Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 42
कुलानां तारयेद्विंशं दशपूर्वान्दशापरान् । गयादिपञ्चस्थानेषु यः श्राद्धं कुरुते नरः
kulānāṃ tārayedviṃśaṃ daśapūrvāndaśāparān | gayādipañcasthāneṣu yaḥ śrāddhaṃ kurute naraḥ
గయాది ఐదు పుణ్యస్థానాలలో ఎవడు శ్రాద్ధం చేస్తాడో, అతడు తన వంశంలోని ఇరవై తరాలను తరింపజేస్తాడు—పది ముందువారు, పది తరువాతివారు।
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced from Āvantya Khaṇḍa narrative style)
Tirtha: Pañca-sthāna beginning with Gayā (as benchmark)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A pilgrim performs śrāddha with piṇḍa and tila-tarpaṇa at a sacred riverbank/altar, with ancestral figures subtly depicted receiving offerings; the verse foregrounds the ‘twenty generations’ motif.
FAQs
Pitṛ-dharma is portrayed as powerful: proper śrāddha at renowned tīrthas benefits both ancestors and descendants.
Gayā is explicitly named, along with four other major śrāddha sites (pañca-sthānas) referenced collectively.
Performing śrāddha at the pañca-sthānas, especially at Gayā.