Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 12
उपकारप्रदानं च यत्किंचित्तस्य संमतम् । अन्यस्मिन्दिवसे शूद्रः स पिता पूर्वजन्मनः । तस्य पञ्चत्वमापन्नः संप्राप्ते चायुषः क्षये
upakārapradānaṃ ca yatkiṃcittasya saṃmatam | anyasmindivase śūdraḥ sa pitā pūrvajanmanaḥ | tasya pañcatvamāpannaḥ saṃprāpte cāyuṣaḥ kṣaye
เขามอบการเกื้อกูลและสิ่งช่วยเหลือเท่าที่เห็นว่าเหมาะและเป็นประโยชน์แก่ผู้นั้น ครั้นต่อมาในวันหนึ่ง ศูทรผู้นั้น—ผู้เคยเป็นบิดาของเขาในชาติปางก่อน—ก็ถึงปัญจัตตวะเมื่ออายุขัยสิ้นสุดลง
Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narration within Tīrthamāhātmya; likely Skanda)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A poignant reveal: the supported śūdra is understood as the former father; soon after, he dies at lifespan’s end. The benefactor’s steady assistance is shown as fulfilled duty amid impermanence.
FAQs
Obligation and gratitude can transcend a single lifetime; death is certain, so one should complete duties of care while time remains.
The setting remains within a Nāgarakhaṇḍa Māhātmya; this verse itself does not name the tīrtha.
Practical ‘upakāra’ (acts of benefit) is highlighted; formal post-death rites are introduced in the following verse.