Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 73
वैदिको दानमार्गोऽयं चतुर्धा वर्ण्यते द्विजैः । प्रपारामतडागादिसर्वकामफलं ध्रुवम्
vaidiko dānamārgo'yaṃ caturdhā varṇyate dvijaiḥ | prapārāmataḍāgādisarvakāmaphalaṃ dhruvam
Jalan dana menurut Weda ini dijelaskan oleh para dvija dalam empat pembagian. Di antaranya, dana ‘dhruva’—seperti membangun tempat air minum, rumah singgah, dan kolam—menganugerahkan buah yang mantap: terpenuhinya segala hasrat yang patut.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Pilgrims and villagers drink from a prapā; a newly built tank reflects a temple spire; donors oversee construction with masons; the scene conveys continuous service across seasons.
FAQs
Sustaining life through public welfare gifts—water, shelter, and reservoirs—is a stable and highly fruitful form of charity.
No particular tīrtha is named; the verse praises dharmic infrastructure (water-sheds, groves, tanks) as universally meritorious.
It recommends dhruva dāna such as establishing prapās (water stations), ārāmas (rest-groves), and taḍāgas (ponds/tanks).