Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 88
न हि दानफले कांक्षा काचिन्नऽस्ति सुरोत्तमाः । साधुसंरक्षणार्थं हि दानं नः परिकीर्तितम्
na hi dānaphale kāṃkṣā kācinna'sti surottamāḥ | sādhusaṃrakṣaṇārthaṃ hi dānaṃ naḥ parikīrtitam
Wahai para dewa yang termulia, kami sama sekali tidak mengingini buah pahala pemberian; kerana dāna kami dinyatakan demi melindungi orang-orang saleh (sādhu).
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta)
Listener: surottamāḥ (addressed audience: ‘best of gods’)
Scene: A serene scene of deities or noble donors offering gifts to ascetics without expectation; the recipients are sādhus under a protective canopy, symbolizing ‘saṃrakṣaṇa’.
FAQs
True charity is selfless—done not for personal merit but to protect and sustain the righteous.
No tīrtha is named; the verse teaches the inner intention (bhāva) behind dāna.
Practice dāna with niṣkāma intent, specifically oriented toward supporting sādhus and dharmic life.