Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 157

Devanagari script

षड्विधैर्भोजनैर्भक्ष्यैर्वासोभिस्तान् समर्चयेत् । दक्षिणाभिर्विचित्राभिः पूजयित्वा क्षमापयेत्

Transliteration

ṣaḍvidhairbhojanairbhakṣyairvāsobhistān samarcayet | dakṣiṇābhirvicitrābhiḥ pūjayitvā kṣamāpayet

Translation

چھ قسم کے کھانوں، لذیذ نوالوں اور لباسوں سے اُن کی تعظیم کرے؛ اور رنگا رنگ دکشِنا دے کر پوجا کے بعد پھر معافی طلب کرے۔

Word by Word

• षड्विधैः: with six kinds (of)
• षड्विधैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः ‘विध’), तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ‘भोजनैः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• भोजनैः: with foods; meals
• भोजनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• भक्ष्यैः: with eatables; snacks
• भक्ष्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• वासोभिः: with garments; cloths
• वासोभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• समर्चयेत्: should honor; worship
• समर्चयेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-र्च् (धातु) (णिच्) → अर्चय (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; ‘सम्’ उपसर्गः; पूजां कारयेत्

• दक्षिणाभिः: with gifts/fees (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• विचित्राभिः: variegated; splendid
• विचित्राभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘दक्षिणाभिः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु) → पूजयित्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त), पूर्वक्रिया

• क्षमापयेत्: should ask forgiveness; should appease
• क्षमापयेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम् (धातु) (णिच्) → क्षमापय (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic voice, likely Sūta speaking in Āvantya Khaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā-tīrtha context (implicit)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: nareśvara/king (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A formal feeding hall: brāhmaṇas seated in rows, served multiple dishes; garments folded as gifts; donor presents dakṣiṇā; a gesture of apology/forgiveness request concludes the ceremony.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Dakṣiṇā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Respect for dharma-bearers (brāhmaṇas) through hospitality and giving is a purifier when joined with humility.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Within Revā Khaṇḍa, such acts are framed as part of the sacred observances connected to the Revā/Narmadā tīrtha-world.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Feed brāhmaṇas with six kinds of foods, offer delicacies and garments, give dakṣiṇā, and ask forgiveness.