Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 96
भ्रष्टशौचवताचारे विप्रे वेदविवर्जिते । रोदित्यन्नं दीयमानं किं मया दुष्कृतं कृतम्
bhraṣṭaśaucavatācāre vipre vedavivarjite | rodityannaṃ dīyamānaṃ kiṃ mayā duṣkṛtaṃ kṛtam
جب ایسے برہمن کو کھانا دیا جائے جو پاکیزگی، ورت اور نیک چال چلن سے گِر چکا ہو اور وید کے مطالعے سے خالی ہو، تو خود کھانا روتا ہے: ‘میں نے کون سا گناہ کیا تھا؟’
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.