Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 51

Devanagari script

पादावमर्दनं कृत्वा आसीमांतमनुव्रजेत् । बलिं च निक्षिपेत्तस्माद्भोजनं च समाचरेत्

Transliteration

pādāvamardanaṃ kṛtvā āsīmāṃtamanuvrajet | baliṃ ca nikṣipettasmādbhojanaṃ ca samācaret

Translation

Après avoir accompli le massage (service) des pieds, on accompagnera respectueusement jusqu’à la limite convenable. Ensuite, on déposera l’offrande (bali) ; après cela, on prendra le repas selon le rite.

Word by Word

• पाद-अवमर्दनम्: massaging the feet
• पाद-अवमर्दनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अवमर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पादानाम् अवमर्दनम् = foot-massage)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• आसीमान्तम्: to the boundary/limit
• आसीमान्तम्: Karma (Goal/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग) + सीमान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनुव्रजेत्: should follow, should accompany
• अनुव्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु+व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बलिम्: offering, bali
• बलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• निक्षिपेत्: should place, should deposit
• निक्षिपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तस्मात्: from that, thereafter
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भोजनम्: meal, feeding
• भोजनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• समाचरेत्: should perform, should carry out
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आ+चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Bhartṛyajña (instructor) to Ānarta (king) — inferred from immediate dialogue context in this Śrāddha-kalpa section

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Addressed to a ruler/‘narādhipa’ in the surrounding verses’ didactic frame

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A host gently rubbing the feet of honored guests/brāhmaṇas after śrāddha rites, then walking with them to a marked boundary; a small bali offering placed near a threshold; finally a simple ritual meal served.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śrāddha is not only offering-food but also disciplined etiquette—service, proper sequence, and respectful completion of the rite.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

This instruction belongs to the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya within the Nāgara Khaṇḍa’s Tīrthamāhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform pādāvamardana (foot-service), proceed to the prescribed boundary, place bali (offering portion), and then take the meal in due order.