Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 90
नाहं तथाद्भि यजमानहविर्वितानश्चयोतद्घृतप्लुतमदन्हुतभुङ्मुखेन । यद्ब्राह्मणस्य मुखतश्चरतोनुघासं तुष्टस्य मय्यवहितैर्निजकर्मपाकैः
nāhaṃ tathādbhi yajamānahavirvitānaścayotadghṛtaplutamadanhutabhuṅmukhena | yadbrāhmaṇasya mukhataścaratonughāsaṃ tuṣṭasya mayyavahitairnijakarmapākaiḥ
I am not pleased in that same way by the sacrificer’s elaborate offerings—by oblations and ghee poured into the fire and consumed by the mouth of the rite—as I am pleased by even a mere morsel that comes from the mouth of a contented brāhmaṇa, offered with attentive devotion as the ripened fruit of one’s own deeds.
Viṣṇu (quoted authority)
Listener: The Kumāras
Scene: Two scenes contrasted: (1) a grand yajña with blazing fire, priests, ladles of ghee; (2) a humble devotee offering a small morsel to a serene brāhmaṇa seated calmly. Viṣṇu’s subtle presence/approval radiates more strongly over the second scene.
FAQs
Personal charity and reverent service to a worthy, contented brāhmaṇa can please the Divine more than costly ritual display.
No specific tīrtha is named; the ‘holy field’ emphasized is the brāhmaṇa as a recipient of dāna and honor.
It implicitly praises brāhmaṇa-bhojana/dāna (offering food/charity to brāhmaṇas) over mere ritual oblations.