Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 52

Devanagari script

विशेषकम् । अथ पायसनैवेद्यं सघृतं सोपदंशकम् । मोदकापूपसंयुक्तं शर्करागुडसंयुतम्

Transliteration

viśeṣakam | atha pāyasanaivedyaṃ saghṛtaṃ sopadaṃśakam | modakāpūpasaṃyuktaṃ śarkarāguḍasaṃyutam

Translation

作为殊胜供养，应以甘甜的乳粥（pāyasa）作供食（naivedya），并配以酥油与诸般佐食；又供摩陀迦与阿普帕饼，调以白糖与粗糖（jaggery）。

Word by Word

• विशेषकम्: a special item
• विशेषकम्: Karma (Object; ellipsis with offering-verb)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative Singular); ‘a special (item)’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha/Anvaya (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अनन्तर/आरम्भसूचक): ‘then/now’

• पायसनैवेद्यम्: pāyasa offering (rice pudding)
• पायसनैवेद्यम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक) + नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पायसस्य नैवेद्यम् = ‘pāyasa as offering’)

• सघृतम्: with ghee
• सघृतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of नैवेद्यम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपपद) + घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (घृतेन सह = ‘with ghee’)

• सोपदंशकम्: with side-dish
• सोपदंशकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of नैवेद्यम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपपद) + उपदंशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (उपदंशकेन सह = ‘with side-dish’)

• मोदकापूपसंयुक्तम्: combined with modakas and cakes
• मोदकापूपसंयुक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of नैवेद्यम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोदक (प्रातिपदिक) + आपूप (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मोदकैः आपूपैश्च संयुक्तम् = ‘combined with modakas and cakes’)

• शर्करागुडसंयुतम्: mixed with sugar and jaggery
• शर्करागुडसंयुतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of नैवेद्यम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर्करा (प्रातिपदिक) + गुड (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद (शर्करा-गुडौ) + तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-भावेन ‘संयुतम्’ (joined with sugar and jaggery)

Speaker

Unspecified (instructional narration within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A special naivedya arrangement: a bowl of pāyasa glistening with ghee, plates of modakas and āpūpas, and small heaps of sugar and jaggery set before the deity with a lamp nearby.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Offering nourishment symbolizes surrender—one dedicates the fruits of effort and abundance to the deity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular sacred place is named; the verse details worship offerings.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Present a special naivedya: pāyasa with ghee, along with modaka, āpūpa, and sweets prepared with sugar and jaggery.