Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 2
पात्रे दानं प्रदातव्यं कृत्वा यज्ञवरं द्विजाः । नापात्रे दीयते किंचिद्दत्तं न तु सुखावहम्
pātre dānaṃ pradātavyaṃ kṛtvā yajñavaraṃ dvijāḥ | nāpātre dīyate kiṃciddattaṃ na tu sukhāvaham
हे द्विजांनो, श्रेष्ठ यज्ञ करून पात्रासच दान द्यावे। अपात्रास काहीही देऊ नये; असे दान सुखद फल देत नाही।
Rāma (contextual continuation)
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Listener: dvijāḥ (twice-born) addressed
Scene: A ritual scene after an excellent yajña: fire altar still glowing, priests seated; a donor is advised to give only to worthy brāhmaṇas; an unworthy figure is shown in shadow or turned away, emphasizing discernment.
FAQs
Dāna bears fruit when offered to a fit recipient in a dharmic setting; indiscriminate giving can become fruitless.
No specific tirtha is named; the verse teaches general Purāṇic dāna-dharma within Dharmāraṇya’s discourse.
Give dāna to a pātra (worthy person), ideally in connection with yajña and dharmic observance; avoid apātra-dāna.