Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 32
अग्निहोत्रैर्न तच्छ्रेयो नाग्निष्टोमादिभिर्मखैः । यच्छ्रेयः प्राप्यते मर्त्यैर्द्विजे चैके प्रतिष्ठिते
agnihotrairna tacchreyo nāgniṣṭomādibhirmakhaiḥ | yacchreyaḥ prāpyate martyairdvije caike pratiṣṭhite
Esa misma excelencia espiritual no se alcanza con los ritos del Agnihotra, ni siquiera con sacrificios como el Agniṣṭoma; pues mayor es el mérito que los mortales obtienen al sostener y establecer aunque sea a un solo dvija.
Skanda
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A contrast tableau: on one side elaborate Vedic sacrifice with altars; on the other, a patron establishing a learned dvija with books, food, and shelter—radiance stronger on the latter, signaling superior śreyas.
FAQs
Practical dharma—uplifting and firmly supporting a worthy dvija—can yield merit surpassing elaborate Vedic sacrifices.
The teaching is embedded in the Kāśī Māhātmya narrative framework, where dharmic support and charity are especially celebrated.
A value hierarchy is stated: supporting/establishing a dvija is praised as yielding greater śreyas than Agnihotra or Agniṣṭoma sacrifices.