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
रागावलेली, क्लेशित, दुर्बल किंवा व्याधिग्रस्त गाय दान करू नये; तसेच ज्याची किंमत विधिपूर्वक दिलेली नाही अशीही नको. ज्या दानामुळे विप्रांना किंचितही खेद होतो, त्या दानाने दात्यास सर्व लोक निष्फळ ठरतात.
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.