Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 70
शतेषु जायते शूरः सहस्रेषु च पंडितः । वक्ता शतसहस्रेषु दाता जायेत वा न वा
śateṣu jāyate śūraḥ sahasreṣu ca paṃḍitaḥ | vaktā śatasahasreṣu dātā jāyeta vā na vā
Dalam ratusan lahir seorang wira; dalam ribuan lahir seorang pandita. Dalam ratus ribu muncul seorang yang fasih berkata—namun penderma sejati mungkin lahir, atau mungkin juga tidak lahir sama sekali.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa convention)
Scene: A symbolic ‘ladder of virtues’: warrior, scholar, orator, and finally the giver at the summit with an open palm radiating light; crowds below emphasize rarity.
FAQs
True generosity is rarer than bravery, scholarship, or eloquence; therefore dāna is a supreme and uncommon virtue.
No site is referenced; the verse is a general encomium of dāna.
No specific rite; it motivates the practice of dāna by praising the rarity of a genuine donor.