Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 20
ब्राह्मणेन न भोक्तव्यं समायाते निमंत्रणे । अथ भुंक्ते च यो मोहात्स प्रयाति ह्यधोगतिम्
brāhmaṇena na bhoktavyaṃ samāyāte nimaṃtraṇe | atha bhuṃkte ca yo mohātsa prayāti hyadhogatim
नवीन निमंत्रण आले असता ब्राह्मणाने त्या वेळी भोजन करू नये; जो मोहाने खातो, तो निश्चयाने अधोगतीस जातो।
Bhartṛyajña (Śrāddha-kalpa instruction)
Scene: A brāhmaṇa seated to eat while a messenger arrives with an invitation; the brāhmaṇa hesitates, then either refrains (ideal) or eats (warning); a downward path motif symbolizes ‘adhogati’.
FAQs
Discipline and correct timing are part of ritual purity; ignoring them is spiritually harmful.
The instruction belongs to the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra-māhātmya context in Nāgara Khaṇḍa.
A Brāhmaṇa should refrain from eating at the improper moment connected with an arriving invitation; deluded violation leads to downfall.