Shloka 23
आपने तूत्तरां काष्ठां सूर्ये यो निधन व्रजेत् नक्षत्रे च मुहुर्ते च पुण्ये राजन् स पुण्यकृत्,राजन! जो सूर्यके उत्तरायण होनेपर उत्तम नक्षत्र और पवित्र मुहूर्तमें मृत्युको प्राप्त होता है, वह पुण्यात्मा है
āpane tūttarāṁ kāṣṭhāṁ sūrye yo nidhanaṁ vrajet | nakṣatre ca muhūrte ca puṇye rājan sa puṇyakṛt ||
Parāśara said: “O King, one who meets death when the sun has turned to the northern course (uttarāyaṇa), and who departs at an auspicious constellation and a pure, favorable moment, is to be regarded as a doer of merit—a person of virtuous destiny.”
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links a ‘good death’ with auspicious cosmic timing—uttarāyaṇa, favorable nakṣatra, and pure muhūrta—presenting such a departure as a sign (and fruit) of accumulated merit (puṇya) and righteous living.
Parāśara addresses a king and explains a dharma-oriented criterion for auspicious departure from life: dying during the sun’s northward course and at an auspicious constellation and moment is described as the lot of a meritorious person.