Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 31
स्वहस्तेन च यद्दत्तं प्रत्यक्षलवणं नृप । तच्छ्राद्धं व्यर्थतां याति धृते दत्तेर्द्धभुक्तके । तृप्ताञ्ज्ञात्वा ततो विप्रानग्रे त्वन्नं परिक्षिपेत्
svahastena ca yaddattaṃ pratyakṣalavaṇaṃ nṛpa | tacchrāddhaṃ vyarthatāṃ yāti dhṛte datterddhabhuktake | tṛptāñjñātvā tato viprānagre tvannaṃ parikṣipet
O König, wird Salz unmittelbar mit der eigenen Hand gereicht, so wird dieses śrāddha fruchtlos. Wenn die Speise aufgetragen und zur Hälfte gegessen ist, dann—im Wissen, dass die Brāhmaṇas zufrieden sind—lege man danach (das Übrige) vorn hin, wie es vorgeschrieben ist.
Unspecified in snippet (instructional voice addressing a king: nṛpa/rājendra)
Listener: nṛpa (king)
Scene: A king listens to a sage explaining a strict rule: salt must not be handed directly. Nearby, brāhmaṇas eat; the performer watches respectfully, waiting for signs of satisfaction before placing the remaining food forward.
FAQs
Ritual correctness safeguards the efficacy (phala) of śrāddha; negligence can render the offering spiritually ineffective.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it appears within a tīrtha-māhātmya chapter but teaches śrāddha protocol.
Avoid hand-to-hand salt-giving in śrāddha; after confirming brāhmaṇas’ satisfaction, arrange/place the remaining food in front as per the rite.