Shloka 16
Vainya-Aśvamedhe Atri–Gautama–Sanatkumāra-Nirṇaya
Vainya’s Sacrifice and the Settlement of a Dharmic Dispute
तेषां पुण्यतमा रात्रि: पर्वसंधौ सम शारदी । तत्रैव वसतामासीत् कार्तिकी जनमेजय,जनमेजय! उनके वहीं रहते समय पर्वकी संधि-वेलामें कार्तिककी शरत्पूर्णिमाकी परम पुण्यमयी रात्रि आयी
teṣāṁ puṇyatamā rātriḥ parvasandhau samaśāradī | tatraiva vasatām āsīt kārtikī janamejaya ||
ഹേ ജനമേജയ! അവർ അവിടെയേ വസിച്ചിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ, പർവസന്ധിക്കാലത്ത് കാർത്തിക മാസത്തിലെ ശരത്പൂർണ്ണിമയായ അത്യന്തം പുണ്യമയമായ രാത്രി എത്തി।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and spiritual significance of sacred time: certain calendrical moments—like the Kārtika full-moon at a parva-junction—are portrayed as especially conducive to accruing puṇya through disciplined, dharmic conduct (restraint, worship, vows, charity), reminding the listener that timing and intention matter in religious life.
Vaiśampāyana marks a specific auspicious moment in the story: while the group is staying in one place, the highly sacred autumnal Kārtika full-moon night arrives at the transition point of a parva (observance/festival), setting the scene for events or practices associated with that holy night.