Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 9
ततस्तु नर्तकेभ्यश्च दीनांधेभ्यो विशेषतः । ददौ भोज्यं समि ष्टान्नं सवस्त्रं च द्विजोत्तमाः
tatastu nartakebhyaśca dīnāṃdhebhyo viśeṣataḥ | dadau bhojyaṃ sami ṣṭānnaṃ savastraṃ ca dvijottamāḥ
Sesudah itu, khususnya kepada para penari, orang miskin dan orang buta, yang terbaik antara kaum dwija itu mengurniakan makanan—hidangan masak pilihan sebagai persembahan—serta pakaian juga.
Narrator (contextual, within Sūta’s narration)
Tirtha: Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya sages (standard Purāṇic frame)
Scene: A dignified brāhmaṇa patron distributes plates of iṣṭānna (choice cooked offerings) and folded garments to dancers, the poor, and blind recipients in a kṣetra courtyard; attendants arrange vessels; recipients receive with joined palms.
FAQs
Compassionate giving to the vulnerable—especially food and clothing—is a central Purāṇic expression of dharma.
The narrative belongs to the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra-māhātmya in the Nāgarakhaṇḍa.
Anna-dāna (distribution of cooked food) and vastra-dāna (clothing), directed particularly to those in need.