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
À quoi sert cette « Lakṣmī » (richesse) qui demeure comme une épouse intacte—gardée mais jamais vécue—, et qui n’est même pas partagée comme une courtisane ordinaire, fût-ce avec les voyageurs de passage ?
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.