Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 118
प्रेता ऊचुः । प्रायश्चित्तं विना पुत्र द्वादशीवेधसंभवम् । आपन्न गच्छते नूनं प्रेतत्वं नैव गच्छति
pretā ūcuḥ | prāyaścittaṃ vinā putra dvādaśīvedhasaṃbhavam | āpanna gacchate nūnaṃ pretatvaṃ naiva gacchati
பிரேதர்கள் கூறினர்—மகனே, த்வாதசி மீறலால் உண்டான குற்றத்திற்கு பிராயச்சித்தம் இல்லாமல் ஒருவர் நிச்சயமாக ஆபத்தில் விழுவான்; பிரேதத்துவம் சிறிதும் நீங்காது।
Pretas (Candraśarman’s forefathers)
Tirtha: Dvārakā
Type: kshetra
Listener: ‘P पुत्र’—a human addressed as son (likely Candraśarman or a compassionate interlocutor in the narrative)
Scene: A group of pretas—gaunt, grey, with pleading eyes—address a ‘son’ (a compassionate human interlocutor). Behind them, a faint vision of Dvādaśī calendar marks and a shining Keśava shrine, indicating the missed vow and the path of remedy through prāyaścitta.
FAQs
When a vow is violated, dharma requires prāyaścitta; without it, the karmic condition persists and obstructs spiritual well-being.
The teaching is embedded in Dvārakā Māhātmya, linking vow-discipline to the sanctity of Dvārakā’s devotional culture.
Perform prāyaścitta specifically for Dvādaśī-vedha (the violation/defilement of the Dvādaśī observance).