Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 20
Gṛhastha-Dharma: How a Householder Attains Liberation by Offering All to Vāsudeva
अयने विषुवे कुर्याद् व्यतीपाते दिनक्षये । चन्द्रादित्योपरागे च द्वादश्यां श्रवणेषु च ॥ २० ॥ तृतीयायां शुक्लपक्षे नवम्यामथ कार्तिके । चतसृष्वप्यष्टकासु हेमन्ते शिशिरे तथा ॥ २१ ॥ माघे च सितसप्तम्यां मघाराकासमागमे । राकया चानुमत्या च मासर्क्षाणि युतान्यपि ॥ २२ ॥ द्वादश्यामनुराधा स्याच्छ्रवणस्तिस्र उत्तरा: । तिसृष्वेकादशी वासु जन्मर्क्षश्रोणयोगूयुक् ॥ २३ ॥
ayane viṣuve kuryād vyatīpāte dina-kṣaye candrādityoparāge ca dvādaśyāṁ śravaṇeṣu ca
应在北行与南行之交的诸转日（saṅkrānti）、昼夜平分日（viṣuva）、名为“Vyatīpāta”的瑜伽、三月日并合之“日损”、日月食之时、十二日（dvādaśī）以及与室宿（Śravaṇa）相应之日行施食祭（śrāddha）。亦应于不坏三日（Akṣaya-tṛtīyā）、迦尔提迦月白半第九日、寒季与冷季之四个阿湿塔迦日、摩伽月白半第七日、摩伽宿与满月相会之时、以及满月或近满月（rākā、anumati）并与各月命名之宿相应之日行之。又当十二日与阿奴罗陀（Anurādhā）、室宿或三“北宿”（Uttara三宿）相会时，当十一日与三“北宿”相会时，亦当行之；最后，于与自身生宿（janma-nakṣatra）或室宿相会之日亦应行施食祭。
The word ayana means “path” or “going.” The six months when the sun moves toward the north are called uttarāyaṇa, or the northern path, and the six months when it moves south are called dakṣiṇāyana, or the southern path. These are mentioned in Bhagavad-gītā (8.24-25). The first day when the sun begins to move north and enter the zodiacal sign of Capricorn is called Makara-saṅkrānti, and the first day when the sun begins to move south and enter the sign of Cancer is called Karkaṭa-saṅkrānti. On these two days of the year, one should perform the śrāddha ceremony.
FAQs
This verse lists lunar and solar eclipses as spiritually significant times when one should perform prescribed pious acts such as charity and worship.
In the context of teaching gṛhastha-dharma, he highlights times traditionally considered potent for purification and merit, encouraging householders to align daily life with devotional duty.
Use such days to simplify life, increase japa and worship, give donations or service, and dedicate the day’s actions to Viṣṇu with sincerity.