Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 31
यः श्रुत्वा सर्व शास्त्राणि निष्क्रयं न प्रयच्छति । शास्त्रचौरः स विज्ञेयो न चैवाप्नोति तत्फलम्
yaḥ śrutvā sarva śāstrāṇi niṣkrayaṃ na prayacchati | śāstracauraḥ sa vijñeyo na caivāpnoti tatphalam
Celui qui écoute toutes les Écritures sans offrir l’honoraire ou la juste rétribution doit être tenu pour un voleur d’Écriture ; il n’obtient pas le fruit de cet apprentissage.
Unspecified (Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya didactic voice)
Scene: A discourse assembly: listeners seated; one person turns away clutching coins, while the teacher remains composed; a symbolic shadow of ‘theft’ contrasts with another devotee offering dakṣiṇā with humility.
FAQs
Learning must be joined with gratitude and right conduct—supporting the teacher and tradition—otherwise knowledge becomes spiritually fruitless.
No specific site is named; the verse lays down general dharma relevant to tīrtha life and religious communities.
Offering niṣkraya/guru-dakṣiṇā (appropriate recompense) after receiving scriptural teaching.