Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 1
सूत उवाच । अश्वत्थलाक्षावह्नौ च सर्षपान्केसरप्लुतान् । जुह्वतो मंत्रमुख्यैश्च बलातिबलसंज्ञकैः
sūta uvāca | aśvatthalākṣāvahnau ca sarṣapānkesaraplutān | juhvato maṃtramukhyaiśca balātibalasaṃjñakaiḥ
सूत म्हणाले—अश्वत्थकाष्ठ व लाख यांनी प्रज्वलित अग्नीत ते केशररसाने ओलसर केलेले मोहरीचे दाणे आहुती देत होते आणि ‘बला’ व ‘अतिबला’ नामक श्रेष्ठ मंत्रांचा जप करीत होते.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) speaking to the sages
Scene: A night homa: fire altar blazing; priests offer aśvattha-wood and lac; mustard seeds glisten with saffron; mantra syllables visualized as radiant bands labeled Balā and Atibalā rising from the flames.
FAQs
Purāṇic dharma integrates mantra and yajña—focused offerings with sacred substances support protective and empowering rites.
No specific tīrtha is identified in this verse; it introduces a ritual scene within the narrative.
A homa using aśvattha-wood and lac as fuel, offering mustard seeds mixed with saffron while reciting Balā/Atibalā mantras.