Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 23
यः पितॄंस्तर्पयेत्तत्र प्रेतपक्षे जलैरपि । स तेषामनृणो भूत्वा पितृलोके महीयते
yaḥ pitṝṃstarpayettatra pretapakṣe jalairapi | sa teṣāmanṛṇo bhūtvā pitṛloke mahīyate
Barang siapa pada masa Pitṛ/Preta-pakṣa di sana menenteramkan para leluhur, walau hanya dengan tarpaṇa air, ia menjadi bebas dari hutang kepada mereka dan dimuliakan di alam Pitṛ.
Narrator (contextual Purāṇic speaker not explicit in this verse)
Tirtha: Rāmahrada
Type: kund
Listener: Brāhmaṇas/Ṛṣis
Scene: During Pitṛpakṣa, a pilgrim stands at Rāmahrada’s edge offering water with cupped hands; subtle ancestral silhouettes or a gentle light above the water suggests acceptance; the scene emphasizes simplicity and sincerity.
FAQs
Even simple offerings, when done at the right time and holy place, fulfill one’s duty to ancestors and bring spiritual honor.
The verse continues the praise of the same tīrtha context—Rāmahrada.
During Pitṛ/Preta-pakṣa, perform tarpaṇa to the Pitṛs at the tīrtha, even if only water is available.