Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 10
तपसः किं प्रभावः स तेषां वा यजनोद्भवः । विद्योद्भवोऽथवा विप्र किं वा दानसमुद्भवः
tapasaḥ kiṃ prabhāvaḥ sa teṣāṃ vā yajanodbhavaḥ | vidyodbhavo'thavā vipra kiṃ vā dānasamudbhavaḥ
त्यांची श्रेष्ठता तपाच्या प्रभावाने आहे काय, की यज्ञातून उत्पन्न झाली आहे? अथवा, हे ब्राह्मण, ती विद्येमुळे आहे की दानकर्मातून?
Ānarta
Listener: vipra (brāhmaṇa interlocutor)
Scene: A questioning sage addresses a brāhmaṇa: four symbolic emblems appear—fire-altar (yajña), ascetic staff (tapas), manuscript (vidyā), and gift-vessel (dāna).
FAQs
Purāṇic dharma recognizes multiple roots of greatness—discipline, worship, learning, and generosity—and invites discernment of their roles.
None is named; the verse is a doctrinal question within the Tīrthamāhātmya conversation.
No direct prescription; it references yajña and dāna as possible sources of merit.