If he who is not a Ritvik and that is not a Vedic teacher takes the foremost seat in a Shraddha, with even the permission of the other Ritviks there present, he is said to take the sins of all who may be sitting in the line.
ऋत्विग्भिरभ्यनुज्ञातः पङ्क्त्या हरति दुष्कृतम्। अथ चेद् वेदवित् सर्वैःपङ्क्तिदोषैर्विवर्जितः॥