Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 74
दाता प्रतिग्रहीता च वचनं हि परस्परम् । मन्यतेऽधःकरो यस्य सोऽल्पबुद्धिः प्रहीयते
dātā pratigrahītā ca vacanaṃ hi parasparam | manyate'dhaḥkaro yasya so'lpabuddhiḥ prahīyate
தானம் கொடுப்பவனும் பெறுபவனும் ஒருவரை ஒருவர் சொல்லின் மூலம் சார்ந்திருப்பர்; ஆனால் மற்றவரை ‘தாழ்ந்தவன்’ என எண்ணுபவன் குறுகிய புத்தியுடன் வீழ்கிறான்.
Hārīta
Listener: dhīmat (wise interlocutor)
Scene: Two figures—donor and recipient—face each other with balanced posture; a third figure (sage) instructs them. One figure’s arrogant stance is contrasted with the ideal of mutual respect.
FAQs
Charity must be grounded in humility; contempt in giving or receiving destroys wisdom.
None is named; the verse teaches social and moral dharma.
An ethical rule for dāna: maintain mutual respect; do not demean the counterpart.