Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 67
दातुरेवोपकाराय वदत्यर्थीति देहि मे । यस्माद्दाता प्रयात्यूर्ध्वमधस्तिष्ठेत्प्रतिग्रही
dāturevopakārāya vadatyarthīti dehi me | yasmāddātā prayātyūrdhvamadhastiṣṭhetpratigrahī
અર્થિ ‘મને આપો’ એમ કહે છે, તે દાતાના જ ઉપકાર માટે; કારણ કે દાતા ઊર્ધ્વે જાય છે અને માત્ર ગ્રહીતો અધઃસ્થ રહે છે.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa convention)
Scene: A humble supplicant speaks ‘dehi me’ while a radiant path rises behind the giver; the receiver stands on lower ground, emphasizing the verse’s moral geometry.
FAQs
The request for alms is framed as an opportunity for the donor’s uplift; giving generates puṇya and spiritual ascent.
No tīrtha is specified; the verse focuses on the moral economy of dāna.
Encourages dāna to the arthī (supplicant), implying merit accrues primarily to the giver.