Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 70
स्पर्धंते सहिता दैवैः पितरश्च विशेषतः । वंशजेन प्रदत्तस्य प्रभावात्सुरसत्तमाः
spardhaṃte sahitā daivaiḥ pitaraśca viśeṣataḥ | vaṃśajena pradattasya prabhāvātsurasattamāḥ
Ô le meilleur des dieux, les Pitṛs—tout particulièrement—avec les Devas, rivalisent entre eux, en raison de la puissance des offrandes faites par un descendant.
Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narrator)
Listener: Surasattama (addressed: ‘O best among the gods’)
Scene: Devas and pitṛs appear in a subtle celestial assembly, leaning forward as if vying to receive the descendant’s offering; below, a descendant performs śrāddha with focused intent.
FAQs
Lineage-based duty (pitṛ-dharma) is celebrated: offerings by descendants are described as exceptionally potent.
The teaching appears within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya’s Gajacchāyā-māhātmya narrative frame.
The emphasis is on the efficacy of Śrāddha/dāna performed by one’s descendant (vaṃśaja).