Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 25
पतंति पुरुषा भद्र पत्राणीव पुनःपुनः । कृतेन येन विप्रेंद्र स्वर्गं प्राप्नोति निर्मलम् । दानेन तपसा चैव तत्त्वमा चक्ष्व सुव्रत
pataṃti puruṣā bhadra patrāṇīva punaḥpunaḥ | kṛtena yena vipreṃdra svargaṃ prāpnoti nirmalam | dānena tapasā caiva tattvamā cakṣva suvrata
Wahai Bhadra, manusia jatuh berulang-ulang bagaikan daun. Wahai yang terbaik di antara brāhmaṇa, dengan perbuatan apakah seseorang mencapai surga yang suci tanpa noda? Katakanlah kepadaku kebenaran—melalui dāna dan tapas, wahai engkau yang berkaul luhur.
King (questioning a brāhmaṇa/sage; direct address to Bhadra and ‘viprendra’)
Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A seeker addresses a venerable brāhmaṇa/sage: men fall like leaves from a tree; the sage listens, poised to teach the deed leading to stainless heaven; a tree shedding leaves symbolizes anityatā.
FAQs
Human life is unstable like falling leaves; therefore one should seek dharmic means—especially dāna and tapas—to gain higher destiny.
The verse occurs within Vastrāpatha-kṣetra Māhātmya; it prepares for explaining the merits connected to sacred place and righteous acts.
Dāna (charity) and tapas (austerity) are explicitly raised as key practices connected with attaining merit and heavenly reward.