Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 12
ऊषरे वापितं बीजं भिन्नभांडे च गोदुहम् । भस्मनीव हुतं हव्यं मूर्खे दानमशाश्वतम्
ūṣare vāpitaṃ bījaṃ bhinnabhāṃḍe ca goduham | bhasmanīva hutaṃ havyaṃ mūrkhe dānamaśāśvatam
Wie Samen, der auf unfruchtbaren Boden gesät wird, wie Kuhmilch, die in ein zerbrochenes Gefäß gegossen wird, und wie das Opfer (havis), das in die Asche dargebracht wird—so ist die Gabe an einen Toren: sie trägt keine bleibende Frucht.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa default)
Scene: Triptych allegory: (1) seed scattered on white, saline barren land; (2) milk pouring from a cracked pot; (3) ghee offered into cold ashes—then a fourth implied panel: a donor giving to a foolish recipient, the gift slipping away without benefit.
FAQs
For dāna to bear enduring merit, the recipient must be capable of receiving and honoring it.
No specific site is referenced; the verse is a general dharma instruction.
Avoid giving sacred offerings/charity in ways that nullify their fruit—choose recipients wisely.