Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 12
चंद्रे क्षीणे चतुर्दश्यां नभस्ये पिंडमाहरेत् । पितॄणामक्षया तृप्तिर्भविष्यति न संशयः
caṃdre kṣīṇe caturdaśyāṃ nabhasye piṃḍamāharet | pitṝṇāmakṣayā tṛptirbhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ
عند نقصان القمر—في اليوم القمري الرابع عشر من شهر نَبْهَس—فليُقدَّم قُربانُ البِنْدَا (piṇḍa)؛ فتكونُ سعادةُ الأسلاف غيرَ نافدة، ولا شكّ في ذلك.
Skanda (deduced from continuous instruction style)
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya tīrthas (general prescription within Dharmāraṇya Māhātmya)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A śrāddha scene at a forest-tīrtha: a yajamāna seated on kuśa, facing south, offering rice piṇḍas with tilodaka under a waning moon; pitṛs subtly depicted receiving offerings.
FAQs
Right timing (kāla) in dharma—especially for pitṛ rites—multiplies spiritual efficacy into lasting benefit.
The instruction belongs to the Dharmāraṇya/Gayā-oriented tīrtha context where piṇḍa offerings are emphasized.
Offer piṇḍa on the waning-moon caturdaśī in the month of Nabhas (Bhādrapada) for akṣaya pitṛ-tṛpti.