प्रेतसंस्था मृताहश्च कर्मण्यभ्युदये नृप ॥२६॥
saá¹skÄra-kÄlo jÄyÄyÄ
apatyasyÄtmanas tathÄ
preta-saá¹sthÄ má¹›tÄhaÅ› ca
karmaṇy abhyudaye nṛpa
saá¹skÄra-kÄlaḥ - at the proper time indicated for Vedic reformatory performances; jÄyÄyÄḥ - for the wife; apatyasya - for the children; Ätmanaḥ - and one's own self; tathÄ - as well as; preta-saá¹sthÄ - funeral ceremonies; má¹›ta-ahaḥ - annual death ceremonies; ca - and; karmaṇi - of fruitive activity; abhyudaye - for furtherance; ná¹›pa - O King.
O King Yudhiá¹£á¹hira, 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.
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 Å›Ästra. Bhagavad-gÄ«tÄ strongly recommends, jñÄtvÄ Å›Ästra-vidhÄnoktam: everything must be performed as indicated in the Å›Ästras. For Kali-yuga, the Å›Ästras enjoin that saá¹…kÄ«rtana-yajña be performed always: kÄ«rtanÄ«yaḥ sadÄ hariḥ. All the ritualistic ceremonies recommended in the Å›Ästras must be preceded and followed by saá¹…kÄ«rtana. This is the recommendation of ÅšrÄ«la JÄ«va GosvÄmÄ«.
