Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 43
नारद उवाच । ततः स विस्मयाविष्टस्तस्यायुरिति शुश्रुवान् । पप्रच्छ राजा को हेतुर्दानस्य तपसोऽथ वा । यदायुरीदृशं दीर्घं संजातमिति विस्मितः
nārada uvāca | tataḥ sa vismayāviṣṭastasyāyuriti śuśruvān | papraccha rājā ko heturdānasya tapaso'tha vā | yadāyurīdṛśaṃ dīrghaṃ saṃjātamiti vismitaḥ
قال نارَدَة: ثم إنّ الملك، وقد أخذه العجب حين سمع بطول عمره، سأل: «ما السبب—أهو الصدقة (دانا) أم الزهد والنسك (تَبَس) أم غير ذلك—الذي به نشأ عمرٌ طويلٌ كهذا؟»
Nārada
Tirtha: Ghṛtakaṃbala (implied)
Type: kshetra
Listener: General audience within the Purāṇic frame; internally, the king addresses the respondent (Nāḍījaṃgha in next verse).
Scene: Nārada narrates: a king, struck with wonder at hearing of an immense lifespan, respectfully questions the cause—charity, austerity, or another power.
FAQs
Merit (puṇya) arises from dharmic causes such as dāna and tapas, and the wise inquire into the roots of extraordinary results.
No specific sacred site is mentioned in this verse.
No direct prescription; dāna (charity) and tapas (austerity) are referenced as possible causes.