Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 6
ततस्तेषां तु यो ज्येष्ठो मांसादः प्रत्युवाच तम् । कृतांजलिपुटो भूत्वा विनयावनतः स्थितः
tatasteṣāṃ tu yo jyeṣṭho māṃsādaḥ pratyuvāca tam | kṛtāṃjalipuṭo bhūtvā vinayāvanataḥ sthitaḥ
Alors l’aîné d’entre eux —le mangeur de chair— lui répondit, debout les mains jointes en hommage, incliné avec une humble déférence.
Eldest of the three pretas (māṃsādaḥ)
Scene: The eldest preta, though terrifying, folds his hands in añjali and bows before the king, signaling a respectful dialogue about to unfold.
FAQs
Even fearsome beings may acknowledge rightful authority and humility; karmic suffering can produce reverence and openness to dharmic remedy.
Not mentioned in this verse; it introduces the speaking preta who will likely connect their plight to tīrtha-based expiation.
None explicitly; the posture of añjali signals supplication and the start of instructive discourse.