Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 52
सामान्यं याचितं न्यासमाधिर्दाराश्च दर्शनम् । अन्वाहितं च निक्षेपः सर्वस्वं चान्वये सति
sāmānyaṃ yācitaṃ nyāsamādhirdārāśca darśanam | anvāhitaṃ ca nikṣepaḥ sarvasvaṃ cānvaye sati
Gemeingut, durch Bitten Erlangtes, Hinterlegtes, Pfänder, die Ehefrau und auch anvertraute oder als Depositum verwahrte Dinge—ja, selbst das ganze Vermögen, wenn Erben vorhanden sind—soll man nicht als dāna verschenken.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Listener: Rājan (King)
Scene: A donor stands before a brāhmaṇa with various items labeled as ‘deposit’, ‘pledge’, ‘common property’; a divine or sage figure gestures ‘do not give’ while pointing to a ledger/scroll of dharma; heirs and family stand behind the donor.
FAQs
Charity must be righteous: do not give away what is entrusted, pledged, shared, or owed to heirs.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse lays down ethical limits for dāna.
Avoid donating deposits, pledged items, entrusted goods, and property that rightfully belongs to others or heirs.