Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 50
शक्ते परजने दाता स्वजने दुःखजीविनि । मध्वापानविषादः स धर्माणां प्रतिरूपकः
śakte parajane dātā svajane duḥkhajīvini | madhvāpānaviṣādaḥ sa dharmāṇāṃ pratirūpakaḥ
যে সক্ষম হয়েও পরজনকে দান করে, অথচ স্বজনকে দুঃখে বাঁচতে দেয়—তা মধু পান করে পরে বিষযন্ত্রণা ভোগের মতো; ধর্মের কেবল প্রতিরূপ।
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.