Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 12
चंद्रे क्षीणे चतुर्दश्यां नभस्ये पिंडमाहरेत् । पितॄणामक्षया तृप्तिर्भविष्यति न संशयः
caṃdre kṣīṇe caturdaśyāṃ nabhasye piṃḍamāharet | pitṝṇāmakṣayā tṛptirbhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ
Lorsque la lune décroît—au quatorzième jour lunaire du mois de Nabhas—qu’on apporte et qu’on offre le piṇḍa ; alors la satisfaction des ancêtres devient inépuisable, sans aucun doute.
Skanda (deduced from continuous instruction style)
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya tīrthas (general prescription within Dharmāraṇya Māhātmya)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A śrāddha scene at a forest-tīrtha: a yajamāna seated on kuśa, facing south, offering rice piṇḍas with tilodaka under a waning moon; pitṛs subtly depicted receiving offerings.
FAQs
Right timing (kāla) in dharma—especially for pitṛ rites—multiplies spiritual efficacy into lasting benefit.
The instruction belongs to the Dharmāraṇya/Gayā-oriented tīrtha context where piṇḍa offerings are emphasized.
Offer piṇḍa on the waning-moon caturdaśī in the month of Nabhas (Bhādrapada) for akṣaya pitṛ-tṛpti.