Text 26] Ideal Family Life 173

TRANSLATION

During these periods of seasonal change, if one bathes in the
Ganges, in the Yamuna or in another sacred place, if one chants,
offers fire sacrifices or executes vows, or if one worships the
Supreme Lord, the brahmanas, the forefathers, the demigods and
the living entities in general, whatever he gives in charity yields a
permanently beneficial result.

TEXT 26

ALES ATTA ATA |
Faden ae HATARD 77 1241

samskara-kalo jayaya
apatyasyatmanas tatha

preta-samstha mrtahas ca
karmany abhyudaye nrpa

samskara-kadlah—at the proper time indicated for Vedic reformatory
performances; ja@yayah—for the wife; apatyasya—for the children;
dtmanah—and one’s own self; tatha—as well as; preta-sarnstha—
funeral ceremonies; mrta-ahah—annual death ceremonies; ca—and;
karmani—of fruitive activity; abhyudaye—for furtherance; nrpa—O
King.

TRANSLATION

O King Yudhisthira, 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 initia-
tion. These must be observed according to time and circumstances and
