SB 7.14.26 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

संस्कारकालो जायाया अपत्यस्यात्मनस्तथा । प्रेतसंस्था मृताहश्च कर्मण्यभ्युदये नृप ॥ २६ ॥

Verse text

saṁskāra-kālo jāyāyā apatyasyātmanas tathā preta-saṁsthā mṛtāhaś ca karmaṇy abhyudaye nṛpa

Synonyms

saṁskāra — kālaḥ — at the proper time indicated for Vedic reformatory performances ; jāyāyāḥ — for the wife ; apatyasya — for the children ; ātmanaḥ — and one’s own self ; tathā — as well as ; preta — saṁsthā — funeral ceremonies ; mṛta — ahaḥ — annual death ceremonies ; ca — and ; karmaṇi — of fruitive activity ; abhyudaye — for furtherance ; nṛpa — O King .

Translation

O King Yudhiṣṭhira, at the time prescribed for reformatory ritualistic ceremonies for one’s self, one’s wife or one’s children, or during funeral ceremonies and annual death ceremonies, one must perform the auspicious ceremonies mentioned above in order to flourish in fruitive activities.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

O King Yudhiṣṭhira! At the time prescribed for saṁskāras for one’s self, one’s wife or one’s children, or during funeral ceremonies and annual death ceremonies, one obtains great benefit by performing them at the times mentioned above. At the time of saṁskāras for the wife such as puṁsavana, or for the children, such as jāta-karma, or for oneself, such as initiation into sacrifice, at the time of burning a body (preta-saṁsthā) and yearly śrāddhas, there will be great benefit by using those auspicious times.

Purport

The Vedas recommend many ritualistic ceremonies to be performed with one’s wife, on the birthdays of one’s children, or during funeral ceremonies, and there are also personal reformatory methods like initiation. These must be observed according to time and circumstances and the directions of the śāstra. Bhagavad-gītā strongly recommends, jṣātvā śāstra-vidhānoktam: everything must be performed as indicated in the śāstras. For Kali-yuga, the śāstras enjoin that saṅkīrtana-yajṣa be performed always: kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ. All the ritualistic ceremonies recommended in the śāstras must be preceded and followed by saṅkīrtana. This is the recommendation of Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī.