Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 41
Śāva-āśauca and Sūtikā-śauca: Death/Childbirth Impurity, Preta-śuddhi, and Śrāddha Procedure
Chapter 157
कार्यो नैवाग्निसंस्कारो नैव चास्योदकक्रिया चतुर्थे च दिनेकार्यस् तथास्थ्नां चैव सञ्चयः
kāryo naivāgnisaṃskāro naiva cāsyodakakriyā caturthe ca dinekāryas tathāsthnāṃ caiva sañcayaḥ
उसके लिए न तो अग्निसंस्कार (दाह-क्रिया) पुनः किया जाए, न ही उसके लिए उदक-क्रिया (तर्पण/जलांजलि) की जाए; बल्कि चौथे दिन अस्थि-संचय ही किया जाए।
Lord Agni (teaching the rites in the Agni Purana’s instructional voice)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guidance for post-cremation observances: avoid repeating cremation/water rites; perform asthi-sañcaya on the fourth day.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Antyeṣṭi-niyama: Fourth-day asthi-sañcaya; no repeat agni/udaka-kriyā","lookup_keywords":["antyeṣṭi","agni-saṃskāra","udaka-kriyā","caturtha-dina","asthi-sañcaya"],"quick_summary":"After cremation, do not redo fire-rites or water-libations for the deceased; instead, collect the bones on the fourth day as the prescribed act."}
Concept: Ritual sequence (krama) and restraint: prescribed acts are to be done once, with the correct timing.
Application: Maintain correct funeral protocol to avoid ritual redundancy and to complete the transition rites properly.
Khanda Section: Antyeshti-vidhi (Funeral rites and post-cremation observances)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cremation has already occurred; relatives refrain from further offerings and prepare for the fourth-day bone collection, with ritual implements set aside and a sense of ordered mourning.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized śmaśāna edge with extinguished pyre site, family figures in simple white, a priest indicating ‘no further agni/udaka’, calendar-like emphasis on the fourth day, subdued palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, symbolic depiction of funeral ground with ornate but restrained gold accents on ritual vessels kept unused, priest gesturing toward a fourth-day asthi collection basket, solemn composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional scene: left shows completed pyre site, right shows labeled ‘caturtha dina’ bone-collection tools, figures in calm post-ritual posture.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed cremation-ground aftermath, attendants holding a small container for bones, elder instructing to wait until day four, naturalistic landscape and quiet grief."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नैवाग्निसंस्कारो → न + एव + अग्निसंस्कारः; चास्योदकक्रिया → च + अस्य + उदकक्रिया; दिनेकार्यः → दिने + अकार्यः; तथास्थ्नां → तथा + अस्थ्नाम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 157 (corpse-impurity and funeral context)
FAQs
It specifies the sequencing of post-death rites: do not repeat the cremation/fire rite or water-libation rite at this stage; instead, perform asthi-sañcaya (collection of bones) on the fourth day.
By codifying procedural dharma (samskara-vidhi) with precise timing—here, the fourth-day bone collection—the text functions like a practical manual alongside its many other subjects.
Following the prescribed order is treated as ritually purifying and dharmic: it completes the transition of the deceased’s remains and maintains correctness (vidhi) in rites believed to support auspicious outcomes for family and departed.