Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 57
तथान्यदपि विप्रार्हं कर्म यज्ञसमुद्भवम् । तत्तेषां वचनात्सर्वं पूर्णं स्यादपि खंडितम् । परोक्षे वापि संपूर्णं वृथा संजायते स्फुटम्
tathānyadapi viprārhaṃ karma yajñasamudbhavam | tatteṣāṃ vacanātsarvaṃ pūrṇaṃ syādapi khaṃḍitam | parokṣe vāpi saṃpūrṇaṃ vṛthā saṃjāyate sphuṭam
Ebenso verhält es sich mit jeder anderen Handlung, die der Brāhmaṇa würdig ist und aus der Opferpflicht (yajña) hervorgeht: Durch ihr Wort wird alles vollendet, selbst wenn es mangelhaft ausgeführt wurde. Sind sie jedoch abwesend, wird selbst das Vollständige offenkundig fruchtlos.
The father (deceased king), concluding the rationale for the rite’s fruitfulness
Scene: A sacrificial setting where a rite appears incomplete; learned brāhmaṇas, seated on kuśa mats, utter a sanctioning blessing that ‘completes’ the act; in contrast, an empty seat of brāhmaṇas renders offerings visually inert.
FAQs
Purāṇic dharma stresses correct transmission and authorization of rites through qualified Brāhmaṇas; eligibility and presence safeguard the fruit of karma.
The emphasis remains on the special efficacy associated with Cāmatkārapura’s Brāhmaṇas (site implied by continuity).
Perform viprārha rites (including śrāddha and yajña-related acts) in the presence and under the sanction of qualified Brāhmaṇas; otherwise the rite may become fruitless.