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
اے بادشاہ! جو کم فہم شخص شرادھ میں کھا کر یا شرادھ دے کر پھر اسے ناسمجھی سے دوبارہ (عام عمل کی طرح) کرے، تو پورے ایک سال تک اس کے پِتر اس شرادھ کے پھل سے محروم رہتے اور بھوک پیاس سے ستائے جاتے ہیں۔
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.