Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 30
वृथालापी यदश्नाति यत्करोति शुभं क्वचित् । प्रेतादितृप्तये सर्वमिति शास्त्रविनिश्चयः
vṛthālāpī yadaśnāti yatkaroti śubhaṃ kvacit | pretāditṛptaye sarvamiti śāstraviniścayaḥ
Tout ce que mange celui qui bavarde en vain, et tout bien qu’il accomplit à l’occasion—l’Écriture tranche que tout cela ne sert qu’à satisfaire les prétas et les êtres de même nature.
Narrative context (Maheshvara Khanda tradition: Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa relating a dialogue)
Listener: Bhārata (addressed figure)
Scene: A man engaged in constant idle talk eats and performs a token good deed; unseen pretas gather and become ‘satisfied’ by the subtle essence of his acts. A teacher points to a śāstra manuscript, indicating ‘śāstra-viniścaya’—the doctrinal conclusion.
FAQs
Careless speech and conduct can nullify personal merit; spiritual gains are said to be diverted away from the doer.
No tīrtha is referenced; the verse teaches a general dharma principle about purity of behavior.
No specific rite is stated; the implied prescription is to abandon vṛthālāpa so that one’s śubha-karma bears proper fruit.