Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 46
पितरो नरकाद्वापि सुपुण्येन सुमेधसा । गोप्रदानं प्रशंसंति तस्मिंस्तीर्थे मुनीश्वराः
pitaro narakādvāpi supuṇyena sumedhasā | gopradānaṃ praśaṃsaṃti tasmiṃstīrthe munīśvarāḥ
حتى من الجحيم يثني الآباء—بفضل الفضل العظيم الذي يناله الحكيم ذو الفطنة—على هبة البقرة؛ وفي ذلك التيرثا يمجّد سادةُ الحكماء هذا العمل.
Bhūta (continued narration)
Tirtha: Gaṅgākūpaka (contextual)
Type: kund
Scene: A sage assembly near the tīrtha praises a donor offering a decorated cow; in the background, shadowy forms rise from a dark underworld motif toward light, symbolizing naraka-release of pitṛs.
FAQs
Charity (dāna), especially go-dāna, is upheld as a powerful dharmic act benefiting both giver and ancestors.
The tīrtha associated with Govatsa/Gaṅgākūpaka is the setting where go-dāna is specially praised.
Go-pradāna (cow donation) is recommended and celebrated at the tīrtha.