Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 13
सा त्वया कल्पिताऽस्माकं वितीर्णाद्यापि नो नृप । कुप्याकुप्यं परित्यज्य तां देहि नृप मा चिरम्
sā tvayā kalpitā'smākaṃ vitīrṇādyāpi no nṛpa | kupyākupyaṃ parityajya tāṃ dehi nṛpa mā ciram
ഹേ നൃപ, ഞങ്ങൾക്കായി നീ നിശ്ചയിച്ച ദക്ഷിണ ഇന്നും ഞങ്ങൾക്ക് ലഭിച്ചിട്ടില്ല. വിലയുള്ളതോ ഇല്ലാത്തതോ എന്ന ചിന്ത ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച്, ഹേ രാജാവേ, വൈകാതെ അത് നൽകുക.
Brāhmaṇas
Type: kshetra
Listener: Nṛpa (king)
Scene: Brāhmaṇas respectfully but firmly remind the king of the promised dakṣiṇā; the king listens, slightly chastened, in a ritual pavilion.
FAQs
Charity should be timely and free from hesitation about material value; delay weakens the integrity of dharmic commitments.
The passage is embedded in a tīrtha-māhātmya narrative framework; this verse itself focuses on dakṣiṇā obligation rather than a site.
To complete the śrāddha properly, the promised dakṣiṇā should be given promptly, without quibbling over the worth of the gift.