Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 3
ऋषय ऊचुः । अत्याश्चर्यमिदं सूत यद्ब्रवीषि महामते । यत्तेन पितरस्तत्र रुधिरेण प्रतर्पिताः
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | atyāścaryamidaṃ sūta yadbravīṣi mahāmate | yattena pitarastatra rudhireṇa pratarpitāḥ
ঋষিগণ বললেন—হে সূত, হে মহামতি! তুমি যা বলছ তা অতিশয় আশ্চর্য—যে সেখানে সেই রক্তে পিতৃগণ তৃপ্ত হয়েছিলেন।
Ṛṣis (the sages)
Tirtha: Rāmahrada
Type: kund
Listener: Sūta
Scene: A circle of sages, brows raised in wonder, address Sūta with folded hands; the setting suggests an āśrama discourse, with the mention of Rāmahrada’s startling pitṛ episode hanging in the air.
FAQs
Puranic dharma encourages scrutiny: even sacred legends are questioned when they appear to conflict with accepted ritual norms.
The discussion pertains to Rāmahrada, the tīrtha where the reported tarpaṇa occurred.
No new prescription; the sages raise an objection about the reported use of blood in pitṛ-tarpaṇa.