Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 22
Gṛhastha-Dharma: How a Householder Attains Liberation by Offering All to Vāsudeva
अयने विषुवे कुर्याद् व्यतीपाते दिनक्षये । चन्द्रादित्योपरागे च द्वादश्यां श्रवणेषु च ॥ २० ॥ तृतीयायां शुक्लपक्षे नवम्यामथ कार्तिके । चतसृष्वप्यष्टकासु हेमन्ते शिशिरे तथा ॥ २१ ॥ माघे च सितसप्तम्यां मघाराकासमागमे । राकया चानुमत्या च मासर्क्षाणि युतान्यपि ॥ २२ ॥ द्वादश्यामनुराधा स्याच्छ्रवणस्तिस्र उत्तरा: । तिसृष्वेकादशी वासु जन्मर्क्षश्रोणयोगूयुक् ॥ २३ ॥
ayane viṣuve kuryād vyatīpāte dina-kṣaye candrādityoparāge ca dvādaśyāṁ śravaṇeṣu ca
On doit aussi accomplir le śrāddha à Akṣaya-tṛtīyā, au neuvième jour de la quinzaine claire de Kārtika, lors des quatre aṣṭakā des saisons hemanta et śiśira, au septième jour clair de Māgha, quand la nakṣatra Maghā se joint à la pleine lune, aux pleines lunes Rākā et Anumatī, et aux tithi unis aux nakṣatra qui donnent leur nom aux mois.
The word ayana means “path” or “going.” The six months when the sun moves toward the north are called uttarāyaṇa, or the northern path, and the six months when it moves south are called dakṣiṇāyana, or the southern path. These are mentioned in Bhagavad-gītā (8.24-25). The first day when the sun begins to move north and enter the zodiacal sign of Capricorn is called Makara-saṅkrānti, and the first day when the sun begins to move south and enter the sign of Cancer is called Karkaṭa-saṅkrānti. On these two days of the year, one should perform the śrāddha ceremony.
FAQs
It highlights auspicious junctions like solstices, equinoxes, vyatīpāta, day’s end, eclipses, and Dvādaśī (especially with Śravaṇa) as times to perform dharmic acts such as worship and charity.
In teaching gṛhastha-dharma, Śukadeva explains when householders can most effectively dedicate resources and time to devotion, charity, and purification.
Use spiritually meaningful days (e.g., Dvādaśī or eclipse days) to increase japa, charity, fasting or simple sattvic discipline, and to remember Bhagavān with greater focus.