Śrāddha’s Cosmic Reach and Kāla-Nirṇaya (Sacred Timings): Amāvāsyā, Nakṣatra-Yoga, Tīrtha, and Minimum Offerings
वैशाखमासस्य च या तृतीया नवम्य् असौ कार्त्तिकशुक्लपक्षे नभस्यमासस्य तु कृष्णपक्षे त्रयोदशी पञ्चदशी च माघे
vaiśākhamāsasya ca yā tṛtīyā navamy asau kārttikaśuklapakṣe nabhasyamāsasya tu kṛṣṇapakṣe trayodaśī pañcadaśī ca māghe
વૈશાખ માસની તૃતીયા, કાર્તિક શુક્લપક્ષની નવમી, નભસ્ય (ભાદ્રપદ) કૃષ્ણપક્ષની ત્રયોદશી, તેમજ માઘ માસની પઞ્ચદશી—આ તિથિઓ વિશેષ પુણ્યકારી તરીકે પ્રખ્યાત છે।
Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)
This verse lists particular tithis across key months as especially efficacious, showing that dharma is practiced in harmony with sacred time, where certain lunar configurations are treated as naturally conducive to merit and devotion.
By naming month-and-fortnight-specific tithis, Parāśara frames observance (vrata) as disciplined alignment with cosmic order—time itself becomes a vehicle for worship and the accumulation of puṇya.
Even when the verse focuses on dates, the underlying Vaishnava idea is that sacred time supports devotion directed to the Supreme—Vishnu—who upholds order and makes dharma fruitful when performed with right timing and intent.