Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 68
यः स्वयं मृष्टमश्राति विप्रायान्यत्प्रयच्छति । वृथापाकः स विज्ञेयो ब्रह्मवादिविगर्हितः
yaḥ svayaṃ mṛṣṭamaśrāti viprāyānyatprayacchati | vṛthāpākaḥ sa vijñeyo brahmavādivigarhitaḥ
जो स्वतः उत्कृष्ट, परिष्कृत अन्न खातो पण ब्राह्मणाला हीन वस्तू देतो—तो ‘वृथा-पाक’ म्हणून ओळखावा; ब्रह्मवाद्यांकडून तो निंदित होतो।
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.