Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 54
इति ते गदितौ राजन्द्वौ हेतू श्रूयतामतः । अधिष्ठानानि वक्ष्यामि षडेव श्रृणु तान्यपि
iti te gaditau rājandvau hetū śrūyatāmataḥ | adhiṣṭhānāni vakṣyāmi ṣaḍeva śrṛṇu tānyapi
Kaya nito, O Hari, naipaliwanag na sa iyo ang dalawang dahilan. Ngayon ay makinig pa: ipahahayag ko ang anim na saligan ng pagbibigay ng dāna—pakinggan mo rin ang mga iyon.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)
Listener: Rājan (King)
Scene: A sage-teacher addresses a seated king in a court or hermitage; behind them, a palm-leaf manuscript shows headings ‘two motives’ and ‘six bases’; attendants listen attentively.
FAQs
Charity must be understood not only by outcomes but by its inner bases and motivations, which determine its dharmic quality.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; the focus is on general dharma-śāstric teaching about dāna.
A teaching sequence is prescribed: after motives, the text proceeds to enumerate the six bases of dāna.