Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 31
पुराणं ये त्वसंपूज्य तांबूलाद्यैरुपायनैः । शृण्वंति च कथां भक्त्या दरिद्राः स्युर्न पापिनः
purāṇaṃ ye tvasaṃpūjya tāṃbūlādyairupāyanaiḥ | śṛṇvaṃti ca kathāṃ bhaktyā daridrāḥ syurna pāpinaḥ
Even if they do not honor the Purāṇa with offerings such as betel and other gifts, those who listen to the discourse with devotion may be poor, yet they are not sinful.
Narratorial Purāṇic voice (context not explicit in the snippet)
Scene: A poor devotee in simple clothes listening with tears of devotion, empty hands yet folded in añjali; beside them, wealthier patrons offer betel and gifts—both accepted, but the poor devotee is shown radiant.
FAQs
Material inability does not block spiritual merit; sincere bhakti while listening protects one from sin and grants religious fruit.
No; the verse emphasizes the universality of bhakti regardless of wealth or setting.
It references upāyana (offerings like tāmbūla) as customary honors, while affirming that devotion is the essential requirement.