Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 15
दर्शं वा श्राद्धकार्यं वा शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम् । दारिद्र्यं पुत्रशोकं च कीर्तिनाशं तथैव च
darśaṃ vā śrāddhakāryaṃ vā śubhaṃ vā yadi vā'śubham | dāridryaṃ putraśokaṃ ca kīrtināśaṃ tathaiva ca
दर्शकर्म असो वा श्राद्धकर्म, शुभ असो वा अशुभ—नियम भंग करणाऱ्यास दारिद्र्य, पुत्रशोक आणि कीर्तिनाश हेच प्राप्त होतात।
Devāḥ / narrative continuation of the warning
Scene: A cautionary tableau: a householder performing darśa/śrāddha without sanction, followed by symbolic shadows of poverty, child-grief, and fading reputation.
FAQs
Rites done without dharmic alignment can invert their fruits, leading to suffering instead of merit.
The Dharmāraṇya milieu is implied; the verse emphasizes dharma-regulation rather than a particular named tīrtha.
Darśa (new-moon rite) and śrāddha are referenced as examples of rites that must be properly authorized/performed.