Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 79

Devanagari script

बलिपूपकनैवेद्यैस्तर्पणैर्धूपगंधिभिः । तस्य रक्षां चरंत्येता रथ्यासु त्रिकचत्वरे

Transliteration

balipūpakanaivedyaistarpaṇairdhūpagaṃdhibhiḥ | tasya rakṣāṃ caraṃtyetā rathyāsu trikacatvare

Translation

以供献巴利、糕饼与供食（naivedya），以洒水奉献（tarpaṇa），并以香烟与芬芳供养，则诸女神将巡行护佑此信众——沿街巷、于路口，并在三岔与四岔之处。

Word by Word

• balipūpakanaivedyaiḥ: with offerings, cakes, and food-offerings
• balipūpakanaivedyaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali + pūpaka + naivedya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (बलि-पूपक-नैवेद्य)

• tarpaṇaiḥ: with libations/satiations
• tarpaṇaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tarpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• dhūpagaṃdhibhiḥ: with incense-fragrances
• dhūpagaṃdhibhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhūpa + gandhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (धूपस्य गन्धः यस्य/धूपगन्धिन्)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• rakṣām: protection
• rakṣām: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• caranti: perform/undertake
• caranti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• etāḥ: these (goddesses)
• etāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• rathyāsu: in the streets
• rathyāsu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rathyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• trikacatvare: at the three-way crossroads/square
• trikacatvare: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trika + catvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (त्रिकस्य चत्वरम्)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa Sūta (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative voice)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Navatīrtha-kṣetra (street/junction guardianship)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Devotee offers bali-cakes and naivedya with incense at a shrine near a crossroads; subtle presence of protective goddesses moving along streets, unseen by most, guarding the devotee.

Characters & Entities

• Devīs (these goddesses)
• Bali
• Naivedya
• Tarpaṇa
• Crossroads (trika/catvara)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotional offerings translate into lived protection—divine guardianship extends into daily public spaces.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The nava-tīrtha Devī-region is implied; the verse emphasizes protective presence across streets and crossroads within the sacred settlement.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Offer bali, pūpaka (cakes), naivedya, tarpaṇa, and dhūpa/gandha as part of Devī worship to receive protective guarding.