Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 50
शक्ते परजने दाता स्वजने दुःखजीविनि । मध्वापानविषादः स धर्माणां प्रतिरूपकः
śakte parajane dātā svajane duḥkhajīvini | madhvāpānaviṣādaḥ sa dharmāṇāṃ pratirūpakaḥ
من كان قادرًا على الإعانة ثم أعطى الغرباء وترك أهله يحيون في الشقاء، فذلك كمن يشرب العسل ثم يذوق السمّ—إنه صورة مزوّرة من الدارما.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A donor gives lavishly to strangers while his family sits in visible distress; above, a scale tilts, and the honey-poison metaphor appears as a cup with sweetness on top and dark residue beneath—labelled as ‘pratirūpaka dharma’.
FAQs
True dharma integrates compassion with responsibility; neglecting dependents while giving elsewhere is false virtue.
No tīrtha is referenced; the focus is household ethics in charity.
Prioritize rightful duties to one’s dependents before extending charity beyond the household.