Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 59
विश्वेदेवान्विना श्राद्धं करिष्याम्यहमद्य भोः । तथान्ये मानवाः सर्वे करिष्यंति धरातले
viśvedevānvinā śrāddhaṃ kariṣyāmyahamadya bhoḥ | tathānye mānavāḥ sarve kariṣyaṃti dharātale
„Ohne die Viśvedevas werde ich heute das Śrāddha vollziehen; und ebenso werden alle anderen Menschen auf Erden es vollziehen.“
Śakra (Indra)
Scene: Indra declares he will perform śrāddha without Viśvedevas and that humans will follow suit; brāhmaṇas stand as witnesses, some concerned, as the pronouncement hangs over the ritual space like an irreversible decree.
FAQs
Ritual norms can become established through exemplary acts—yet the Purāṇic narrative warns how emotion can reshape tradition.
The statement arises within the Gayā tīrtha episode, indirectly highlighting the gravity of rites performed in such places.
A (controversial) allowance is voiced: performing śrāddha without invoking Viśvedevas.