Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 157

Devanagari script

षड्विधैर्भोजनैर्भक्ष्यैर्वासोभिस्तान् समर्चयेत् । दक्षिणाभिर्विचित्राभिः पूजयित्वा क्षमापयेत्

Transliteration

ṣaḍvidhairbhojanairbhakṣyairvāsobhistān samarcayet | dakṣiṇābhirvicitrābhiḥ pūjayitvā kṣamāpayet

Translation

Qu’il les honore par six sortes de mets, par des douceurs et par des vêtements ; puis, les ayant vénérés par des dons variés (dakṣiṇā), qu’il demande encore pardon.

Word by Word

• षड्विधैः: with six kinds (of)
• षड्विधैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः ‘विध’), तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ‘भोजनैः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• भोजनैः: with foods; meals
• भोजनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• भक्ष्यैः: with eatables; snacks
• भक्ष्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• वासोभिः: with garments; cloths
• वासोभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• समर्चयेत्: should honor; worship
• समर्चयेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-र्च् (धातु) (णिच्) → अर्चय (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; ‘सम्’ उपसर्गः; पूजां कारयेत्

• दक्षिणाभिः: with gifts/fees (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• विचित्राभिः: variegated; splendid
• विचित्राभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘दक्षिणाभिः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु) → पूजयित्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त), पूर्वक्रिया

• क्षमापयेत्: should ask forgiveness; should appease
• क्षमापयेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम् (धातु) (णिच्) → क्षमापय (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic voice, likely Sūta speaking in Āvantya Khaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā-tīrtha context (implicit)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: nareśvara/king (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A formal feeding hall: brāhmaṇas seated in rows, served multiple dishes; garments folded as gifts; donor presents dakṣiṇā; a gesture of apology/forgiveness request concludes the ceremony.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Dakṣiṇā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Respect for dharma-bearers (brāhmaṇas) through hospitality and giving is a purifier when joined with humility.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Within Revā Khaṇḍa, such acts are framed as part of the sacred observances connected to the Revā/Narmadā tīrtha-world.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Feed brāhmaṇas with six kinds of foods, offer delicacies and garments, give dakṣiṇā, and ask forgiveness.