Shloka 14

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

चतुर्थे सञ्चयः कार्यः चतुर्थे?वापि साग्निके / अस्थिसञ्चयनं कार्यं दद्यादापाञ्जलिं ततः

Transliteration

caturthe sañcayaḥ kāryaḥ caturthe?vāpi sāgnike / asthisañcayanaṃ kāryaṃ dadyādāpāñjaliṃ tataḥ

Translation

第四日には遺残の収集を行うべし。まさに火葬の後の第四日にである。骨を集め、そののち合掌して水の供養（アーンジャリ）を捧げよ。

Word by Word

• caturthe: on the fourth (day)
• caturthe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ordinal used substantively

• sañcayaḥ: collection/gathering
• sañcayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sañcaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kāryaḥ: should be done
• kāryaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (कृदन्त; √kṛ कृ धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; gerundive (भाव्य/कर्तव्य) meaning "to be done"; agrees with sañcayaḥ

• caturthe: on the fourth (day)
• caturthe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि = also/even)

• sa-agnike: in/with the fire-rite
• sa-agnike: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + agnika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; karmadhāraya: sa-agnika = "with fire / in the presence of fire" (context: rite)

• asthi-sañcayanam: bone-collection
• asthi-sañcayanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asthi (प्रातिपदिक) + sañcayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) or Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: asthnām sañcayanam = "collection of bones"; here as subject with kāryam

• kāryam: should be done
• kāryam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (कृदन्त; √kṛ कृ धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; gerundive "to be done"; agrees with asthi-sañcayanam

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• āpaḥ-añjalim: a handful of water
• āpaḥ-añjalim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpas (प्रातिपदिक) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: apām añjaliḥ = "handful (añjali) of water"

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning "then/thereafter"

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Fourth day after cremation

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After cremation, bone-collection on the fourth day and water-offering are prescribed duties that honor the departed and complete stages of antyeṣṭi.

Vedantic Theme: Impermanence of the body (deha-anityatā) alongside dharmic continuity of rites for the subtle being.

Application: Schedule asthi-saṃcayana on the fourth day; perform udaka-offering with reverence, following local śrauta/gṛhya custom.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cremation-ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sequences of antyeṣṭi—cremation, asthi-saṃcayana, udaka, and subsequent śrāddha stages

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of asthi-sañcayana (bone collection) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes asthi-sañcayana as a required post-cremation rite, specifically timed to the fourth day, marking an orderly completion of the cremation process and the continuation of rites for the departed.

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

While not detailing the soul’s journey directly, it situates the ritual timeline after cremation—bone collection and a water offering—within the Preta Kanda’s framework of supporting the departed through proper rites during the transitional post-death period.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow the traditional timing: perform bone collection on the fourth day after cremation (as family custom permits) and offer water respectfully with joined palms, emphasizing disciplined remembrance and dharmic completion of funeral duties.