Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 30
वृथालापी यदश्नाति यत्करोति शुभं क्वचित् । प्रेतादितृप्तये सर्वमिति शास्त्रविनिश्चयः
vṛthālāpī yadaśnāti yatkaroti śubhaṃ kvacit | pretāditṛptaye sarvamiti śāstraviniścayaḥ
വ്യർത്ഥവാക്യനായവൻ എന്തു ഭക്ഷിച്ചാലും, ഇടയ്ക്കൊക്കെ ചെയ്യുന്ന ശുഭകർമ്മം പോലും—ശാസ്ത്രനിശ്ചയം പ്രകാരം അതെല്ലാം പ്രേതാദികളുടെ തൃപ്തിക്കായേ പോകുന്നു.
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.