Text 26]
Ideal Family Life
173
TRANSLATION
During these periods of seasonal change, if one bathes in the Ganges, in the Yamunā or in another sacred place, if one chants, offers fire sacrifices or executes vows, or if one worships the Supreme Lord, the brāhmaṇas, the forefathers, the demigods and the living entities in general, whatever he gives in charity yields a permanently beneficial result.
TEXT 26
संस्कारकालो जायाया अपत्यस्यात्मनस्तथा । प्रेतसंस्था मृताहश्च कर्मण्यम्युदये नृप ॥२६॥
saṁskāra-kālo jāyāyā apatyasyātmanas tathā preta-saṁsthā mṛtāhaś ca karmaṇy abhyudaye nṛpa
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.
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