Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 18
श्राद्धे भुक्त्वाथ दत्त्वा वा यः श्राद्धं कुरुतेल्पधीः । स्वाध्यायं पितरस्तस्य यावत्संवत्सरं नृप । व्यर्थश्राद्धफलाः संतः पीड्यंते क्षुत्पिपासया
śrāddhe bhuktvātha dattvā vā yaḥ śrāddhaṃ kurutelpadhīḥ | svādhyāyaṃ pitarastasya yāvatsaṃvatsaraṃ nṛpa | vyarthaśrāddhaphalāḥ saṃtaḥ pīḍyaṃte kṣutpipāsayā
Ô Roi, si un homme à l’esprit obtus, après avoir mangé lors d’un śrāddha ou après l’avoir offert, le refait de manière impropre comme une chose ordinaire, alors, durant une année entière, ses Pitṛs demeurent privés du fruit de ce śrāddha et sont tourmentés par la faim et la soif.
Bhartṛyajña (didactic narration addressed to a king, ‘nṛpa’)
Listener: King (explicitly addressed: nṛpa)
Scene: A compassionate tableau: pitṛs depicted as subtle ancestral figures appearing thirsty and hungry, while the performer is shown confused or careless near the śrāddha setup; a contrasting corner shows the correct, attentive performance restoring calm.
FAQs
Rituals for ancestors must be done with understanding and correct discipline; careless repetition or impropriety nullifies the intended benefit.
The injunction is situated within Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra-māhātmya of the Nāgara Khaṇḍa.
Do not perform Śrāddha in a confused/improper manner after participating as eater or donor; otherwise the Pitṛ-benefit is obstructed.