Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 65
विद्यातपोभ्यां हीनेन नैव ग्राह्यः प्रतिग्रहः । गृह्णन्प्रदातारमधो नयत्यात्मानमेव च
vidyātapobhyāṃ hīnena naiva grāhyaḥ pratigrahaḥ | gṛhṇanpradātāramadho nayatyātmānameva ca
Celui qui est dépourvu de science et d’austérité ne doit point accepter de dons; car en acceptant, il entraîne le donateur vers le bas—et lui-même avec lui.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A poorly disciplined would-be recipient reaches for alms; a wise elder restrains him, pointing to a Veda manuscript and a meditation seat; the donor looks concerned; a subtle downward path symbolizes ‘falling’ for both.
FAQs
Receiving charity is itself a dharmic responsibility; unqualified acceptance corrupts both parties and diminishes spiritual welfare.
Prabhāsakṣetra, where purity of giving and receiving is taught as part of the kṣetra’s dharma.
Restriction on pratigraha: only those endowed with learning (vidyā) and austerity (tapas) should accept gifts.