Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 129
चिरं पृच्छेच्च श्रृणुयाच्चिरं न परिभूयते । धर्मे शत्रौ शस्त्रहस्ते पात्रे च निकटस्थिते
ciraṃ pṛcchecca śrṛṇuyācciraṃ na paribhūyate | dharme śatrau śastrahaste pātre ca nikaṭasthite
ದೀರ್ಘಕಾಲ ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಿ, ದೀರ್ಘಕಾಲ ಕೇಳಬೇಕು—ಅಂದರೆ ಸುಲಭವಾಗಿ ಪರಾಭವಗೊಳ್ಳುವುದಿಲ್ಲ; ಆದರೆ ಧರ್ಮಕಾರ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ, ಶತ್ರುವಿನ ಎದುರು, ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶಸ್ತ್ರವಿರುವಾಗ, ಮತ್ತು ಯೋಗ್ಯ ಪಾತ್ರ ಸಮೀಪದಲ್ಲಿರುವಾಗ—ವಿಳಂಬ ಮಾಡಬಾರದು।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: Split-scene: on one side a student patiently questioning a teacher; on the other, a warrior facing an enemy with weapon ready; a third vignette shows a donor placing gifts into a worthy ascetic’s hands immediately—illustrating ‘do not delay’ when pātra is near.
FAQs
Be patient in learning (ask and listen), but act without delay when dharma, danger, or a deserving opportunity for charity is present.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is a general nīti (ethical) instruction.
It implicitly commends prompt dāna (giving) when a pātra (worthy recipient) is nearby.