Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
' नीलषण्डप्रमोक्षेण अमावास्यां तिलोदकै:ः
nīlaṣaṇḍa-pramokṣeṇa amāvāsyāṁ tilodakaiḥ
“ด้วยการปล่อย ‘นีลษัณฑะ’ และในวันอมาวาสยา ถวายน้ำผสมงาเพื่อทำตัรปณะ…”
शक्र उवाच
The verse highlights dharmic merit gained through timely, prescribed observances—especially Amāvāsyā offerings of sesame-water—emphasizing responsibility toward ancestors and the ethical value of disciplined ritual duty.
Indra (Śakra) is describing a specific religious practice: the ‘release’ (pramokṣa) of a nīlaṣaṇḍa as part of an observance, together with Amāvāsyā sesame-water offerings, presenting these acts as sources of spiritual merit within the broader instruction on dharma.