Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 71
गुरौ च दत्तं यद्दानं दत्तं पात्रेषु मानवैः । निष्फलं तद्भवेत्प्रेत्य यात्युताधोगतिं प्रति
gurau ca dattaṃ yaddānaṃ dattaṃ pātreṣu mānavaiḥ | niṣphalaṃ tadbhavetpretya yātyutādhogatiṃ prati
A gift that should have been offered to the guru, but is given by people to other recipients—even if worthy—becomes fruitless after death and may even lead toward a downward state.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A pilgrim at Prabhāsa prepares a gift; the guru stands nearby, while other worthy mendicants wait. A subtle shadow of Yama’s path behind indicates post-mortem consequence when the guru’s due is bypassed.
FAQs
Dharma is not only about giving, but giving in the right order; neglecting the guru undermines the spiritual fruit of charity.
Prabhāsakṣetra, where the māhātmya emphasizes disciplined dāna as part of the sacred culture of the kṣetra.
Do not divert what is due to the guru; fulfill guru-dāna first to avoid niṣphalatā (fruitlessness) and negative karmic outcome.