Shloka 22

Vaitaraṇī: Torments of the Sinful, Sins Enumerated, and the Vaitaraṇī Go-dāna Rite

Devanagari script

अयने विषुवे पुण्ये व्यतीपाते दिनोदये / चन्द्रसूर्योपरागे वा संक्रान्तौ दर्शवासरे

Transliteration

ayane viṣuve puṇye vyatīpāte dinodaye / candrasūryoparāge vā saṃkrāntau darśavāsare

Translation

Aux solstices et aux équinoxes sacrés, lors du méritoire Vyatīpāta, à l’aurore, durant les éclipses de lune ou de soleil, au temps de la saṅkrānti (transit solaire) et au jour de nouvelle lune : telles sont des occasions tout particulièrement saintes.

Word by Word

• अयने: at the solstice (ayana)
• अयने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विषुवे: at the equinox
• विषुवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुण्ये: auspicious
• पुण्ये: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying the time)

• व्यतीपाते: at Vyatīpāta (astronomical conjunction)
• व्यतीपाते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यतीपात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दिनोदये: at sunrise/daybreak
• दिनोदये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक) + उदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष: ‘दिनस्य उदयः’ (at daybreak)

• चन्द्रसूर्योपरागे: at a lunar or solar eclipse
• चन्द्रसूर्योपरागे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + उपराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद + तत्पुरुष: ‘चन्द्रस्य सूर्यस्य च उपरागः’ (at lunar/solar eclipse)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• संक्रान्तौ: at Saṅkrānti (solar ingress)
• संक्रान्तौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्रान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दर्शवासरे: on the new-moon day
• दर्शवासरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्श (प्रातिपदिक) + वासर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष: ‘दर्शस्य वासरः’ (on the new-moon day)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Ayana (solstice), Viṣuva (equinox), Vyatīpāta, sunrise, lunar/solar eclipse, Saṅkrānti, Darśa (new-moon)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred time (kāla) amplifies the fruit of dharmic acts; align giving/rites with cosmically charged occasions.

Vedantic Theme: Ṛta/kāla as an ordering principle: dharma practiced in harmony with cosmic rhythms refines saṃskāra and supports higher ends.

Application: Mark solstices/equinoxes, eclipses, saṅkrānti, new-moon, sunrise, and vyatīpāta for charity, remembrance, and disciplined observance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: temporal-sacred setting (kāla)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: śrāddha timing and puṇya-kāla lists in ritual sections (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Chandra
• Surya

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious timings like saṅkrānti and eclipses in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists specific astronomical and calendrical moments considered especially merit-producing, making them preferred times for sacred acts—particularly rites connected with dharma and ancestral observances.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death journey described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, proper ritual timing supports śrāddha and related offerings that are traditionally understood to aid the departed (preta) and strengthen the family’s dharmic duty toward ancestors.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If planning śrāddha, tarpaṇa, or charitable giving, prioritize days like amāvāsyā, saṅkrānti, eclipses, and sunrise—while following local pañcāṅga guidance and family tradition.