Shloka 23
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 accomplir le śrāddha au Dvādaśī lorsqu’il est conjoint à Anurādhā, Śravaṇa ou aux trois Uttara; et aussi à l’Ekādaśī lorsqu’il est conjoint aux trois Uttara. Enfin, on le fera encore les jours unis à sa propre étoile de naissance (janma-nakṣatra) ou à la nakṣatra Śravaṇa.
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
In Canto 7, Chapter 14, Śukadeva lists specific auspicious times—eclipses, solstices, equinox, certain tithis like Ekādaśī and Dvādaśī, and key nakṣatra combinations—when dāna and vrata are especially beneficial.
Because this chapter teaches ideal gṛhastha-dharma aligned with bhakti—showing how householders can sanctify time through regulated vows, charity, and worship, turning ordinary life into devotional practice.
Prioritize regular sacred days like Ekādaśī/Dvādaśī for extra japa, kīrtana, scripture reading, fasting/simplicity, and charity; and use major calendar events (e.g., eclipses or Kārtika) as reminders to intensify devotion and giving.