Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 20
ब्राह्मणेन न भोक्तव्यं समायाते निमंत्रणे । अथ भुंक्ते च यो मोहात्स प्रयाति ह्यधोगतिम्
brāhmaṇena na bhoktavyaṃ samāyāte nimaṃtraṇe | atha bhuṃkte ca yo mohātsa prayāti hyadhogatim
لا ينبغي للبراهمن أن يأكل حين تكون الدعوة قد وصلت لتوّها. فإن أكل مع ذلك عن غفلةٍ ووهمٍ سقط يقينًا إلى حالٍ أدنى.
Bhartṛyajña (Śrāddha-kalpa instruction)
Scene: A brāhmaṇa seated to eat while a messenger arrives with an invitation; the brāhmaṇa hesitates, then either refrains (ideal) or eats (warning); a downward path motif symbolizes ‘adhogati’.
FAQs
Discipline and correct timing are part of ritual purity; ignoring them is spiritually harmful.
The instruction belongs to the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra-māhātmya context in Nāgara Khaṇḍa.
A Brāhmaṇa should refrain from eating at the improper moment connected with an arriving invitation; deluded violation leads to downfall.