Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 26
मंडनैः पुष्पमालाभिः समंताद्द्विजसत्तमाः । हस्त्यश्वरथदानैश्च गोर्भिर्वस्त्रैश्च कांचनैः । कृतार्था ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे कृतास्तै स्तत्र भक्तितः
maṃḍanaiḥ puṣpamālābhiḥ samaṃtāddvijasattamāḥ | hastyaśvarathadānaiśca gorbhirvastraiśca kāṃcanaiḥ | kṛtārthā brāhmaṇāḥ sarve kṛtāstai statra bhaktitaḥ
हे द्विजश्रेष्ठ! सर्वत्र अलंकार व पुष्पमाळांनी त्यांचा सन्मान झाला. हत्ती, घोडे, रथ, गायी, वस्त्रे व सुवर्ण यांच्या दानांनी तेथे सर्व ब्राह्मण तृप्त व कृतार्थ झाले—हे सर्व भक्तीने केले गेले।
Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narration; likely Sūta in the Tīrthamāhātmya frame)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A grand donation assembly: brāhmaṇas seated in rows with garlands; donors present cows, gold, garments, and symbolic models of chariots/horses/elephants; the atmosphere is orderly, reverent, and celebratory.
FAQs
Pilgrimage is perfected by dāna and brāhmaṇa-sevā—devotion expresses itself as generous support of dharma and its custodians.
The verse continues the kṣetra narrative in Adhyāya 72, describing meritorious giving performed at that sacred field.
Dāna: gifting cows, garments, gold, and even royal-scale gifts (elephants, horses, chariots), along with honoring via garlands and adornments.