Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 86
इति मंत्रं समुच्चार्य धेनूर्वाधेनु मेव वा । यो दद्याद्द्विजवर्याय स सर्वेभ्यो विशिष्यते
iti maṃtraṃ samuccārya dhenūrvādhenu meva vā | yo dadyāddvijavaryāya sa sarvebhyo viśiṣyate
Recitando este mantra, quien ofrezca una vaca lechera—o incluso una vaca que no esté dando leche—a un excelente brāhmaṇa, se distingue por encima de todos.
Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Pilgrim-audience/ṛṣi audience in Kāśī-khaṇḍa frame
Scene: A donor, after reciting a mantra, respectfully offers a decorated cow to a venerable brāhmaṇa; witnesses in Kāśī look on as the act radiates merit and distinction.
FAQs
Charity sanctified by mantra—especially gau-dāna to a worthy brāhmaṇa—is praised as a supreme purifier and merit-maker.
The instruction is framed within Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s dharma-teaching atmosphere, where gifts and rites gain heightened merit.
Recite the stated mantra and then perform gau-dāna (gift of a cow), preferably to a dvija-varya (excellent brāhmaṇa).