Shloka 23
Vaitaraṇī: Torments of the Sinful, Sins Enumerated, and the Vaitaraṇī Go-dāna Rite
अन्येषु पुण्यकालेषु दीयते दानमुत्तमम् / यदा तदा भवेद्वापि श्राद्धा दानं प्रति ध्रुवम्
anyeṣu puṇyakāleṣu dīyate dānamuttamam / yadā tadā bhavedvāpi śrāddhā dānaṃ prati dhruvam
Pada waktu-waktu baik yang lain, sedekah memang amat utama; namun pada bila-bila masa sekalipun, dalam konteks Śrāddha, pemberian itu dianggap kewajipan yang pasti dan tidak gagal.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Any time when śrāddha is undertaken; not restricted to only special puṇya-kāla
Concept: Charity is excellent at auspicious times, but in śrāddha it is a certain duty whenever performed.
Vedantic Theme: Nitya/naimittika karma: duty-based action purifies intention and supports the subtle welfare of ancestors and the doer’s saṃskāra.
Application: Do not postpone śrāddha-related giving; ensure appropriate dāna (food, dakṣiṇā, essentials) accompanies ancestral rites.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: ritual setting (gṛha/śrāddha place)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: śrāddha sections emphasizing dāna/dakṣiṇā as integral to rite (contextual)
FAQs
This verse states that while charity is excellent at any auspicious time, during Śrāddha it becomes a “dhruva”—a certain and dependable obligation—strengthening the rite’s intended benefit toward the Pitṛs.
In the Preta Kanda context, Śrāddha and associated dāna are presented as supportive acts performed by the living for the departed and the Pitṛs, forming a reliable ritual duty that aids the post-death religious economy of merit and remembrance.
If you perform Śrāddha (including during Pitṛ Pakṣa), prioritize sincere charity—food, essentials, or support to worthy recipients—as an integral part of the rite, even if the timing is not perfectly “auspicious” by other standards.