Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 19
मांसाद उवाच । भोज्यकाले गृहे यत्र स्त्रीणां युद्धं प्रवर्तते । अपि मन्त्रौषधीप्रायं प्रेता भुंजति तत्र हि
māṃsāda uvāca | bhojyakāle gṛhe yatra strīṇāṃ yuddhaṃ pravartate | api mantrauṣadhīprāyaṃ pretā bhuṃjati tatra hi
مَانساد نے کہا: جس گھر میں کھانے کے وقت عورتوں کے درمیان جھگڑا اٹھ کھڑا ہو، وہاں پریت (بھٹکی ہوئی ارواح) ہی کھانا کھاتے ہیں، چاہے وہ منتر اور جڑی بوٹیوں سے تیار کیا گیا ہو۔
Māṃsāda
Listener: the king (bhūpāla)
Scene: A household scene: women quarrel near the dining area as food is served; shadowy pretas hover, subtly consuming the essence of the meal despite protective mantras and herbs.
FAQs
Ritual refinement cannot replace inner harmony; conflict at meals disrupts sanctity and turns food into an unmeritorious offering.
No specific tīrtha is named in this line; it supports the broader Mahātmya by teaching dharmic conduct connected to merit.
Maintain peace and auspiciousness at mealtime; otherwise the act of eating loses its sacred character.