Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 31
स्वहस्तेन च यद्दत्तं प्रत्यक्षलवणं नृप । तच्छ्राद्धं व्यर्थतां याति धृते दत्तेर्द्धभुक्तके । तृप्ताञ्ज्ञात्वा ततो विप्रानग्रे त्वन्नं परिक्षिपेत्
svahastena ca yaddattaṃ pratyakṣalavaṇaṃ nṛpa | tacchrāddhaṃ vyarthatāṃ yāti dhṛte datterddhabhuktake | tṛptāñjñātvā tato viprānagre tvannaṃ parikṣipet
स्वहस्तेन यदा दत्तं प्रत्यक्षं लवणं नृप । तच्छ्राद्धं व्यर्थतां याति धृते दत्तेऽर्धभुक्तके । तृप्तान् ज्ञात्वा ततो विप्रानग्रे त्वन्नं परिक्षिपेत् ॥
Unspecified in snippet (instructional voice addressing a king: nṛpa/rājendra)
Listener: nṛpa (king)
Scene: A king listens to a sage explaining a strict rule: salt must not be handed directly. Nearby, brāhmaṇas eat; the performer watches respectfully, waiting for signs of satisfaction before placing the remaining food forward.
FAQs
Ritual correctness safeguards the efficacy (phala) of śrāddha; negligence can render the offering spiritually ineffective.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it appears within a tīrtha-māhātmya chapter but teaches śrāddha protocol.
Avoid hand-to-hand salt-giving in śrāddha; after confirming brāhmaṇas’ satisfaction, arrange/place the remaining food in front as per the rite.
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