Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 20
धनिनां दानहीनानां गार्हस्थ्याद्भिक्षुता वरा । आर्तत्राणविहीनानां जीवितान्मरणं वरम्
dhanināṃ dānahīnānāṃ gārhasthyādbhikṣutā varā | ārtatrāṇavihīnānāṃ jīvitānmaraṇaṃ varam
ਧਨਵਾਨ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਵੀ ਜੋ ਦਾਨ ਤੋਂ ਖਾਲੀ ਹਨ, ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਲਈ ਗ੍ਰਿਹਸਥ ਧਰਮ ਨਾਲੋਂ ਭਿਖ ਮੰਗਣਾ ਚੰਗਾ ਹੈ। ਜੋ ਪੀੜਤਾਂ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਦੇ, ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਲਈ ਜੀਊਣ ਨਾਲੋਂ ਮਰਨਾ ਚੰਗਾ ਹੈ।
A moral voice within the narrative (continuing admonition)
Scene: A wealthy householder sits amid granaries and ornaments while a hungry mendicant and a distressed family stand outside; the verse’s moral inversion is shown by the mendicant’s serene radiance contrasted with the miser’s dim aura.
FAQs
Wealth and life are justified by dharmic use—charity and rescue; without these, one’s social role becomes meaningless.
No tīrtha is referenced.
Dāna (charitable giving) is implicitly prescribed as the dharmic duty of the wealthy.