Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5
एक साम्ना प्रयाचंते वित्तं भेदेन चापरे । भयदानेन चान्येऽपि केचिद्दंडेन च द्विजाः
eka sāmnā prayācaṃte vittaṃ bhedena cāpare | bhayadānena cānye'pi keciddaṃḍena ca dvijāḥ
சிலர் புகழ்ச்சியால் பணம் கேட்கிறார்கள்; சிலர் பிளவை விதைத்து; இன்னும் சிலர் அச்சுறுத்தி; சிலர்—சில பிராமணர்களும் கூட—தண்டனை மிரட்டலால் கேட்கிறார்கள்.
Unspecified (narrative speaker continuing the complaint; not named in the snippet)
Scene: A sequence-like tableau: one petitioner praises with folded hands (sāman), another whispers to create faction (bheda), another brandishes fear (bhaya), and a learned-looking figure threatens punishment (daṇḍa), showing four coercive modes.
FAQs
Wealth pursued or demanded through manipulation and coercion violates dharma; righteous living requires integrity in both giving and asking.
Not specified in this verse; it supports the broader tīrtha-centered narrative by presenting the problem that dharma must resolve.
No direct prescription; the verse critiques adharmic social behavior around wealth.