Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 10
तपसः किं प्रभावः स तेषां वा यजनोद्भवः । विद्योद्भवोऽथवा विप्र किं वा दानसमुद्भवः
tapasaḥ kiṃ prabhāvaḥ sa teṣāṃ vā yajanodbhavaḥ | vidyodbhavo'thavā vipra kiṃ vā dānasamudbhavaḥ
کیا ان کی برتری تپسیا کے اثر سے ہے، یا یَجْن (قربانی) سے پیدا ہوئی؟ یا اے برہمن، یہ ودیا (علم) سے اُبھرتی ہے—یا دان و خیرات کے اعمال سے؟
Ānarta
Listener: vipra (brāhmaṇa interlocutor)
Scene: A questioning sage addresses a brāhmaṇa: four symbolic emblems appear—fire-altar (yajña), ascetic staff (tapas), manuscript (vidyā), and gift-vessel (dāna).
FAQs
Purāṇic dharma recognizes multiple roots of greatness—discipline, worship, learning, and generosity—and invites discernment of their roles.
None is named; the verse is a doctrinal question within the Tīrthamāhātmya conversation.
No direct prescription; it references yajña and dāna as possible sources of merit.