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
Wahai yang terbaik dalam kalangan dwija, di sekeliling mereka memuliakan para brāhmaṇa dengan perhiasan dan kalungan bunga. Dengan sedekah gajah, kuda dan rata, dengan lembu, pakaian serta emas, semua brāhmaṇa menjadi puas sepenuhnya—demikianlah mereka dipuaskan di sana oleh bhakti.
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.