Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 31
भूमेरंगुलहर्ता हि स कथं पापमाचरेत् । भूमेरंगुलदाता च स कथं पुण्यमाचरेत्
bhūmeraṃgulahartā hi sa kathaṃ pāpamācaret | bhūmeraṃguladātā ca sa kathaṃ puṇyamācaret
من يسرق ولو قيد إصبع من الأرض، فكيف لا يرتكب إثماً؟ ومن يتبرع ولو بقيد إصبع من الأرض، فكيف لا يكسب ثواباً؟
Brahmā (to Nārada, inferred)
Scene: A moral tableau: on one side, a stealthy boundary-stealer measuring a finger’s breadth; on the other, a serene donor offering a small plot with water-pot and deed-leaf to a worthy recipient; the earth-goddess (Bhū-devī) witnesses, approving the gift and frowning on theft.
FAQs
Even the smallest injustice in land matters is grave sin, and even a small sincere gift of land is powerful merit.
No tīrtha is identified; the verse is a universal dharma statement.
The implied prescription is bhū-dāna (donating land) and strict avoidance of land-theft.