Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 1
ब्रह्मोवाच । हरेर्दीपस्तु मद्दीपादधिकोऽयं प्रकुर्वतः । वैकुण्ठवास एव स्यान्ममैश्वर्यमवांछितम्
brahmovāca | harerdīpastu maddīpādadhiko'yaṃ prakurvataḥ | vaikuṇṭhavāsa eva syānmamaiśvaryamavāṃchitam
ब्रह्मा म्हणाले—हरिला अर्पिलेला दीप माझ्या दीपापेक्षा अधिक श्रेष्ठ आहे. जो हे करतो त्याला वैकुंठवास निश्चित मिळतो; माझे ऐश्वर्यही त्याला नकोसे वाटते।
Brahmā
Tirtha: Viṣṇu-bhavana (contextual)
Type: temple
Listener: Nārada
Scene: Brahmā, seated on a lotus, speaks to Nārada about the superiority of offering a glowing lamp to Hari; a Viṣṇu shrine with a steady flame symbolizes Vaikuṇṭha’s radiance.
FAQs
Devotion directed to Hari through dīpa-dāna is exalted as a direct cause for Vaikuṇṭha attainment.
The verse continues within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra māhātmya framework of Nāgara Khaṇḍa, though it names Vaikuṇṭha as the spiritual destination.
Offer a lamp to Hari; the text elevates this act above offerings made to Brahmā.