Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 25
रे बले किं त्वया मूढ कृतमस्ति जुगुप्सितम् । अविद्यमाने ह्यर्थे हि किं ददासि परमात्मने । औदार्येण हि किं कार्यमल्पकेन त्वयाधुना
re bale kiṃ tvayā mūḍha kṛtamasti jugupsitam | avidyamāne hyarthe hi kiṃ dadāsi paramātmane | audāryeṇa hi kiṃ kāryamalpakena tvayādhunā
«Hé, Bali ! Insensé : quel acte honteux et répugnant as-tu commis ? Quand il ne te restera plus rien, que donneras-tu au Paramātman, le Soi suprême ? Et maintenant, réduit à si peu, à quoi te sert la générosité ?»
Garuḍa speaking to Bali (from verse 24 lead-in)
Tirtha: Kedāra / Kedāranātha (contextual frame)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Pilgrim-audience / sages in frame (contextual)
Scene: Garuḍa confronts Bali with sharp admonition; Bali appears diminished yet resolute, the atmosphere tense with ethical scrutiny.
FAQs
It dramatizes the conflict between pride, fear, and dharma—questioning whether ‘generosity’ without capacity or clarity becomes reckless.
No site is directly named; the authority of the teaching is carried by the Kedārakhaṇḍa setting within the Skanda Purāṇa.
Dāna (giving) is discussed as a principle, but no specific donation-rite is prescribed.