Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 19
मांसाद उवाच । भोज्यकाले गृहे यत्र स्त्रीणां युद्धं प्रवर्तते । अपि मन्त्रौषधीप्रायं प्रेता भुंजति तत्र हि
māṃsāda uvāca | bhojyakāle gṛhe yatra strīṇāṃ yuddhaṃ pravartate | api mantrauṣadhīprāyaṃ pretā bhuṃjati tatra hi
Māṃsāda sprach: ‚In jenem Haus, wo zur Essenszeit Streit unter den Frauen ausbricht – dort nehmen wahrlich die Pretas an der Speise teil, selbst wenn sie mit Mantras und Heilkräutern zubereitet wurde.‘
Māṃsāda
Listener: the king (bhūpāla)
Scene: A household scene: women quarrel near the dining area as food is served; shadowy pretas hover, subtly consuming the essence of the meal despite protective mantras and herbs.
FAQs
Ritual refinement cannot replace inner harmony; conflict at meals disrupts sanctity and turns food into an unmeritorious offering.
No specific tīrtha is named in this line; it supports the broader Mahātmya by teaching dharmic conduct connected to merit.
Maintain peace and auspiciousness at mealtime; otherwise the act of eating loses its sacred character.