Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 30
वृथालापी यदश्नाति यत्करोति शुभं क्वचित् । प्रेतादितृप्तये सर्वमिति शास्त्रविनिश्चयः
vṛthālāpī yadaśnāti yatkaroti śubhaṃ kvacit | pretāditṛptaye sarvamiti śāstraviniścayaḥ
Was immer ein Schwätzer von nutzlosem Gerede isst und welches gelegentliche Gute er auch tut—die Śāstras entscheiden, dass all dies nur zur Befriedigung der Pretas und dergleichen gelangt.
Narrative context (Maheshvara Khanda tradition: Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa relating a dialogue)
Listener: Bhārata (addressed figure)
Scene: A man engaged in constant idle talk eats and performs a token good deed; unseen pretas gather and become ‘satisfied’ by the subtle essence of his acts. A teacher points to a śāstra manuscript, indicating ‘śāstra-viniścaya’—the doctrinal conclusion.
FAQs
Careless speech and conduct can nullify personal merit; spiritual gains are said to be diverted away from the doer.
No tīrtha is referenced; the verse teaches a general dharma principle about purity of behavior.
No specific rite is stated; the implied prescription is to abandon vṛthālāpa so that one’s śubha-karma bears proper fruit.