Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 71
वरं ददुर्महेशस्य नीलरूपस्य धर्मतः । एकादशाहे प्रेतस्य यस्य नोत्सृज्यते वृषः
varaṃ dadurmaheśasya nīlarūpasya dharmataḥ | ekādaśāhe pretasya yasya notsṛjyate vṛṣaḥ
Selon le dharma, ils demandèrent une grâce à Maheśa sous sa forme Nīlarūpa : «Pour ce preta pour qui, au onzième jour, le taureau n’est pas relâché…».
Narrator (introducing the brāhmaṇas’ request to Nīlarūpa Maheśa)
Tirtha: Revā-tīrtha (implied)
Type: river
Scene: Brāhmaṇas, in a solemn assembly, petition Maheśa in a dark-blue (nīla) aspect, raising the issue of a departed spirit whose eleventh-day bull-release was not performed.
FAQs
Purāṇic dharma treats post-death rites as sacred duties; seeking Śiva’s guidance ensures these acts are aligned with righteousness and compassion for the departed.
The adhyāya’s tīrtha is portrayed as a place where correct ekādaśāha-related questions and boons concerning the preta are addressed in the presence of Nīlarūpa Śiva.
The verse references the eleventh-day (ekādaśāha) observance for a preta and the non-release of a ritual bull (vṛṣa), pointing to the vṛṣotsarga-related funerary framework.