSMT1 SFCDeSumSH1 Artwork from Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei SFC artwork from Shin Megami Tensei Artwork from Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner Artwork from Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
Other Name(s)	Gaki GoblinRevelations: Persona Hungry GhostTranslator Tom fan translation
Origin	Buddhism
Race(s)	DemonDigital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner HauntShin Megami Tensei Shin Megami Tensei II Shin Megami Tensei if... Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux Shin Megami Tensei IV Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse Shin Megami Tensei V Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Revelation Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Colosseum 20XX Shin Megami Tensei: Tokyo Requiem Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2 Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers Shin Megami Tensei Pinball: Judgment Megami Ibunroku Persona Megami Ibunroku Persona: Ikū no Tō Hen SpiritShin Megami Tensei: Nine
Alignment(s)	Dark-ChaosShin Megami Tensei Shin Megami Tensei II Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux Shin Megami Tensei V Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Revelation Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Colosseum 20XX Shin Megami Tensei: Tokyo Requiem Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers ChaosShin Megami Tensei IV Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse
Order(s)	Frost

Preta is a Demon in the Megami Tensei franchise.

Profile

Origin

Preta, also known as "hungry ghost" or "gaki", originate from Buddhism. They are people who have reincarnated into humanoid creatures due to unjust deeds committed in their past lives. They are prone to wandering off into the human realm after being sent to one of the six realms: The Hungry Ghost Realm, a realm where Preta reside.

As punishment for their karma, they are inflicted with the inability to eat. Due to the thin size of their neck; if they succeed, the food will ignite in their mouth. They may also be attacked by animals, or driven off by bigger, stronger demons such as Oni. Among the most notorious punishments is being cursed with an insatiable hunger for something inedible such as human waste. Preta aren't invisible to the human eye. However, in a Preta-centric Theravada Buddhist story, The Petavatthu, it is mentioned that people such as monks can communicate with them.

The depictions of Preta vary but in a Japanese scroll called the Gaki-zoshi, they are portrayed as grotesque with thin limbs and a large swollen stomach. They are illustrated slightly taller than humans. The Preta have a variety of skin colors: black, dark blue, yellow, and beige. The scroll also depicts them naked while the others wear fundoshi.

Preta is also a term used for ghosts in Hinduism, but the depiction in the Megami Tensei franchise is specifically based on the Buddhist conception of the preta.

Design

Preta's design varies in each game.

Its debut in Shin Megami Tensei has a monstrous appearance, having three fingers with sharp claws, purple skin, and a large, swollen stomach.

Last Bible portrays it as a short ghoulish demon with beige skin and large lips.

In Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner, it has purple skin, and a swollen stomach. This design also features an elongated chin, two golden bracelets, red ofuda, and a messy bowl cut.

Its design in Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers is the same but a color swap with brown skin, gray bracelets, and yellow ofuda. This design is more faithful to the Preta depicted in the Gaki-Zoshi scroll.

Preta typically has visible but censored genitalia. However, for some of the 3D Shin Megami Tensei appearances it is left uncensored while in other games, such as in Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon, it has been removed entirely.

Gameplay

For complete gameplay information, see Gameplay:Preta.

Compendium

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Compendium Entries
Shin Megami Tensei (A-Mode DDS)	Origin: Japan The forms of greedy souls. They have large heads and a thin neck, fat bellies, and shriveled limbs. They are plagued with a hunger that can never be satisfied.
Shin Megami Tensei II (A-Mode DDS)	出身地：日本 六道思想にて、現世で物欲が激しい人の魂が堕ちてなった姿。名は餓鬼と書く。姿は頭が大きくて喉が細く、腹が膨れ、手足が細い痩せた小さな鬼である。常に決して満たされる事の無い飢えに渇いている。 Translation:
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne	They are 'hungry ghosts' as they are unable to swallow food. This is a punishment in reincarnation. One with too many desires in life is doomed to spend time as a Preta.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster	They are "hungry ghosts," as they are unable to swallow food. This is a punishment in reincarnation. One with too many desires in life is doomed to spend time as a Preta.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey	A ghoulish demon of Buddhist lore. Greedy humans cast into the Preta realm of Hell become these. Their hunger is unrelenting and their suffering continues until they are reincarnated.
Shin Megami Tensei IV	Known as gaki in Japanese, they are ghoulish demons of Buddhist lore. Greedy humans cast into the preta realm become these. Their hunger is unrelenting and their suffering continues until they are reincarnated.
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse	Known as gaki in Japanese, they are ghoulish demons of Buddhist lore. Greedy humans cast into the preta realm become these. Their hunger is unrelenting and their suffering continues until they are reincarnated.
Shin Megami Tensei V	Known as "gaki" in Japanese, they are ghoulish demons of Buddhist lore. Greedy humans cast into the preta realm become these. Their hunger is unrelenting and their suffering continues until they are reincarnated.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine	The form given to those who are cast down into the Preta Realm, one of the Six Realms of Buddhist scriptures. Those who lived extravagant lives are said to be cast into the Preta Realm after death. Preta are constantly tormented by hunger and thirst, but whenever they put something to their mouths, it bursts into flame, and so they are eternally deprived of food and drink. Their figures are gaunt, except for their bellies, which are strangely swollen.
Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2	Known as Gaki in Japanese, they are ghoulish demons of Buddhist lore. Greedy humans cast into the Preta realm become these unfortunate creatures. Any food they try to consume burns up in their mouth, fated to be tormented by never ending hunger and thirst.
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner (Akuma Zensho; PSP)	出身地：日本 餓鬼。仏教の六道のひとつである餓鬼道世界に住む、永遠の飢えを背負った霊。 物質的、あるいは精神的に貧欲に生きた者が、その死後にこのガキになるとされる。彼らは飢渇の苦しみを受け、水と食べ物を求めてさまよう。 ガキはやせ細った手足にふくれあがった腹という、極度に飢えた人間の姿そのままに描かれる。 このガキは、インドの死霊プータあるいはプレータに由来する。 Translation: Place of origin: Japan
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (3DS)	A ghoulish demon of Buddhist lore. Greedy humans cast into the Preta realm of Hell become these. Their hunger is unrelenting and their suffering continues until they are reincarnated.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army	A ghoulish demon from Buddhist myth. Greedy humans cast into the Preta realm of hell become these. Their hunger is unrelenting and their suffering continues until they are reincarnated.
Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon	A ghoulish demon from Buddhist myth. Greedy humans cast into the Preta realm of hell become these. Their hunger is unrelenting and their suffering continues until they are reincarnated.

Game Appearances

Shin Megami Tensei

At the beginning of the game, the Hero finds a paranoid man behind the Drug Store in the Shopping Arcade. The man acts erratically and threatens the Hero with a knife before abruptly transforming into a Preta. It attacks the Hero and quickly runs away, dropping the Attack Knife in the process.

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne

In the aftermath of the Conception, a group of Pretas have locked themselves in a room in the Shinjuku Medical Center, and are in posession of the annex gate pass. As the pass is needed to exit the Medical Center, Pixie tricks them into unlocking their door and she and the Demi-fiend kill them for the pass.

Later, in the aftermath of the trial at the Mantra's Headquarters, some Pretas can be found in the trial arena, where they have eaten the remains of Yakshini and Orthrus.

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax

Preta appears as one of the fixed encounters in the newly-added tutorial area.

Shin Megami Tensei V

Main Story

On a street in Tamachi, the Nahobino discovers a fairy-like demon named Amanozako who is cornered by three Preta. As the Nahobino approaches, they notice his presence while one of them demands to know who he is. The protagonist does not respond just as Amanozako hides behind a wall while spectating. The Preta believe that Nahobino will take their "food" away and attack as they threaten to slap him on their menu.

A Preta Predicament

Inside a cave to the northeast of Tamachi, the Nahobino discovers a group of starving Preta, who complain about being hungry. Speaking with the Preta Leader, he asks for his buddies to be found, demanding they get back the cave with food.

In Mita, a wandering Preta is seen scavenging underneath the trees. When asked he says that refuses to go back to the cave. He is afraid of what will happen if he returns without any food. Reporting back to the cave in Tamachi, the leader then asks the Nahobino to search for another Preta, that he believes is in Shiba.

Arriving at a cave on the east side of Shiba, a lone Preta is seen worshiping Apsaras alongside many Cait Sith and Kodama. When spoken to the worshiper replies that he has food but refuses to go back as he has “found his own path”. He gives the Nahobino Sake and Dango Medley asking him to deliver it.

Returning to the cave in Tamachi the Preta are excited about the food. They gather the group around the campfire for a feast. However, the feast does not last long as the devoured food leaves them unsatisfied. They then ask the Nahobino if he has anything more to give them. When he refuses, the group attacks. After defeating them, they apologize for their behavior and give him the Haunt Talisman.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner

Several Pretas can be found as NPCs in Avici Hell.

Trivia

• In the Aeon Genesis english translation patch for Shin Megami Tensei, the scene with the man who turns into a Preta at the beginning of the game was rewritten to be that the man was killed by a Preta instead.

Nomenclature

餓鬼 gaki is a Sino-Japanese word literally meaning "hungry ghost", used as an equivalent of the Sanskrit प्रेत preta ("departed [one]; ghost").

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name	Meaning
English	Preta
	GoblinRevelations: Persona
Japanese	ガキShin Megami Tensei (Super Famicom) Shin Megami Tensei V Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Revelation Gaki	Hungry ghost; katakana rendering of 餓鬼"hungry ghost" gaki
	餓鬼Shin Megami Tensei (Mega-CD) Gaki	Hungry ghost; kanji rendering of above
Simplified Chinese	饿鬼 Èguǐ	Hungry ghost
Traditional Chinese	小鬼 Xiǎoguǐ	Little ghost
French	Preta	Romanization of Sanskrit प्रेत"departed [one]; ghost" preta.
German	Preta	Romanization of Sanskrit प्रेत"departed [one]; ghost" preta.
Italian	Preta	Romanization of Sanskrit प्रेत"departed [one]; ghost" preta.
Korean	아귀餓鬼 Agwi	Hungry ghost; Hangul rendering of Korean 餓鬼"hungry ghost" agwi
	가키Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Gaki	Transliteration of Japanese ガキ
Polish	Preta	Romanization of Sanskrit प्रेत"departed [one]; ghost" preta.
Brazilian Portuguese	Gaki	Romanization of Japanese 餓鬼"hungry ghost" gaki.
Russian	Прета Preta	Cyrillization of Sanskrit प्रेत"departed [one]; ghost" preta.
Peninsular Spanish	Preta	Romanization of Sanskrit प्रेत"departed [one]; ghost" preta.
Turkish	Preta	Romanization of Sanskrit प्रेत"departed [one]; ghost" preta.

Gallery

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