Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 88
यथेह बन्धने कश्चिद्रक्ष्यते विषमैर्नरैः । प्रेतपिंडा न दीयंते षोडशश्राद्धपूर्वकाः
yatheha bandhane kaścidrakṣyate viṣamairnaraiḥ | pretapiṃḍā na dīyaṃte ṣoḍaśaśrāddhapūrvakāḥ
Sebagaimana di dunia ini seseorang yang terbelenggu dijaga oleh orang-orang keras, demikian pula persembahan piṇḍa bagi preta—yang semestinya dimulai dengan enam belas śrāddha—tidak diberikan.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative frame)
Scene: Two parallel scenes: a prisoner guarded by stern men; beside it, a preta guarded in the otherworld, while a family neglects to offer piṇḍas—highlighting the cause of continued bondage.
FAQs
Neglect of piṇḍa and śrāddha is likened to leaving someone imprisoned—ritual duty is framed as liberation and care.
No sacred site is specified; the verse is primarily about the necessity of śrāddha and piṇḍa for the departed.
Offer pretapiṇḍas in the proper sequence, beginning with the ṣoḍaśa-śrāddhas.