Shloka 14

Nāndīmukha-śrāddha (Prosperity Rites), Preta-kriyā, Aśauca, Ekoddiṣṭa, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Framework

Devanagari script

चतुर्थे ऽह्नि च कर्तव्यं भस्मास्थिचयनं नृप तदूर्ध्वम् अङ्गस्पर्शश् च सपिण्डानाम् अपीष्यते

Transliteration

caturthe 'hni ca kartavyaṃ bhasmāsthicayanaṃ nṛpa tadūrdhvam aṅgasparśaś ca sapiṇḍānām apīṣyate

Translation

O king, on the fourth day the gathering of ashes and bones should be performed; after that, even bodily contact with one’s sapinda kin is again permitted.

Word by Word

• चतुर्थे: on the fourth
• चतुर्थे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण) with अह्नि
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय-बोधक

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (Obligatory action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त, तव्यत्)
• Form: कृदन्तः (तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विधेय-भावः (to be done)

• भस्मास्थिचयनम्: collection of ashes and bones
• भस्मास्थिचयनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म) of कर्तव्यम्
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् + अस्थि + चयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समाहार/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (“ashes and bones” + “collecting”)

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• तदूर्ध्वम्: thereafter
• तदूर्ध्वम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण) as time-adverb
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अव्ययीभाव-समासः; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (“thereafter/after that”)

• अङ्गस्पर्शः: touching the body
• अङ्गस्पर्शः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता) of अपीष्यते (what is permitted)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (“of the body” + “touch”)

• च: also/and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय-बोधक

• सपिण्डानाम्: of the sapindas (close kin)
• सपिण्डानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) → सपिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; उपसर्ग-संयुक्त-प्रातिपदिक (“sharing the same piṇḍa”: kindred)

• अपीष्यते: is permitted
• अपीष्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु) + अपि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः/भावे (passive sense: “is allowed/approved”)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya; addressing a kingly addressee within the dharma discourse)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Post-cremation procedure: collecting ashes/bones on the fourth day and restoration of social contact rules among sapiṇḍas

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The fourth-day collection of ashes and bones completes a key stage of funeral duty, after which restrictions on bodily contact among sapiṇḍa relatives are relaxed.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Honor closure rituals and allow community support to return gradually; structured rites can help grief move from acute separation toward reintegration.

Vishishtadvaita: Family bonds (sapiṇḍatā) are treated as dharmically regulated relations within the Lord’s cosmic order, balancing purity rules with compassion and social continuity.

Characters & Entities

• Sapindas
• King (nṛpa)

FAQs

What is the significance of collecting ashes and bones on the fourth day in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse fixes the fourth day as the proper time for bhāsma-asthi-cayana, marking a key transition in the funeral sequence and the management of aśauca.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the easing of restrictions after death rites?

He states that once the fourth-day collection is completed, normal bodily contact with sapinda kin is again considered permissible, indicating a measured return to social and ritual normalcy.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when teaching practical dharma, the Vishnu Purana frames order, purity, and right conduct as aspects of the cosmic governance ultimately grounded in Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty.