Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 75
प्रभाते कारिणे देया भक्षणाय न संशयः । त्रिःकॉत्वः प्राङ्मुखश्चैव पत्रे निष्ठीवयेत्ततः
prabhāte kāriṇe deyā bhakṣaṇāya na saṃśayaḥ | triḥkaॉtvaḥ prāṅmukhaścaiva patre niṣṭhīvayettataḥ
Im Morgengrauen sollen sie dem Handelnden (der betreffenden Person) zum Essen gegeben werden — ohne Zweifel. Dann soll er, nach Osten gewandt, dreimal auf ein Blatt spucken.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), by Mahēśvarakhaṇḍa context
Scene: At dawn, the prepared rice-grains are given to the concerned person to eat. He faces east and spits three times onto a leaf, while officials observe for signs that determine the outcome of the theft inquiry.
FAQs
Truth-seeking in dharma is disciplined: orientation (east) and precise repetition (three times) signify ritual order and accountability.
The act is situated in the sanctified sphere associated with Bhaṭṭāditya, where ordeals are believed to yield dharmic clarity.
Give the prepared rice at dawn for eating; then the person faces east and spits three times onto a leaf as part of the test.