Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 70
स्पर्धंते सहिता दैवैः पितरश्च विशेषतः । वंशजेन प्रदत्तस्य प्रभावात्सुरसत्तमाः
spardhaṃte sahitā daivaiḥ pitaraśca viśeṣataḥ | vaṃśajena pradattasya prabhāvātsurasattamāḥ
Wahai yang terbaik di antara para dewa, berkat daya persembahan yang diberikan oleh seorang keturunan, para Pitṛ—terutama—bersama para Deva saling berlomba satu sama lain.
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).