The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes In Praise of Dana Performed in front of Rudras which is chapter 277 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the two hundred seventy-seventh chapter of the Tirtha-mahatmya of the Nagara-khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 277 - In Praise of Dāna Performed in front of Rudras
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
The sages said:
1. What are the names of those Brāhmaṇas who came from Vārāṇasī and due to whose great devotion, Rudra assumed the eleven forms? O great sage, narrate in detail their names.
Sūta said:
2. One of them is well-known all over the three worlds as Mṛgavyādha. The second one is called Sarva (Śarva?) and the third Nindita.
3. O excellent sages, the fourth one is called Mahāyaśāh. The fifth one is called Ajaikapāda, O excellent sages.
4. Ahirbudhnya is the sixth. Pinākin is the seventh. Parantapa is the other one (i.e. eighth). Dahana is the ninth one.
5. The tenth is mentioned as Īśvara and Kapālin is the last one. Hara gave the Rudras also the same names as they possessed.
The sages said:
6. Tell us quickly what Dānas are, recommended in their case. The Japa has been earlier mentioned by you. What is the procedure for carrying it out?
Sūīa said:
7. O highly esteemed ones, cows are to be offered to them directly and separately in each case.
8. Cow made of jaggery should be directly given to Mṛgavyādha. That made of fresh butter should be given to Kapālin.
9. A cow made of ghee should be offered to Ajaikapāda and that made of gold to Ahirbudhnya. A cow made of salt should be offered to Pinākin.
10. O leading Brāhmaṇas, a cow made of Rasa (Juice) is to be offered to Parantapa. That made of cooked rice is assigned to Dahana and that of water to Īśvara.
11. O Brāhmaṇas, he who gives these to noble souls shall certainly become an emperor. Pitāmaha said thus.
12. They are beneficial if given to others too and still more so if they are given in the presence of Bhava. Hence by all means these should be given.
13. If one is unable to give many cows, one should give at least one cow to all the Rudras together in accordance with the words (opinion) of Bhartṛyajña.