Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 15
चौरप्रायस्य कलुषाज्जन्म जायेज्जनस्य हि । अदक्षिणे वृथा यज्ञे कृते चाप्यविधानतः
cauraprāyasya kaluṣājjanma jāyejjanasya hi | adakṣiṇe vṛthā yajñe kṛte cāpyavidhānataḥ
En vérité, de l’impureté d’un sacrifice presque semblable au vol naît pour l’homme une renaissance déchue. Quand un yajña est accompli sans dakṣiṇā (rétribution sacrée), en pure vanité et à l’encontre du rite, il devient souillé.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating within Māheśvara-khaṇḍa context
Scene: A yajña scene where the patron withholds dakṣiṇā; the fire appears dim; shadowy stains (kalusha) rise; a symbolic wheel of rebirth turns in the background, indicating fallen consequence.
FAQs
Ritual without integrity—especially denying due dakṣiṇā and violating injunctions—turns religion into wrongdoing with karmic consequences.
No site is mentioned; the teaching applies broadly to dharma and ritual correctness.
A yajña should be performed according to vidhi and must include proper dakṣiṇā; otherwise it is ‘vṛthā’ and tainted.