Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 56
पात्रेभ्यो दीयते नित्यमनपेक्ष्य प्रयोजनम् । केवलं धर्मबुद्ध्या यद्धर्मदानं तदुच्यते
pātrebhyo dīyate nityamanapekṣya prayojanam | kevalaṃ dharmabuddhyā yaddharmadānaṃ taducyate
ทานที่ให้แก่ผู้ควรรับเป็นนิตย์ โดยไม่คำนึงถึงประโยชน์ส่วนตน และให้ด้วยจิตตั้งมั่นในธรรมเท่านั้น—ทานนั้นเรียกว่า “ธรรมทาน”
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced)
Scene: A calm donor offers alms to a worthy ascetic or brahmin without attendants or fanfare; the donor’s face is serene, hands in respectful gesture; a simple vessel of grains/coins is placed with humility.
FAQs
The highest charity is performed for dharma alone—without bargaining for results—and directed to worthy recipients.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the emphasis is on the inner purity and proper recipient in dāna.
Give consistently to qualified recipients, without expectation of personal gain, as an act of dharma.