Shloka 6

Śrāddha’s Cosmic Reach and Kāla-Nirṇaya (Sacred Timings): Amāvāsyā, Nakṣatra-Yoga, Tīrtha, and Minimum Offerings

Devanagari script

नक्षत्रग्रहपीडासु दुष्टस्वप्नावलोकने इच्छाश्राद्धानि कुर्वीत नवसस्यागमे तथा

Transliteration

nakṣatragrahapīḍāsu duṣṭasvapnāvalokane icchāśrāddhāni kurvīta navasasyāgame tathā

Translation

When afflicted by the troubling influences of stars and planets, when ominous dreams are seen, and likewise at the coming of the fresh harvest, one should perform kāmya śrāddhas as intended—so that disturbance is pacified and dharma’s right order is restored.

Word by Word

• नक्षत्रग्रहपीडासु: during afflictions from stars/planets
• नक्षत्रग्रहपीडासु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र + ग्रह + पीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नक्षत्रग्रहाणां पीडासु); अधिकरण

• दुष्टस्वप्नावलोकने: upon seeing a bad dream
• दुष्टस्वप्नावलोकने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट + स्वप्न + अवलोकन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (दुष्टस्य स्वप्नस्य अवलोकने); अधिकरण

• इच्छाश्राद्धानि: optional śrāddhas
• इच्छाश्राद्धानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छा + श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (इच्छया कृतानि श्राद्धानि = optional śrāddhas); कर्म (with कुर्वीत)

• कुर्वीत: should perform
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नवसस्यागमे: at the arrival of new crops
• नवसस्यागमे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव + सस्य + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (नवस्य सस्यस्य आगमे); अधिकरण

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (also)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Occasional (naimittika/kāmya) śrāddhas as remedies for planetary afflictions, bad dreams, and as sanctification at new harvest

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When disorder appears through omens or afflictions, dharmic rites—especially offerings connected with ancestors—serve as pacifying, restorative action.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Respond to anxiety and uncertainty with ethical, community-centered acts (charity, remembrance, prayer) rather than superstition or panic.

Vishishtadvaita: Even worldly disturbances are integrated into a theistic moral order where remedial action becomes service to the Lord’s law (niyati).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Nakshatras
• Grahas
• Pitrs (implied by śrāddha)

FAQs

What is the significance of performing śrāddha during graha or nakṣatra afflictions in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents śrāddha as an occasional, dharmic countermeasure—performed when cosmic/psychological inauspiciousness (planetary pressure or bad dreams) arises, to restore auspicious order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain when to do desire-motivated (kāmya) śrāddha?

He lists specific triggers—afflictions from stars/planets, the sight of ominous dreams, and the arrival of the new harvest—indicating that kāmya/naimittika śrāddhas are timed to life-events and signs.

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

Even while discussing ritual details, the Purana frames dharma as part of Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty: rites like śrāddha uphold harmony in the world-order that ultimately rests in the Supreme Preserver.