Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

भूमिदानं धेनुदानं स्वर्णदानमनन्तकम् । वज्रदानमनन्तं च फलं प्राह शतक्रतुः

Transliteration

bhūmidānaṃ dhenudānaṃ svarṇadānamanantakam | vajradānamanantaṃ ca phalaṃ prāha śatakratuḥ

Translation

ഭൂമിദാനം, ധേനുദാനം, സ്വർണ്ണദാനം—ഇവ അനന്ത പുണ്യഫലദായകങ്ങൾ; വജ്ര (രത്ന) ദാനവും അനന്തഫലദായകമെന്നു ശതക്രതു (ഇന്ദ്രൻ) പ്രസ്താവിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• भूमिदानम्: gift of land
• भूमिदानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भूमेः दानम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• धेनुदानम्: gift of a cow
• धेनुदानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धेनोः दानम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• स्वर्णदानम्: gift of gold
• स्वर्णदानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ण + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वर्णस्य दानम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• अनन्तकम्: endless (in result)
• अनन्तकम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• वज्रदानम्: gift of vajra/diamond
• वज्रदानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वज्रस्य दानम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• अनन्तम्: endless
• अनन्तम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: and)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्राह: said/declared
• प्राह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु; आह-आदेश)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• शतक्रतुः: Śatakratu (Indra)
• शतक्रतुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतक्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; इन्द्रस्य नाम (proper noun)

Speaker

Unknown narrator quoting Śatakratu (Indra)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā-kṣetra (context)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Nṛpa (King) (carried from prior address)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A ceremonial dāna tableau: a donor presents a cow with calf, land-grant deed/soil symbol, gold vessels, and a shining vajra-gem; Indra (Śatakratu) appears above as a confirming deity.

Characters & Entities

• Śatakratu (Indra)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Major forms of dāna—land, cow, gold, and precious gems—are upheld as exceptionally potent, yielding vast spiritual results.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Within the Devatīrtha-focused discourse of Revākhaṇḍa, these dānas are presented as especially meritorious in that sacred setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Performing high-value charities (bhūmi-dāna, dhenu-dāna, svarṇa-dāna, vajra-dāna), ideally in a sanctified context and with proper intent.