Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 13
तस्मान्न दक्षिणाहीनं श्राद्धं कार्यं विपश्चिता । य इच्छेच्छाश्वतीं तृप्तिं पितॄणामात्मनश्च यः
tasmānna dakṣiṇāhīnaṃ śrāddhaṃ kāryaṃ vipaścitā | ya icchecchāśvatīṃ tṛptiṃ pitṝṇāmātmanaśca yaḥ
Oleh itu, orang bijaksana tidak patut melakukan śrāddha tanpa dakṣiṇā—jika seseorang menginginkan kepuasan yang kekal bagi para Pitṛ dan bagi dirinya sendiri juga.
Unspecified (Tīrthamāhātmya dialogue voice)
Scene: A ‘vipascit’ (wise householder) preparing dakṣiṇā before beginning śrāddha—cloth folded, coins or grains measured—signaling foresight; pitṛs symbolically present as subtle, benevolent witnesses.
FAQs
Śrāddha is not merely formal; generosity (dakṣiṇā) is integral to securing enduring benefit for ancestors and the performer.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it provides a general śrāddha injunction within a tīrtha-māhātmya chapter.
Do not perform śrāddha without dakṣiṇā if the goal is lasting pitṛ-tṛpti (ancestor satisfaction) and personal merit.