Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

नैरृत्यकोणगं विष्णुं पूजयेत्सर्वदा बुधः । सुगन्धचंदनैः पुष्पैर्नैवेद्यैश्चातिशोभनैः

Transliteration

nairṛtyakoṇagaṃ viṣṇuṃ pūjayetsarvadā budhaḥ | sugandhacaṃdanaiḥ puṣpairnaivedyaiścātiśobhanaiḥ

Translation

Le sage doit toujours adorer Viṣṇu, établi dans l’angle de Nairṛtya, en lui offrant du santal parfumé, des fleurs et de splendides offrandes de nourriture (naivedya).

Word by Word

• नैरृत्यकोणगम्: located in the south-west corner
• नैरृत्यकोणगम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नैरृत्य-कोण-ग (प्रातिपदिक; नैरृत्य=नैरृति-सम्बन्धी, कोण=corner, ग=going/located)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विष्णुम् इति विशेष्यस्य)

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb of time)

• बुधः: a wise person
• बुधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुगन्धचन्दनैः: with fragrant sandalwood (paste)
• सुगन्धचन्दनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुगन्ध-चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक; सुगन्ध=fragrant, चन्दन=sandalwood)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करणत्वे (instrumental)

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करणत्वे

• नैवेद्यैः: with food-offerings
• नैवेद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करणत्वे

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• अतिशोभनैः: very splendid (offerings)
• अतिशोभनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिशोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (सुगन्धचन्दनैः/पुष्पैः/नैवेद्यैः इत्यादीनाम्)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A wise devotee performs Viṣṇu pūjā at the southwest corner niche: sandalwood fragrance rises, fresh flowers are arranged, and a splendid naivedya platter is presented before a serene Viṣṇu icon.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Nairṛtya (direction)
• Naivedya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Steady devotion—expressed through proper offerings and reverence—sustains dharma and auspiciousness in daily life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

This verse focuses on worship procedure rather than naming a particular tīrtha; it belongs to the Tīrthamāhātmya framework of merit and sacred practice.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Worship Viṣṇu in the Nairṛtya (southwest) corner with fragrant sandalwood, flowers, and excellent naivedya.