Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 85
किं तया क्रियते लक्ष्म्या या वधूरिव केवला । या न वेश्येव सामान्या पथिकैरपि भुज्यते
kiṃ tayā kriyate lakṣmyā yā vadhūriva kevalā | yā na veśyeva sāmānyā pathikairapi bhujyate
Wozu taugt jene „Lakṣmī“ (der Reichtum), die nur wie eine unberührte Braut bleibt—bewahrt, doch nicht gelebt—und die nicht einmal wie eine gewöhnliche Kurtisane geteilt wird, sodass selbst Vorüberreisende nichts davon genießen?
Narrator (context: Maṇibhadra’s discourse; explicit speaker not marked in this verse)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Two metaphors visualized: (1) an ‘untouched bride’ seated alone in finery within a locked chamber; (2) a ‘courtesan’ shared by travelers—contrasted to show that hoarded wealth benefits no one.
FAQs
Hoarded wealth that neither supports dharma nor helps others is purposeless; prosperity becomes meaningful through righteous use and giving.
The moral teaching occurs within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya (Nāgara Khaṇḍa), reinforcing the dharmic atmosphere of the tīrtha narrative.
No explicit ritual is stated; the implied prescription is dāna—using wealth for merit, guests, pilgrims, and sacred causes.