Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 26
मंडनैः पुष्पमालाभिः समंताद्द्विजसत्तमाः । हस्त्यश्वरथदानैश्च गोर्भिर्वस्त्रैश्च कांचनैः । कृतार्था ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे कृतास्तै स्तत्र भक्तितः
maṃḍanaiḥ puṣpamālābhiḥ samaṃtāddvijasattamāḥ | hastyaśvarathadānaiśca gorbhirvastraiśca kāṃcanaiḥ | kṛtārthā brāhmaṇāḥ sarve kṛtāstai statra bhaktitaḥ
Ô le meilleur des deux-fois-nés, de toutes parts on les honora d’ornements et de guirlandes de fleurs. Par des dons d’éléphants, de chevaux et de chars, par des vaches, des vêtements et de l’or, tous les brāhmaṇa furent pleinement comblés—ainsi furent-ils réjouis là par la dévotion.
Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narration; likely Sūta in the Tīrthamāhātmya frame)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A grand donation assembly: brāhmaṇas seated in rows with garlands; donors present cows, gold, garments, and symbolic models of chariots/horses/elephants; the atmosphere is orderly, reverent, and celebratory.
FAQs
Pilgrimage is perfected by dāna and brāhmaṇa-sevā—devotion expresses itself as generous support of dharma and its custodians.
The verse continues the kṣetra narrative in Adhyāya 72, describing meritorious giving performed at that sacred field.
Dāna: gifting cows, garments, gold, and even royal-scale gifts (elephants, horses, chariots), along with honoring via garlands and adornments.