Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 68
यः स्वयं मृष्टमश्राति विप्रायान्यत्प्रयच्छति । वृथापाकः स विज्ञेयो ब्रह्मवादिविगर्हितः
yaḥ svayaṃ mṛṣṭamaśrāti viprāyānyatprayacchati | vṛthāpākaḥ sa vijñeyo brahmavādivigarhitaḥ
जो स्वयं उत्तम, परिष्कृत भोजन करता है पर ब्राह्मण को हीन वस्तु देता है—वह ‘वृथा-पाक’ जानना चाहिए; ब्रह्म-तत्त्व के वादी जन उसे निन्दित करते हैं।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narrative convention
Scene: A kitchen/feeding scene: a householder keeps fine sweets and ghee-rich food for himself while handing coarse fare to a seated brāhmaṇa; a subtle aura dims around the hearth to show 'vṛthā-pāka'.
FAQs
Charity must be sincere and respectful; offering inferior gifts while keeping the best for oneself is hypocrisy and brings no merit.
No tīrtha is specified in this verse.
Implied rule of dāna/atithi-sevā: offer worthy food and gifts to vipras/guests rather than leftovers or inferior substitutes.