Vamana Purana — Glory of Prithudaka Tirtha, Shloka 8
The Glory of Prithudaka Tirtha and the Akshaya Tithi at Kurukshetra
आषाढे मासि मार्गर्क्षे चन्द्रक्षयतिथिर्हि या तस्यां पुरन्दरः प्रीतः पिण्डं पितृषु भक्तितः
āṣāḍhe māsi mārgarkṣe candrakṣayatithirhi yā tasyāṃ purandaraḥ prītaḥ piṇḍaṃ pitṛṣu bhaktitaḥ
在阿沙荼月（Āṣāḍha），逢名为“摩尔伽”（Mārga）的宿（nakṣatra），又值称作“月减”（candrakṣaya，月亏）的月日（tithi）之时；于此因缘，若以虔敬向祖灵（Pitṛ）奉献团食供（piṇḍa），则破城者因陀罗（Purandara, Indra）心生欢喜。
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FAQs
Devotion expressed through pitṛ-kārya (ancestor rites) sustains both family dharma and cosmic reciprocity. The verse links private duty (śrāddha) with divine approval (Indra’s pleasure), teaching that social/cosmic welfare is upheld by faithful ritual obligations.
This is primarily ‘Ācāra/Dharma’ (ritual prescription) content embedded in Purāṇic literature, not one of the core five marks (sarga, pratisarga, vaṃśa, manvantara, vaṃśānucarita), though Purāṇas routinely include such kalpa-like calendrical guidance.
The waning moon (candrakṣaya) symbolizes decline and mortality; offering piṇḍa at such a time ritually integrates impermanence with gratitude toward ancestors. Indra’s satisfaction suggests that honoring lineage and the departed supports the devas’ order as well.