Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 49
सर्पमृत्योः सकाशान्मे प्रेतत्वं पुत्र संस्थितम् । तेन मे भवता दत्तं न किञ्चिदुपतिष्ठते
sarpamṛtyoḥ sakāśānme pretatvaṃ putra saṃsthitam | tena me bhavatā dattaṃ na kiñcidupatiṣṭhate
„Mein Sohn, durch den Tod durch eine Schlange bin ich in den Zustand eines Preta geraten. Darum erreicht mich nichts von dem, was du mir dargebracht hast.“
The father (deceased king) speaking to his son in a dream
Scene: In the dream, the sorrowful father confesses: due to death by serpent, he remains a preta; the son’s offerings do not reach him, heightening the tragedy and urgency.
FAQs
The text teaches that specific causes of death can require specific remedial rites; dharma is not merely ritual, but appropriately directed ritual.
No tīrtha is named yet; the need for a particular kṣetra-based rite is introduced here.
It implies that ordinary offerings are ineffective in this condition and that a specialized śrāddha (to be specified next) is required.