Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

जपैर्होमोपवासैश्च नियमैश्च पृथग्विधैः । बलिपूजोपहारैश्च स्नानदानादिभिस्तथा

Transliteration

japairhomopavāsaiśca niyamaiśca pṛthagvidhaiḥ | balipūjopahāraiśca snānadānādibhistathā

Translation

ด้วยการสวดภาวนา (ชปะ), การบูชาไฟ (โหมะ), การถืออุโบสถอดอาหาร (อุปวาสะ) และวินัยหลากหลาย (นิยามะ); ด้วยเครื่องบูชา บะลี ปูชา และอุปหารถวาย; อีกทั้งด้วยพิธีสรงสนานและทาน (สนานะ, ทานะ) เป็นต้น—เขาทั้งหลายจึงประกอบวัตรปฏิบัติของตนดังนี้

Word by Word

• जपैः: by recitations (japa)
• जपैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• होम-उपवासैः: by oblations and fasts
• होम-उपवासैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व)

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

• नियमैः: by observances
• नियमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

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

• पृथग्विधैः: of various kinds
• पृथग्विधैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथग्विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (नियमैः इत्यस्य)

• बलि-पूजा-उपहारैः: by offerings, worship, and gifts
• बलि-पूजा-उपहारैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + उपहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार/इतरेतर-प्राय)

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

• स्नान-दान-आदिभिः: by bathing, charity, and the like
• स्नान-दान-आदिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ अन्त-तत्पुरुष (X-आदि = etc. such as X)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating (deduced)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Dvijas (addressed as 'O twice-born ones')

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of dvijas and devotees performing layered observances: some seated in japa with mālā, some tending a small homa-kuṇḍa, others offering bali and flowers before a Śiva shrine; nearby a tīrtha-ghāṭa where pilgrims bathe and distribute dāna.

Characters & Entities

• japa
• homa
• upavāsa
• niyama
• bali
• pūjā
• upahāra
• snāna
• dāna

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic dharma integrates inner practice (japa, niyama, upavāsa) with outward sacred acts (pūjā, snāna, dāna) to please Śiva and sanctify a tīrtha.

Which specific holy site (Tīrtha) is glorified here?

The practices are performed at the adhyāya’s featured tīrtha-kṣetra, underscoring it as a proper place for vrata, bathing, worship, and charity.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Japa, homa, fasting, varied niyamas, bali and pūjā with offerings, plus snāna and dāna.