Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 15
चौरप्रायस्य कलुषाज्जन्म जायेज्जनस्य हि । अदक्षिणे वृथा यज्ञे कृते चाप्यविधानतः
cauraprāyasya kaluṣājjanma jāyejjanasya hi | adakṣiṇe vṛthā yajñe kṛte cāpyavidhānataḥ
চৌর্যসদৃশ কলুষিত যজ্ঞের দোষে মানুষের হীন পুনর্জন্ম ঘটে। যে যজ্ঞ দক্ষিণা ছাড়া, বৃথা ও বিধিবিরুদ্ধভাবে করা হয়, তা কলুষিত হয়ে যায়।
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating within Māheśvara-khaṇḍa context
Scene: A yajña scene where the patron withholds dakṣiṇā; the fire appears dim; shadowy stains (kalusha) rise; a symbolic wheel of rebirth turns in the background, indicating fallen consequence.
FAQs
Ritual without integrity—especially denying due dakṣiṇā and violating injunctions—turns religion into wrongdoing with karmic consequences.
No site is mentioned; the teaching applies broadly to dharma and ritual correctness.
A yajña should be performed according to vidhi and must include proper dakṣiṇā; otherwise it is ‘vṛthā’ and tainted.