Garudapurana 2.22.63

2.22.63

nirviṇṇāḥ pretabhāvena pṛcchāmi tvāṃ dṛḍhavrata /
yathā na bhavitā pretastanme vada tapodhana /
nityaṃ mṛtyurvaraṃ jantoḥ pretatvaṃ mā bhavetkvacit //

Despondent with the state of a preta, I ask you, O man of firm observances: / tell me, O ascetic, how one will not become a preta! / Constant death is better for a creature, [provided] the state of a preta should never befall him!'