Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 55
सदैव नक्ते पूजोक्ता सदा नक्ते तु भोजनम् । नक्त एव हि होमोऽयं नक्त एव क्षमापनम्
sadaiva nakte pūjoktā sadā nakte tu bhojanam | nakta eva hi homo'yaṃ nakta eva kṣamāpanam
पूजा सदा रात्रि में ही कही गई है और भोजन भी सदा रात्रि में ही। यह होम भी रात्रि में ही हो तथा क्षमा-याचना भी रात्रि में ही।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa typically Skanda instructing Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A quiet night in Kāśī: devotee performs pūjā by lamplight, later offers homa; a simple night meal awaits; finally the devotee bows in kṣamā-prārthanā, hands folded, eyes lowered.
FAQs
Spiritual discipline is strengthened by clear constraints—timing, restraint, and accountability through atonement.
The instruction belongs to Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s vrata tradition associated with Kāśī.
Nakta observance: pūjā, meal, homa, and kṣamāpanā are all to be performed at night.