Shloka 136

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

शतत्रयेण षष्ट्या च वृन्तैः प्रोक्तो ऽस्थिसञ्चयः / विन्यस्य तानि वृन्तानि अङ्गेष्वेषु पृथक् पृथक्

Transliteration

śatatrayeṇa ṣaṣṭyā ca vṛntaiḥ prokto 'sthisañcayaḥ / vinyasya tāni vṛntāni aṅgeṣveṣu pṛthak pṛthak

Translation

The collection of bones (for the rite) is said to be made with three hundred and sixty stalks. Placing those stalks, one should arrange them separately upon these respective limbs of the body.

Word by Word

• शतत्रयेण: by three hundred
• शतत्रयेण: Karana (Instrument/Measure/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• षष्ट्या: by sixty
• षष्ट्या: Karana (Instrument/Measure/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Conjunction)

• वृन्तैः: with stalks
• वृन्तैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रोक्तः: is stated; is prescribed
• प्रोक्तः: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अस्थिसञ्चयः: collection of bones
• अस्थिसञ्चयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्थि + सञ्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• विन्यस्य: having arranged/placed
• विन्यस्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• तानि: those
• तानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वृन्तानि: stalks
• वृन्तानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अङ्गेषु: in the limbs
• अङ्गेषु: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative, 7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• एषु: in these
• एषु: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative, 7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb: separation)

• पृथक्: each separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb; repetition for emphasis)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During the puttalaka/body-construction phase, after preparing the base and outline.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy through saṅkhyā-niyama (numerical rule): 360 stalks constitute the ‘bone-collection’, placed limb-by-limb in proper differentiation.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual order mirrors ṛta: number and placement encode meaning; disciplined action shapes subtle outcomes.

Application: Count and prepare 360 palāśa stalks; place them distinctly on the corresponding limbs of the constructed form as prescribed, avoiding mixing or misplacement.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.135 (human form with kuśa on kṛṣṇājina); Garuda Purana 2.4.134 (puttalaka context)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of asthi-sanchayana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats asthi-sañcaya (bone-collection) as a defined, orderly rite, specifying a counted set of stalks and their placement on the limbs, emphasizing ritual completeness and correct procedure after cremation.

How does this verse explain the post-death ritual sequence?

It situates bone-collection as a structured step within antyeṣṭi-related observances, where symbolic items (stalks) are counted and arranged limb-wise, reflecting the careful reconstruction/representation of the body for rites offered to the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow post-cremation rites with precision and reverence—keep the process organized, consult competent tradition-bearers, and treat the departed’s rites as a disciplined duty (dharma), not a casual formality.