Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 60
श्राद्धे वा प्राप्तकाले वा ह्यतिथिर्विमुखीभवेत् । यस्याश्रममुपायातस्यस्य सर्वं हि निष्फलम्
śrāddhe vā prāptakāle vā hyatithirvimukhībhavet | yasyāśramamupāyātasyasya sarvaṃ hi niṣphalam
ശ്രാദ്ധസമയത്തിലോ യഥോചിത സമയത്തിലോ ആശ്രമത്തിലെത്തിയ അതിഥി സത്കാരമില്ലാതെ വിമുഖനായി മടങ്ങിപ്പോയാൽ, ആ ഗൃഹസ്ഥന്റെ എല്ലാകർമ്മങ്ങളും നിശ്ചയമായും നിഷ്ഫലമാകും।
Unspecified (didactic narration within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, likely Sūta to sages)
Scene: An āśrama courtyard at Śrāddha-time: a guest stands at the threshold turning away; the host’s ritual items (piṇḍa, kuśa, water-pot) appear stalled, signifying fruitlessness.
FAQs
Rituals lose their merit when compassion and hospitality are neglected; dharma is measured by how one treats the atithi.
No particular tīrtha is named; the teaching is a general dharma principle applicable to sacred rites everywhere.
During Śrāddha (and at proper times), one must honour and satisfy the guest; otherwise the rite’s fruit is said to be nullified.