Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 4
यथा षण्ढोऽफलः स्त्रीषु यथा गौर्गवि चाफला । यथा चाज्ञेऽफलं दानं तथा विप्रोऽनृचोऽफलः
yathā ṣaṇḍho'phalaḥ strīṣu yathā gaurgavi cāphalā | yathā cājñe'phalaṃ dānaṃ tathā vipro'nṛco'phalaḥ
«Wie ein unfruchtbarer Mann bei Frauen ohne Frucht ist, wie eine Kuh bei einer anderen Kuh ohne Frucht ist, und wie eine Gabe an einen Unwissenden keine Frucht trägt, so ist auch ein “Brahmane” ohne vedische Rezitation als Empfänger fruchtlos.»
Īśvara (Śiva)
Scene: A didactic tableau of three ‘fruitless’ pairings culminating in the warning: a brāhmaṇa without ṛc is an unfruitful recipient; the emphasis is on discernment, not ridicule.
FAQs
Merit (phala) arises when sacred acts are aligned with qualification; giving without discernment can become spiritually unproductive.
No tīrtha is specified; the verse focuses on dharmic standards for ritual giving.
It cautions that dāna (and by extension śrāddha offerings) should not be directed to an unlearned, non-Veda-reciting ‘vipra’ if one seeks phala.