Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 54

Devanagari script

आगमोक्तेन विधिना गुरुवाक्यनियंत्रितः । नैवेद्यं शंभवे भूयो दत्त्वा तांबूलमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

āgamoktena vidhinā guruvākyaniyaṃtritaḥ | naivedyaṃ śaṃbhave bhūyo dattvā tāṃbūlamuttamam

Translation

受上师之言所摄持，依阿伽摩所说之仪轨，应再向商婆（Śambhu）奉献食供（naivedya），继而献上上等槟榔叶供（tāmbūla）。

Word by Word

• आगम-उक्तेन: as stated in the Āgamas
• आगम-उक्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आगम (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आगमे उक्तेन), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental singular (qualifying विधिना)

• विधिना: by the prescribed procedure
• विधिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental singular

• गुरु-वाक्य-नियंत्रितः: guided/regulated by the guru’s instruction
• गुरु-वाक्य-नियंत्रितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + नियन्त्रित (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गुरोः वाक्येन नियन्त्रितः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular (qualifying implied कर्ता: साधकः)

• नैवेद्यम्: food offering
• नैवेद्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular

• शंभवे: to Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभवे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; dative singular

• भूयः: again/further
• भूयः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• दत्त्वा: having offered
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund), ‘having given/offered’

• ताम्बूलम्: betel (offering)
• ताम्बूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular (qualifying ताम्बूलम्)

Speaker

Unspecified (instructional narration within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A guru instructs a devotee before a Śiva shrine; naivedya bowls are placed; the devotee offers betel leaves and areca nut (tāmbūla) on a tray after the food offering.

Characters & Entities

• Śambhu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Authentic worship is guided by tradition—Āgamic procedure and the guru’s guidance safeguard sincerity and correctness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular site is named; the verse emphasizes method (vidhi) rather than geography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Follow Āgamic rules under guru guidance; offer naivedya again to Śiva (Śambhu) and then offer tāmbūla.