Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 96
भ्रष्टशौचवताचारे विप्रे वेदविवर्जिते । रोदित्यन्नं दीयमानं किं मया दुष्कृतं कृतम्
bhraṣṭaśaucavatācāre vipre vedavivarjite | rodityannaṃ dīyamānaṃ kiṃ mayā duṣkṛtaṃ kṛtam
தூய்மை, விரதம், நன்னடத்தை ஆகியவற்றில் வீழ்ந்தும் வேதப் பயிற்சியற்றும் உள்ள பிராமணனுக்கு அன்னம் அளிக்கப்படின், அந்த அன்னமே அழுவது போல—‘நான் என்ன பாவம் செய்தேன்?’ என்கிறது।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A solemn feeding scene: a disheveled or morally ‘fallen’ priest receives food; the offered rice is personified with tear-like droplets; the giver looks conflicted, highlighting the ethical-ritual dilemma.
FAQs
Charity must be guided by discernment; giving without regard to dharmic fitness can diminish the sanctity of the gift.
Kāśī is the textual setting, but the verse is primarily about dāna-dharma and the worthiness of recipients.
A caution in anna-dāna: avoid offering food in a ritual/charitable context to a ‘vipra’ who is fallen from śauca, vrata, ācāra, and Vedic discipline.