Shloka 15

Āśauca, Daśāha Piṇḍa-Rites, Vṛṣotsarga, Sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the Yama-mārga

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

प्रथमे ऽह्नि तृतीये वा सप्तमे नवमे तथा / अस्थिसंचयनं कार्यं दिने तद्गोत्रजैः सह

Transliteration

prathame 'hni tṛtīye vā saptame navame tathā / asthisaṃcayanaṃ kāryaṃ dine tadgotrajaiḥ saha

Translation

ในวันแรก หรือวันที่สาม วันที่เจ็ด หรือวันที่เก้า ให้ทำการเก็บอัฐิในวันนั้นร่วมกับญาติผู้ร่วมโคตร.

Word by Word

• prathame: on the first
• prathame: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘अह्नि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

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

• tṛtīye: on the third
• tṛtīye: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛtīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘अह्नि’ (अनुवृत्त) विशेषणम्

• vā: or
• vā: Connector (Vikalpa/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• saptame: on the seventh
• saptame: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saptama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘अह्नि’ (अनुवृत्त) विशेषणम्

• navame: on the ninth
• navame: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: navama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘अह्नि’ (अनुवृत्त) विशेषणम्

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Adverbial (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/एवमेव (likewise/also)

• asthi-saṃcayanam: collection of bones
• asthi-saṃcayanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asthi (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃcayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—अस्थिसंचयन (अस्थ्नां संचयनम्)

• kāryam: should be done
• kāryam: Predicate (Vidhi/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) → kārya (कृदन्त-यत्/तव्यत्-अर्थ)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्/gerundive sense); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय—‘should be done’

• dine: on the day
• dine: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• tad-gotra-jaiḥ: with those of the same lineage/clan
• tad-gotra-jaiḥ: Sahakari (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + gotra (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/सह), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—तद्गोत्रज (तस्य गोत्रे जाताः)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakari (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (with)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Day 1/3/7/9 after cremation (as options stated).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Post-cremation duties are time-bound options; kinship (gotra) participation supports continuity and proper completion of antyeṣṭi.

Vedantic Theme: Impermanence of body; dharma guides the living to honor the departed while cultivating detachment and responsibility.

Application: Perform asthi collection on one of the prescribed days (1/3/7/9) with gotra relatives; follow local prayoga for purification and immersion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: śmaśāna/riverbank (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: antyeṣṭi and post-cremation sequence leading to śrāddha (contextual parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Gotra (lineage kinsmen)

FAQs

What is the importance of Asthi Sanchayana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes specific permissible days for bone-collection after cremation and emphasizes doing it properly with lineage members, treating it as a dharmic duty in the post-death rite sequence.

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

By outlining an obligatory post-cremation rite, it situates the family’s ritual responsibilities as part of the broader framework of supporting the departed through orderly observances during the preta-related period.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When arranging post-cremation rites, follow an accepted day among those listed (1st/3rd/7th/9th) and involve appropriate family/gotra representatives, ensuring the ritual is done respectfully and in accordance with tradition.