Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 18
श्राद्धे भुक्त्वाथ दत्त्वा वा यः श्राद्धं कुरुतेल्पधीः । स्वाध्यायं पितरस्तस्य यावत्संवत्सरं नृप । व्यर्थश्राद्धफलाः संतः पीड्यंते क्षुत्पिपासया
śrāddhe bhuktvātha dattvā vā yaḥ śrāddhaṃ kurutelpadhīḥ | svādhyāyaṃ pitarastasya yāvatsaṃvatsaraṃ nṛpa | vyarthaśrāddhaphalāḥ saṃtaḥ pīḍyaṃte kṣutpipāsayā
हे नृपा! जो अल्पबुद्धी मनुष्य श्राद्धात जेवून किंवा श्राद्ध देऊन पुन्हा तेच श्राद्ध अविचाराने (विधिभंगाने) करतो, त्याचे पितर संवत्सरभर त्या श्राद्धफळापासून वंचित राहून भूक-प्यासेने पीडित होतात।
Bhartṛyajña (didactic narration addressed to a king, ‘nṛpa’)
Listener: King (explicitly addressed: nṛpa)
Scene: A compassionate tableau: pitṛs depicted as subtle ancestral figures appearing thirsty and hungry, while the performer is shown confused or careless near the śrāddha setup; a contrasting corner shows the correct, attentive performance restoring calm.
FAQs
Rituals for ancestors must be done with understanding and correct discipline; careless repetition or impropriety nullifies the intended benefit.
The injunction is situated within Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra-māhātmya of the Nāgara Khaṇḍa.
Do not perform Śrāddha in a confused/improper manner after participating as eater or donor; otherwise the Pitṛ-benefit is obstructed.