Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 12
श्राद्धीयो वैश्वदेवीयः सूर्योढश्च तृतीयकः । ये चान्ये भोजनार्थीयास्ते सामान्याः प्रकीर्तिता
śrāddhīyo vaiśvadevīyaḥ sūryoḍhaśca tṛtīyakaḥ | ye cānye bhojanārthīyāste sāmānyāḥ prakīrtitā
Les trois hôtes principaux sont : l’hôte du śrāddha, l’hôte du vaiśvadeva, et, en troisième, l’hôte sūryoḍha. Ceux qui viennent seulement pour obtenir de la nourriture sont dits ordinaires.
Deductive (Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narration; likely Sūta speaking to sages)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Dvijoत्तamāḥ (twice-born householders/learned audience)
Scene: Three honored guests are depicted distinctly: a śrāddha-brāhmaṇa near piṇḍa offerings, a vaiśvadeva-associated recipient near bali offerings, and a third linked to the sun (sūrya) with a sun-disc motif; other hungry visitors wait respectfully as ‘ordinary’ recipients.
FAQs
Dharma distinguishes ritual guests tied to sacred acts (śrāddha, vaiśvadeva) from casual visitors, guiding proper honour and timing.
No specific tīrtha is named; the teaching supports tīrtha-oriented dharma by emphasizing correct household rites.
Recognition of three principal guest-categories linked to śrāddha and vaiśvadeva observances.