Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 39
अन्यत्र फलपुष्पेभ्यः पानकेभ्यश्च पण्डितः । हस्ते दत्त्वा तु वै स्नेहाल्लवणं व्यञ्जनानि च । आयसेन च पात्रेण तद्वै रक्षांसि भुञ्जते । द्विजपात्रेषु दत्त्वान्नं तूष्णीं संकल्पमाचरेत्
anyatra phalapuṣpebhyaḥ pānakebhyaśca paṇḍitaḥ | haste dattvā tu vai snehāllavaṇaṃ vyañjanāni ca | āyasena ca pātreṇa tadvai rakṣāṃsi bhuñjate | dvijapātreṣu dattvānnaṃ tūṣṇīṃ saṃkalpamācaret
Except for fruits, flowers, and beverages, the learned man should not, out of affection, place salt and side-dishes directly into the hand. If food is offered in an iron vessel, it is eaten by rākṣasas. Having placed the food in the vessels of the twice-born (dvija), one should then perform the saṃkalpa in silence.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A śrāddha setting at Prabhāsa: a seated brāhmaṇa with leaf/metal (non-iron) vessel; the yajamāna places rice carefully into the vessel, keeps silence for saṃkalpa; condiments kept aside, not placed into the hand; a subtle shadowy rākṣasa motif near an iron pot to indicate the warning.
FAQs
Ritual intention must be protected by correct procedure; careless affection or improper vessels can divert the offering from its sacred aim.
The verse is part of Prabhāsa Kṣetra Māhātmya’s Śrāddha guidance, presenting Prabhāsa as a place where rites should be done with exactness.
Do not hand-give salt/side-dishes (except fruits/flowers/drinks), avoid iron vessels, place food in dvija vessels, and perform saṃkalpa silently.
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