Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 71
सद्भ्यो यद्दीयते किंचित्तत्परत्रोपतिष्ठति । असत्सु दीयते किंचित्तद्दानमिह भुज्यते
sadbhyo yaddīyate kiṃcittatparatropatiṣṭhati | asatsu dīyate kiṃcittaddānamiha bhujyate
Whatever is given to the good abides as merit in the hereafter. But whatever is given to the unworthy is spent here itself—its reward is only worldly.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A pilgrim at a sacred precinct offers alms to a serene, disciplined ascetic/learned brāhmaṇa; beside him, a contrasting figure of unworthy conduct receives and immediately squanders gifts—illustrating ‘paratra’ vs ‘iha’ fruit.
FAQs
The recipient matters: gifts to the virtuous become lasting merit, while gifts to the unworthy exhaust their fruit in this life.
No tīrtha is specified; the verse teaches discernment in dāna.
It prescribes choosing ‘sad’ recipients for charity to secure paratra-phala (otherworldly merit).