Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 25
रुष्टा क्लिष्टा दुर्बला व्याधिता च न दातव्या या च मूल्यैरदत्तैः । लेशो विप्रेभ्यो यया जायते वै तस्या दातुश्चाफलाः सर्वलोकाः
ruṣṭā kliṣṭā durbalā vyādhitā ca na dātavyā yā ca mūlyairadattaiḥ | leśo viprebhyo yayā jāyate vai tasyā dātuścāphalāḥ sarvalokāḥ
On ne doit pas offrir une vache irritée, accablée, faible ou malade, ni celle dont le prix n’a pas été dûment acquitté. Si, par ce don, ne fût-ce qu’une trace de grief naît chez les brāhmaṇa, alors pour le donateur tous les mondes deviennent sans fruit, privés de mérite.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Maheśvarī (Pārvatī)
Scene: A donor is shown weighing coins to pay the cow’s price before gifting; the cow is calm and strong; a brāhmaṇa smiles in acceptance—contrasted with a faint shadow-panel of a distressed cow and a displeased recipient to show ‘leśa’ grievance leading to aphala.
FAQs
Charity must be harmless, rightful, and respectful; causing distress or grievance cancels the intended spiritual gain.
Prabhāsa-kṣetra, where dāna is portrayed as powerful but also ethically demanding.
Do not donate cows that are sick/weak/distressed, and do not donate cattle not rightfully paid for; ensure the recipients are not burdened or offended.