Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 58
वस्त्रैराभरणैश्चैव स्वशक्त्या नृपनंदिनि । गौर्यै भक्ष्यं च दातव्यं मिष्टान्नेन शुचिस्मिते
vastrairābharaṇaiścaiva svaśaktyā nṛpanaṃdini | gauryai bhakṣyaṃ ca dātavyaṃ miṣṭānnena śucismite
हे नृपनन्दिनि, स्वशक्त्यानुसारं वस्त्राण्याभरणानि च दातव्यानि; शुचिस्मिते, गौर्यै भक्ष्यं मिष्टान्नं च समर्पयेत्।
Lakṣmī (contextual instruction; addressing a royal woman/recipient of teaching)
Type: kshetra
Listener: nṛpa-nandinī (princess) addressed as śuci-smitā/sundarī
Scene: A princess-devotee stands before a Gaurī altar with attendants presenting folded garments, ornaments, and trays of sweets; the atmosphere is clean, auspicious, and ceremonial.
FAQs
Charity aligned with one’s means, offered to the Goddess, is upheld as a central expression of dharma and devotion.
The instruction belongs to a tīrtha-mahātmya setting; the verse highlights offerings to Gaurī rather than naming the place.
Give garments and ornaments as per capacity, and offer edibles and sweet dishes to Gaurī.