Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 9
प्रकर्षेण व्रजेद्यस्मात्तस्मात्प्रेतः प्रकीर्तितः । पुत्रेण भ्रात्रा पत्न्या वा तस्य कार्या सपिंडता
prakarṣeṇa vrajedyasmāttasmātpretaḥ prakīrtitaḥ | putreṇa bhrātrā patnyā vā tasya kāryā sapiṃḍatā
Parce qu’il « s’en va au loin » avec force, on l’appelle donc preta (esprit du défunt). Pour lui, le rite qui le fait sapinda doit être accompli—par un fils, ou par un frère, ou par l’épouse.
Bhartṛyajña
Type: ghat
Listener: Ānarta
Scene: A ritual scene at a ghat: piṇḍas on darbha, water offerings, and the family—son/brother/wife—performing sapiṇḍīkaraṇa for the departed; a subtle, ethereal preta figure suggested as being guided onward.
FAQs
Ritual responsibility for the departed is not limited to a son; dharma provides compassionate alternatives within the family to ensure the preta is properly transitioned.
This verse is primarily ritual-instructional and does not name a specific tīrtha, though it occurs within a tīrtha-māhātmya setting.
Sapiṇḍatā/sapiṇḍīkaraṇa should be performed for the departed, and eligible performers include son, brother, or wife.