Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 67
अश्रद्धयाऽपि यद्दत्तं कुपात्रेभ्योऽपि मानवैः । अकालेऽपि हि तत्सर्वं सद्यो ह्यक्षयतां व्रजेत्
aśraddhayā'pi yaddattaṃ kupātrebhyo'pi mānavaiḥ | akāle'pi hi tatsarvaṃ sadyo hyakṣayatāṃ vrajet
Même ce que les hommes donnent sans foi—fût-ce à des récipients indignes et même en un temps inopportun—tout cela, aussitôt, atteint l’état impérissable (akṣaya).
Bhartṛyajña (contextual; addressing the King)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Humans generally (mānavaiḥ); king remains the implied addressee in the surrounding passage
Scene: A striking scene: a hesitant donor gives alms without devotion to an unworthy-looking recipient; yet a radiant ‘akṣaya’ aura rises instantly, with the Sun and sacred-time symbols overhead—illustrating the surprising power of kāla.
FAQs
The Purāṇic vision magnifies the sanctity of dharma: charitable giving can become ‘akṣaya’ even when human intention and circumstances are flawed.
The larger narrative belongs to the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya, though this verse emphasizes the doctrine of dāna’s imperishable fruit.
It underscores the potency of giving (dāna), asserting that its result can become imperishable even if done without faith, to unworthy recipients, or at an improper time.