Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 94
देवतायतनं यावद्यावच्च ब्राह्मणगृहम् । तावद्दातुः पूर्वजानां पुण्यांशश्चोपतिष्ठति
devatāyatanaṃ yāvadyāvacca brāhmaṇagṛham | tāvaddātuḥ pūrvajānāṃ puṇyāṃśaścopatiṣṭhati
ദേവതയുടെ ആലയം എത്രകാലം നിലനിൽക്കുമോ, ബ്രാഹ്മണന്റെ ഗൃഹം എത്രകാലം നിലനിൽക്കുമോ, അത്രകാലം ദാതാവിന്റെ പൂർവ്വജനങ്ങൾക്ക് പുണ്യാംശം ലഭിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കും।
Sārasvata (as reported in the narrative context of Adhyāya 2)
Scene: A temple stands firm through seasons; nearby a brāhmaṇa household with sacred fire. Above, subtle ancestral figures receive light/offerings, indicating merit flowing backward through lineage.
FAQs
Lasting charitable support to sacred institutions creates enduring merit that benefits even one’s ancestors.
No single tirtha is named; the verse praises the enduring sanctity of temples and brāhmaṇa households in general.
Dāna connected to sustaining a devatāyatana (temple) or supporting a brāhmaṇa household, emphasizing long-lasting religious benefit.