Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.14.26

saḿskāra-kālo jāyāyā

apatyasyātmanas tathā

preta-saḿsthā mṛtāhaś ca

karmaṇy abhyudaye nṛpa

SYNONYMS

saḿskāra-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-saḿsthā — 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 the directions of the śāstra. Bhagavad-gītā strongly recommends, jñātvā śāstra-vidhānoktam: everything must be performed as indicated in the śāstras. For Kali-yuga, the śāstras enjoin that sańkīrtana-yajña be performed always: kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ [Cc. adi 17.31]. All the ritualistic ceremonies recommended in the śāstras must be preceded and followed by sańkīrtana. This is the recommendation of Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness