Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 15

Āśauca, Daśāha Piṇḍa-Rites, Vṛṣotsarga, Sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the Yama-mārga

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

प्रथमे ऽह्नि तृतीये वा सप्तमे नवमे तथा / अस्थिसंचयनं कार्यं दिने तद्गोत्रजैः सह

Transliteration

prathame 'hni tṛtīye vā saptame navame tathā / asthisaṃcayanaṃ kāryaṃ dine tadgotrajaiḥ saha

Translation

Am ersten Tag oder am dritten, am siebten und ebenso am neunten soll das Einsammeln der Gebeine (nach der Verbrennung) an eben diesem Tag zusammen mit den Verwandten desselben gotra vollzogen werden.

Word by Word

• prathame: on the first
• prathame: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘अह्नि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• ahni: day
• ahni: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• tṛtīye: on the third
• tṛtīye: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛtīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘अह्नि’ (अनुवृत्त) विशेषणम्

• vā: or
• vā: Connector (Vikalpa/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• saptame: on the seventh
• saptame: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saptama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘अह्नि’ (अनुवृत्त) विशेषणम्

• navame: on the ninth
• navame: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: navama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘अह्नि’ (अनुवृत्त) विशेषणम्

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Adverbial (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/एवमेव (likewise/also)

• asthi-saṃcayanam: collection of bones
• asthi-saṃcayanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asthi (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃcayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—अस्थिसंचयन (अस्थ्नां संचयनम्)

• kāryam: should be done
• kāryam: Predicate (Vidhi/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) → kārya (कृदन्त-यत्/तव्यत्-अर्थ)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्/gerundive sense); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय—‘should be done’

• dine: on the day
• dine: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• tad-gotra-jaiḥ: with those of the same lineage/clan
• tad-gotra-jaiḥ: Sahakari (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + gotra (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/सह), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—तद्गोत्रज (तस्य गोत्रे जाताः)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakari (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (with)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Day 1/3/7/9 after cremation (as options stated).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Post-cremation duties are time-bound options; kinship (gotra) participation supports continuity and proper completion of antyeṣṭi.

Vedantic Theme: Impermanence of body; dharma guides the living to honor the departed while cultivating detachment and responsibility.

Application: Perform asthi collection on one of the prescribed days (1/3/7/9) with gotra relatives; follow local prayoga for purification and immersion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: śmaśāna/riverbank (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: antyeṣṭi and post-cremation sequence leading to śrāddha (contextual parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Gotra (lineage kinsmen)

FAQs

What is the importance of Asthi Sanchayana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes specific permissible days for bone-collection after cremation and emphasizes doing it properly with lineage members, treating it as a dharmic duty in the post-death rite sequence.

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

By outlining an obligatory post-cremation rite, it situates the family’s ritual responsibilities as part of the broader framework of supporting the departed through orderly observances during the preta-related period.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When arranging post-cremation rites, follow an accepted day among those listed (1st/3rd/7th/9th) and involve appropriate family/gotra representatives, ensuring the ritual is done respectfully and in accordance with tradition.