Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 37
के च प्रकाराश्चत्वारः किंस्वित्तत्त्रिविधं द्विज । पयो नाशाश्च के प्रोक्ता दानस्यैतत्स्फुटं वद
ke ca prakārāścatvāraḥ kiṃsvittattrividhaṃ dvija | payo nāśāśca ke proktā dānasyaitatsphuṭaṃ vada
दानस्य चत्वारः प्रकाराः के? तत् त्रिविधं किं नाम, हे द्विज? दानस्य नाशाः के प्रोक्ताः? एतत् सर्वं स्फुटं वद।
The King
Listener: Śaunaka et al. (frame) / the addressed brāhmaṇa (‘dvija’) within the story
Scene: The questioner presses for finer distinctions: four modes, a threefold principle, and the ‘destroyers’ of merit—suggesting a teacher about to enumerate with finger-counting gestures.
FAQs
Understanding the right categories of dāna includes knowing what strengthens merit and what causes its decline.
No tīrtha is referenced; the verse continues a doctrinal interrogation on dāna.
A request for a precise explanation of dāna’s types, a threefold division, and factors that destroy or reduce its fruit.