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 ||
پراشر نے کہا—اے راجن! جب سورج اُترایَن کی راہ پر ہو، اور مبارک نَکشتر اور پاکیزہ مُہورت میں جو شخص موت کو پہنچے، وہ پُنّیہ کرنے والا اور نیک انجام والا سمجھا جاتا ہے۔
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.