Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 83
बलिरुवाच । यैर्गुणैः कुरुते राज्यं राजा तान्वद मे विभो । दानं पात्रे प्रदातव्यं मया त्वमपि तं वद
baliruvāca | yairguṇaiḥ kurute rājyaṃ rājā tānvada me vibho | dānaṃ pātre pradātavyaṃ mayā tvamapi taṃ vada
Bali dit : Ô Puissant, dis-moi les qualités par lesquelles un roi gouverne véritablement un royaume. Dis-moi aussi à qui je dois faire l’aumône : qu’est-ce qui rend un homme digne de recevoir.
Bali
Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra (within Prabhāsa)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Nārada
Scene: Bali, seated respectfully, questions sage Nārada about the virtues of kingship and the proper recipient of charity; a tīrtha setting with pilgrims and a shrine in the background.
FAQs
True rulership rests on virtues, and charity must be guided by discernment of worthiness (pātratā).
The surrounding narrative belongs to Vastrāpatha-kṣetra Māhātmya in Prabhāsa; this verse introduces ethical inquiry rather than directly praising a tīrtha.
Dāna is mentioned with emphasis on giving to a ‘pātra’ (worthy recipient).