dhūmo rātris tathā kṛiṣhṇaḥ ṣhaṇ-māsā dakṣhiṇāyanam
tatra chāndramasaṁ jyotir yogī prāpya nivartate
dhūmaḥ — smoke;
rātriḥ — night;
tathā — and;
kṛiṣhṇaḥ — the dark fortnight of the moon;
ṣhaṭ-māsāḥ — six months;
dakṣhiṇa-ayanam — the sun’s southern course;
tatra — there;
chāndra-masam — lunar;
jyotiḥ — light;
yogī — a yogi;
prāpya — attain;
nivartate — comes back;
In this verse, the focus is on what happens to a person after they die, especially concerning when and how they leave this world. It talks about different times and conditions related to death. Let’s break this down in simpler terms:
1. **Different Times of Death:** The verse mentions several specific times: during smoke, at night, during the dark phase of the moon (or the moonlight fortnight), and in the six months when the sun travels south. These are all considered less favorable times for passing away.
- For example, if someone dies at night, or when there is smoke in the air, it’s said that they take a journey that leads them back to this world.
2. **Reaching the Moon:** The verse also talks about people who reach the moon after they die. In some ancient texts, it's suggested that people who live a good life, performing rituals and good deeds, can reach the moon and enjoy a special life there for about 10,000 years. They consume a special drink called 'soma-rasa' that makes life on the moon enjoyable.
- You can think of it like taking a vacation to a wonderful place after death but eventually having to return to your original home.
3. **Coming Back:** The key takeaway here is that those who leave this world during these specified times will eventually return to Earth. It means that they do not achieve a permanent state of peace or liberation but rather experience a cycle where they live, enjoy, and then come back here again.
- This is similar to taking a trip and returning rather than finding a new place to settle down.
4. **Understanding the Bigger Picture:** This verse ties into a larger belief in reincarnation – the idea that we go through cycles of birth and death. Those who pass away in better circumstances (such as during daylight or favorable times) are more likely to achieve a higher state of existence, while those who don’t might find themselves coming back again to start over.
- So, it encourages one to think about the actions and times in which they live their life and how that could affect what happens after death.
In summary, this verse illustrates that the timing of one's death and the life they lived can affect their journey afterwards. It teaches us about the cyclical nature of existence and the importance of living wisely.