Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 65
विद्यातपोभ्यां हीनेन नैव ग्राह्यः प्रतिग्रहः । गृह्णन्प्रदातारमधो नयत्यात्मानमेव च
vidyātapobhyāṃ hīnena naiva grāhyaḥ pratigrahaḥ | gṛhṇanpradātāramadho nayatyātmānameva ca
جو علم اور تپسیا سے خالی ہو، اسے ہرگز دان قبول نہیں کرنا چاہیے؛ کیونکہ قبول کرتے ہی وہ دینے والے کو بھی پستی میں لے جاتا ہے اور اپنے آپ کو بھی۔
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A poorly disciplined would-be recipient reaches for alms; a wise elder restrains him, pointing to a Veda manuscript and a meditation seat; the donor looks concerned; a subtle downward path symbolizes ‘falling’ for both.
FAQs
Receiving charity is itself a dharmic responsibility; unqualified acceptance corrupts both parties and diminishes spiritual welfare.
Prabhāsakṣetra, where purity of giving and receiving is taught as part of the kṣetra’s dharma.
Restriction on pratigraha: only those endowed with learning (vidyā) and austerity (tapas) should accept gifts.