Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 23
पात्रं परीक्ष्य दातव्यमात्मनः श्रेय इच्छता । पितरस्तस्य तृप्यन्ति द्वादशाब्दान्यसंशयम्
pātraṃ parīkṣya dātavyamātmanaḥ śreya icchatā | pitarastasya tṛpyanti dvādaśābdānyasaṃśayam
Sesiapa yang menginginkan kebaikan tertinggi bagi dirinya hendaklah memberi dana setelah menilai kelayakan penerima. Tanpa ragu, para Pitṛ (leluhur) si pemberi itu berpuas hati selama dua belas tahun.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced for Āvantya Khaṇḍa narration style)
Scene: A pilgrim respectfully offering a gift to a learned, restrained brāhmaṇa after inquiry; behind them, a subtle ancestral presence receiving satisfaction (pitṛs in faint luminous forms).
FAQs
Charity becomes spiritually potent when offered to a worthy recipient; it directly benefits one’s ancestors and one’s own śreyas.
The broader context is the Revā (Narmadā) region in the Reva Khaṇḍa, where śrāddha and dāna are praised.
Dāna (charitable giving) is prescribed with a prior examination of pātra (worthiness), yielding long-lasting Pitṛ satisfaction.