Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 67
यो भार्यापुत्रमित्राणि बालवृद्धकृशातुरान् । भृत्यानतिथिबंधूंश्च त्यक्त्वाश्राति बुभुक्षितान्
yo bhāryāputramitrāṇi bālavṛddhakṛśāturān | bhṛtyānatithibaṃdhūṃśca tyaktvāśrāti bubhukṣitān
ਜੋ ਪਤਨੀ, ਪੁੱਤਰ ਅਤੇ ਮਿੱਤਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਤਿਆਗ ਦੇਵੇ; ਬਾਲਕਾਂ, ਬੁੱਢਿਆਂ, ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼, ਅਤੇ ਰੋਗੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਉਪੇਖਾ ਕਰੇ; ਨੌਕਰਾਂ, ਅਤਿਥੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਬੰਧੂਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਖਾ ਲਵੇ ਜਦ ਉਹ ਭੁੱਖੇ ਰਹਿਣ—ਉਹ ਗ੍ਰਿਹਸਥ-ਧਰਮ ਦਾ ਉਲੰਘਣ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narrative convention
Scene: A household courtyard: a man eating alone on a leaf-plate while wife, children, an old person, a sick person, and an atithi stand aside hungry; a sage or inner conscience figure points to the neglected group.
FAQs
A householder’s righteousness is measured by care for dependents and hospitality; selfish consumption while others starve is adharma.
No specific sacred site is mentioned; the verse teaches universal gṛhastha-dharma.
Implied prescription: feed dependents and guests before or along with oneself (annadāna/atithi-sevā), though no formal rite is detailed.