Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 7
श्राद्धेऽथ क्रियमाणे तु यत्किंचित्पतति क्षितौ । पुष्पगन्धोदकं चान्नमपि तोयं नरेश्वर
śrāddhe'tha kriyamāṇe tu yatkiṃcitpatati kṣitau | puṣpagandhodakaṃ cānnamapi toyaṃ nareśvara
يا سيّد الناس، حين يُقام شرادها (śrāddha)، فإن كل ما يسقط على الأرض—زهورًا كان أو ماءً معطّرًا أو طعامًا أو حتى ماءً خالصًا—يصير قربانًا على نحوٍ يليق به.
Unspecified (Tīrthamāhātmya dialogue voice; likely a Purāṇic narrator addressing a king)
Listener: nareśvara (king)
Scene: During śrāddha, a few flower petals and drops of scented water fall from the offerer’s hand onto the earth; the ground glows subtly, indicating acceptance, while pitṛs in a faint upper register receive the essence.
FAQs
Even incidental remnants produced during a properly intended śrāddha can become spiritually meaningful, supporting the rite’s compassionate reach.
This verse is within a Tīrthamāhātmya context of Nāgarakhaṇḍa, but the specific tīrtha name is not stated in the verse itself.
It highlights the śrāddha context and implicitly treats fallen flowers, scented water, food, and water as part of the rite’s effective offering-field.