Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 24
दीपदः कीर्तिमाप्नोति चक्षुरुत्तममेव च । नैवेद्यस्य प्रदानेन नरो मृष्टाशनो भवेत्
dīpadaḥ kīrtimāpnoti cakṣuruttamameva ca | naivedyasya pradānena naro mṛṣṭāśano bhavet
ദീപം അർപ്പിക്കുന്നവൻ കീർത്തിയും ഉത്തമ ദൃഷ്ടിയും പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു. നൈവേദ്യദാനത്താൽ മനുഷ്യൻ ശുദ്ധവും രുചികരവും ഹിതകരവുമായ ആഹാരം അനുഭവിക്കുന്നവനാകുന്നു.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) speaking to the sages (deduced from Māheśvara Khaṇḍa context)
Scene: Evening ārati: a devotee offers a bright oil lamp before the deity; the light reflects in the devotee’s eyes (symbolizing improved sight) while naivedya plates are arranged; later, prasāda is distributed, signifying wholesome nourishment and fame spreading like light.
FAQs
Simple acts in worship—light and food offered with devotion—generate both worldly well-being and spiritual merit.
No specific tīrtha is specified; the verse teaches general pūjā-dāna fruits within the Skanda Purana’s Śaiva frame.
Dīpa-dāna (offering a lamp) and naivedya-pradāna (offering consecrated food).