Shloka 45

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

कृष्णाजिनं समास्तीर्य कुशैश्च पुरुषाकृतिम् / शतत्रयेण षष्ट्या च वृन्तैः प्रोक्तो ऽस्थिसञ्चयः

Transliteration

kṛṣṇājinaṃ samāstīrya kuśaiśca puruṣākṛtim / śatatrayeṇa ṣaṣṭyā ca vṛntaiḥ prokto 'sthisañcayaḥ

Translation

Indem man ein schwarzes Antilopenfell ausbreitet und Kuśa-Gras in Menschengestalt anordnet, wird das Ritual namens „asthi-sañcaya“ (Sammlung der Gebeine) mit dreihundertsechzig Halmen vorgeschrieben.

Word by Word

• kṛṣṇājinam: Black antelope skin
• kṛṣṇājinam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇājina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• samāstīrya: Having spread out properly
• samāstīrya: Purvakalika Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: stṛ (धातु)
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Absolutive)

• kuśaiḥ: With Kusha grass
• kuśaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• ca: And
• ca: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• puruṣākṛtim: Human shape/form
• puruṣākṛtim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣākṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śatatrayeṇa: With three hundred
• śatatrayeṇa: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatatraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• ṣaṣṭyā: With sixty
• ṣaṣṭyā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• ca: And
• ca: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vṛntaiḥ: With stalks
• vṛntaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛnta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• proktaḥ: Is said/proclaimed
• proktaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Kta Pratyaya (Past Participle), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• asthisañcayaḥ: Collection of bones
• asthisañcayaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म) in Passive construction
• Type: Noun
• Root: asthisañcaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-cremation asthi-sañcaya stage; preparatory to subsequent śrāddha observances.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Asti-sañcaya procedure: consecrated base (kṛṣṇājina), human-form kuśa arrangement, and a fixed count (360) of stalks for the rite.

Vedantic Theme: Impermanence of the gross body and disciplined action: ritual order channels grief into dharmic completion.

Application: In end-of-life rituals, maintain śauca (purity), precision, and reverence; use structured steps to support the bereaved.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.40 (asthi-sañcaya and subsequent placement counts)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of Asthi-sañcaya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames asthi-sañcaya as a formally prescribed post-cremation rite, using specific ritual materials (kṛṣṇājina and kuśa) and a counted arrangement, emphasizing orderly completion of funeral duties.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By detailing a post-cremation rite connected with the deceased’s remains, the verse implies that correct ritual observance supports the departed’s transition in the preta-state, aligning the family’s actions with dharmic procedure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform post-death rites with care, cleanliness, and guidance from qualified tradition (family priest/ācārya), focusing on sincerity and dharma rather than haste—especially in handling remains and completing prescribed observances.