Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 72
इति चिंतयतश्चित्ते हा दुःखोऽयं प्रतिग्रहः । प्रतिग्रहेण विप्राणां ब्राहयं तेजो हि शाम्यति
iti ciṃtayataścitte hā duḥkho'yaṃ pratigrahaḥ | pratigraheṇa viprāṇāṃ brāhayaṃ tejo hi śāmyati
جب میں نے دل میں سوچا—‘ہائے، یہ عطیہ قبول کرنا کتنا رنج انگیز ہے!’—کیونکہ ہدیہ لینے سے برہمنوں کا برہمانی تیج (tejas) یقیناً مدھم ہو جاتا ہے۔
Hārīta
Listener: dhīmat (wise interlocutor)
Scene: A sage sits in introspection, hand to chest or chin, expressing remorse; a pile of gifts or coins lies nearby, symbolizing the burden of acceptance; a faint aura around the sage appears dimmed.
FAQs
Unchecked acceptance of gifts can erode a brāhmaṇa’s tejas; purity and restraint guard spiritual power.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is a dharma teaching about dana and receiving.
It cautions against pratigraha (receiving gifts) as a dharmic discipline, especially for brāhmaṇas.