Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 12
ऊषरे वापितं बीजं भिन्नभांडे च गोदुहम् । भस्मनीव हुतं हव्यं मूर्खे दानमशाश्वतम्
ūṣare vāpitaṃ bījaṃ bhinnabhāṃḍe ca goduham | bhasmanīva hutaṃ havyaṃ mūrkhe dānamaśāśvatam
ເຫມືອນເມັດພືດທີ່ຫວ່ານໃນດິນແຫ້ງຮ້າງ, ເຫມືອນນ້ຳນົມງົວທີ່ເທໃສ່ພາຊະນະແຕກ, ແລະເຫມືອນຮະວະຍະທີ່ບູຊາລົງໃນຂີ້ເຖົ່າ—ທານທີ່ໃຫ້ແກ່ຄົນໂງ່ ບໍ່ໃຫ້ຜົນບຸນອັນຍືນຍາວ.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa default)
Scene: Triptych allegory: (1) seed scattered on white, saline barren land; (2) milk pouring from a cracked pot; (3) ghee offered into cold ashes—then a fourth implied panel: a donor giving to a foolish recipient, the gift slipping away without benefit.
FAQs
For dāna to bear enduring merit, the recipient must be capable of receiving and honoring it.
No specific site is referenced; the verse is a general dharma instruction.
Avoid giving sacred offerings/charity in ways that nullify their fruit—choose recipients wisely.