Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 26
अतिथिर्यत्र संप्राप्तः श्राद्धकाल उपस्थिते । अपूजितो गृहाद्याति तच्छ्राद्धं प्रेततृप्तिदम्
atithiryatra saṃprāptaḥ śrāddhakāla upasthite | apūjito gṛhādyāti tacchrāddhaṃ pretatṛptidam
श्राद्धकाळी अतिथी आला असता, पूजन-सत्कार न करता तो घरातून निघून गेला—तर ते श्राद्ध प्रेतांना तृप्त करणारे ठरते।
Māṃsāda
Listener: Nṛpa (King)
Scene: At śrāddha time, a traveler-guest arrives; the householder, preoccupied with ritual, lets him leave unhonored; pretas immediately gather around the śrāddha offerings, visibly ‘satisfied’.
FAQs
Hospitality is a pillar of dharma; neglecting a guest at sacred times reverses the merit of ritual acts.
No particular tīrtha is specified; the verse teaches household dharma within the Mahātmya discourse.
Honor and receive guests properly, even during śrāddha time, so the rite retains its intended fruit.