Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 22
ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः । पितृमेधेन राजेंद्र कृतेन विधिपूर्वकम् । निरयस्था दिवं यांति यद्यपि स्युः सुपापिनः
brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ | pitṛmedhena rājeṃdra kṛtena vidhipūrvakam | nirayasthā divaṃ yāṃti yadyapi syuḥ supāpinaḥ
The brāhmaṇas said: O lord of kings, when the Pitṛmedha is performed in due form according to the prescribed rule, the ancestors dwelling in hell ascend to heaven, even though they be greatly sinful.
Brāhmaṇas
Tirtha: Prabhāsa (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A circle of brāhmaṇas instructs a king about Pitṛmedha; in the background, a symbolic vision shows ancestors rising from a dark nether realm toward a luminous heaven, guided by ritual fire and offerings.
FAQs
Properly performed ancestral rites are depicted as powerfully redemptive, extending grace even to heavily burdened ancestors.
A particular site is not named; the emphasis is on the efficacy of the Pitṛmedha performed according to śāstric rule.
Perform Pitṛmedha ‘vidhi-pūrvakam’—strictly following the prescribed ritual procedure.