Shloka 23
अध्याय २९७ — श्रेयः, धृति, दान-नियमाः
Welfare, Steadfastness, and Norms of Giving
आपने तूत्तरां काष्ठां सूर्ये यो निधन व्रजेत् नक्षत्रे च मुहुर्ते च पुण्ये राजन् स पुण्यकृत्
āpane tūttarāṁ kāṣṭhāṁ sūrye yo nidhanaṁ vrajet | nakṣatre ca muhūrte ca puṇye rājan sa puṇyakṛt ||
पराशर म्हणाले—राजन्! सूर्य उत्तरायणास असताना, शुभ नक्षत्र व पवित्र मुहूर्तात ज्याला मृत्यू येतो, तो पुण्यकर्मा व शुभगतीचा मानला जातो.
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links a ‘good death’ with auspicious cosmic timing—uttarāyaṇa, favorable nakṣatra, and pure muhūrta—presenting such a departure as a sign (and fruit) of accumulated merit (puṇya) and righteous living.
Parāśara addresses a king and explains a dharma-oriented criterion for auspicious departure from life: dying during the sun’s northward course and at an auspicious constellation and moment is described as the lot of a meritorious person.