Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 50
शक्ते परजने दाता स्वजने दुःखजीविनि । मध्वापानविषादः स धर्माणां प्रतिरूपकः
śakte parajane dātā svajane duḥkhajīvini | madhvāpānaviṣādaḥ sa dharmāṇāṃ pratirūpakaḥ
जो समर्थ होकर भी परायों को दान दे और अपने स्वजनों को दुःख में जीने दे—वह मधु पीकर फिर विष-पीड़ा भोगने जैसा, धर्म का केवल प्रतिरूप है।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A donor gives lavishly to strangers while his family sits in visible distress; above, a scale tilts, and the honey-poison metaphor appears as a cup with sweetness on top and dark residue beneath—labelled as ‘pratirūpaka dharma’.
FAQs
True dharma integrates compassion with responsibility; neglecting dependents while giving elsewhere is false virtue.
No tīrtha is referenced; the focus is household ethics in charity.
Prioritize rightful duties to one’s dependents before extending charity beyond the household.