Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84
Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites
प्रथमेऽह्नि द्वितीये वा तृतीये वा चतुर्थके । अस्थिसंचयनं कार्यं बन्धुभिर्हितबुद्धिभिः ॥ ८४ ॥
prathame'hni dvitīye vā tṛtīye vā caturthake | asthisaṃcayanaṃ kāryaṃ bandhubhirhitabuddhibhiḥ || 84 ||
On the first day, or the second, or the third, or the fourth—on any of these days—the gathering of the bones after cremation should be performed by relatives guided by wholesome and proper intention.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It frames asthi-saṃcayana as a dharmic family duty performed promptly (within four days), emphasizing right intention and orderly completion of post-funeral rites for the departed.
While not directly teaching bhakti practices, it supports a sattvic devotional life by insisting on disciplined dharma: relatives act with hita-buddhi, completing samskaras that uphold purity and reverence for the soul’s onward journey.
Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: it specifies the permissible ritual window (days 1–4) for asthi-saṃcayana, reflecting smārta guidelines for sequencing post-cremation rites.