Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 46
सर्वेभ्यश्चैव विप्रेभ्यो नानागोत्रेभ्य एव च । सुरभीसहिता गावो दातव्या नात्र संशयः
sarvebhyaścaiva viprebhyo nānāgotrebhya eva ca | surabhīsahitā gāvo dātavyā nātra saṃśayaḥ
Kepada semua brāhmaṇa—bahkan daripada pelbagai gotra—hendaklah diberikan lembu-lembu bersama Surabhī sebagai dana; tiada keraguan tentang hal ini.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced; Māheśvara Khaṇḍa narration to sages)
Tirtha: Kedāra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Ṛṣis (Naimiṣāraṇya frame typical) / pilgrims (implied)
Scene: Sages in a Himalayan hermitage near Kedāra instruct that Surabhī-associated cows be gifted to brāhmaṇas of many gotras; cows adorned with garlands, vessels of water and kuśa present, Śiva’s presence implied by liṅga/triśūla motifs.
FAQs
Charity aligned with dharma—especially go-dāna to worthy recipients—is affirmed as a certain and meritorious act.
The command is voiced within Kedāra Khaṇḍa’s mahatmya setting, where dharmic acts support the sacred narrative of Kedāra.
Go-dāna: giving cows (with Surabhī) to brāhmaṇas across different gotras, explicitly stated as obligatory/commendable.