Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 40
आनर्त उवाच । किमर्थं क्रियते श्राद्धममावास्यादिने द्विज । विशेषेण ममाचक्ष्य विस्तरेण यथातथम्
ānarta uvāca | kimarthaṃ kriyate śrāddhamamāvāsyādine dvija | viśeṣeṇa mamācakṣya vistareṇa yathātatham
Ānarta dit : Ô brāhmane, dans quel but accomplit-on le Śrāddha au jour d’Amāvāsyā, la nouvelle lune ? Explique-le-moi tout spécialement, pleinement et dans l’ordre convenable.
Ānarta
Listener: a brāhmaṇa teacher (unnamed)
Scene: A respectful inquirer named Ānarta addresses a learned brāhmaṇa, hands folded, asking for the special reason for amāvāsyā śrāddha; the setting suggests a tīrtha rest-house or hermitage near a pilgrimage route.
FAQs
Inquiry into dharma is itself praised: the verse introduces a teaching dialogue on the deeper purpose of amāvāsyā Śrāddha.
The verse is a question within a Tīrthamāhātmya chapter; it frames the doctrine of śrāddha rather than naming a site.
The topic is the prescription of performing Śrāddha on amāvāsyā; the verse itself requests the rationale and details.