Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 10
तपसः किं प्रभावः स तेषां वा यजनोद्भवः । विद्योद्भवोऽथवा विप्र किं वा दानसमुद्भवः
tapasaḥ kiṃ prabhāvaḥ sa teṣāṃ vā yajanodbhavaḥ | vidyodbhavo'thavā vipra kiṃ vā dānasamudbhavaḥ
Adakah keunggulan mereka itu hasil daripada pertapaan, atau lahir daripada pengorbanan? Atau adakah ia timbul daripada ilmu, wahai brahmana—atau adakah ia dihasilkan oleh amal kebajikan?
Ānarta
Listener: vipra (brāhmaṇa interlocutor)
Scene: A questioning sage addresses a brāhmaṇa: four symbolic emblems appear—fire-altar (yajña), ascetic staff (tapas), manuscript (vidyā), and gift-vessel (dāna).
FAQs
Purāṇic dharma recognizes multiple roots of greatness—discipline, worship, learning, and generosity—and invites discernment of their roles.
None is named; the verse is a doctrinal question within the Tīrthamāhātmya conversation.
No direct prescription; it references yajña and dāna as possible sources of merit.