The Rule of Offering Naivedya

Verse 1 (skanda.2.142.1)

।। ब्रह्मोवाच ।। ।। नैवेद्यस्य विधिं ब्रूहि देव मे तत्त्वतः प्रभो ।। अन्नं कतिविधं चेष्टं व्यंजनादीन्यशेषतः

brahmovāca naivedyasya vidhiṁ brūhi deva me tattvataḥ prabho annaṁ katividhaṁ ceṣṭaṁ vyaṁjanādīnyaśeṣataḥ

Brahma said: O Lord, tell me truly the rule of naivedya. How many kinds of food are desired, and tell me all the side-dishes and the rest, completely.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.142.2)

।।श्रीभगवानुवाच ।। ।। साधु पृष्टं त्वया वत्स मम प्रीतिकरं परम् ।। वक्ष्यामि तेऽन्नपानादिव्यंजनादीन्यशेषतः

śrībhagavānuvāca sādhu pṛṣṭaṁ tvayā vatsa mama prītikaraṁ param vakṣyāmi te'nnapānādivyaṁjanādīnyaśeṣataḥ

The Blessed Lord said: Well have you asked, son, a matter most pleasing to me; I shall tell you of food, drink and side-dishes and the rest, completely.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.142.3)

आदौ हिरण्मयं पात्रं तदभावे च राजतम् ।। तदभावे च पालाशं विस्तीर्णं बहुसुन्दरम्

ādau hiraṇmayaṁ pātraṁ tadabhāve ca rājatam tadabhāve ca pālāśaṁ vistīrṇaṁ bahusundaram

First a vessel of gold; in its absence, one of silver; in its absence, one made of palasha leaves, spread wide and very beautiful.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.142.4)

कचोलाः शतशः कार्याः पात्रे वै परितोऽनघ ।। तन्मध्ये व्यंजना देया नानाफलमयाः शुभाः

kacolāḥ śataśaḥ kāryāḥ pātre vai parito'nagha tanmadhye vyaṁjanā deyā nānāphalamayāḥ śubhāḥ

O sinless one, hundreds of small bowls should be arranged all around that main vessel, in which auspicious side-dishes made of various fruits should be placed.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.142.5)

पायसं चन्द्रसंकाशं पात्रे वै शर्करायुतम् ।। भक्तं कुमुदसंकाशं मुद्गान्काचप्रभाञ्छुभान्

pāyasaṁ candrasaṁkāśaṁ pātre vai śarkarāyutam bhaktaṁ kumudasaṁkāśaṁ mudgānkācaprabhāñchubhān

Payasa, moon-like, in a vessel filled with sugar; rice white as the lily; auspicious mung-dal bright as crystal—

Verse 6 (skanda.2.142.6)

नानाव्यंजनसंरुद्धं त्रिभिः पंक्तिभिरेव च ।। निंबूरसेन चंद्रेण फलमूलयुतेन च

nānāvyaṁjanasaṁruddhaṁ tribhiḥ paṁktibhireva ca niṁbūrasena caṁdreṇa phalamūlayutena ca

—filled with various side-dishes, arranged in three rows, together with lemon juice and moon-bright rice, along with fruits and roots.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.142.7)

वैकृताश्च तदा कार्याः शतशो भोजने मम ।। द्राक्षास्तु मिश्रिताश्चूतकरमर्द कृताः शुभाः

vaikṛtāśca tadā kāryāḥ śataśo bhojane mama drākṣāstu miśritāścūtakaramarda kṛtāḥ śubhāḥ

Then hundreds of special preparations should be made for my meal — mixed grapes, and auspicious dishes made of mango and karamarda—

Verse 8 (skanda.2.142.8)

मरीचपिप्पलीसार्द्रकैलाचंद्रकसंयुताः ।। क्वाथिताः कथिकाः कार्याः शतशो भोजने मम

marīcapippalīsārdrakailācaṁdrakasaṁyutāḥ kvāthitāḥ kathikāḥ kāryāḥ śataśo bhojane mama

—joined with black pepper, long pepper, ginger and cardamom, moon-bright boiled preparations should be made in hundreds for my meal.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.142.9)

प्रलेहनास्तथा कार्याः कचोलशतसंकुलाः ।। नानाकुसुमसंमोदयुक्ताः सहसि मे प्रियाः

pralehanāstathā kāryāḥ kacolaśatasaṁkulāḥ nānākusumasaṁmodayuktāḥ sahasi me priyāḥ

Thick sweet confections too should be made, filled in hundreds of small bowls, joined with the fragrance of various flowers — these are dear to me in my heart.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.142.10)

मंडका वर्तुला रम्याः समाः सर्वत्र बिंदुवत् ।। सितया सहितेनाऽथ दुग्धेन क्वथितेन च

maṁḍakā vartulā ramyāḥ samāḥ sarvatra biṁduvat sitayā sahitenā'tha dugdhena kvathitena ca

Round, lovely mandaka cakes, even all around like a drop of dew, together with sugar and boiled milk—

Verse 11 (skanda.2.142.11)

मधुवर्णेन गव्येन युक्ते तस्मिन्सुभोजने ।। कचोले सुप्रभे वत्स स्थितं कांचनसुप्रभम्

madhuvarṇena gavyena yukte tasminsubhojane kacole suprabhe vatsa sthitaṁ kāṁcanasuprabham

—joined with honey-colored cow's milk, in that fine meal, in a bright bowl, O son, a golden, radiant preparation should be placed.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.142.12)

घृतं सुवासितं प्रीत्या देयं हि मम भोजने ।। तत्र गोधूमपात्रेण चंद्रकेण हि चोज्ज्वलम्

ghṛtaṁ suvāsitaṁ prītyā deyaṁ hi mama bhojane tatra godhūmapātreṇa caṁdrakeṇa hi cojjvalam

Well-scented ghee should be lovingly given in my meal; there, in a vessel of wheat-flour, something bright as the moon should be placed.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.142.13)

सौवाह्लिकाः पूरिकास्तु शतच्छिद्राः सवेष्टिकाः ।। अपूपाश्च तथा क्षीरं प्रकारांस्तु प्रकारयेत्

sauvāhlikāḥ pūrikāstu śatacchidrāḥ saveṣṭikāḥ apūpāśca tathā kṣīraṁ prakārāṁstu prakārayet

Suvahlika cakes and puris with a hundred holes, wrapped pastries, various kinds of apupa cakes, and milk — one should prepare all these varieties.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.142.14)

मणयः सूत्रसंज्ञाश्च मालतीकुसुमादयः ।। पर्पटा वर्पटा रम्या माषकूष्मांडसंभवाः

maṇayaḥ sūtrasaṁjñāśca mālatīkusumādayaḥ parpaṭā varpaṭā ramyā māṣakūṣmāṁḍasaṁbhavāḥ

Thread-like sweets shaped like malati flowers, and lovely parpata and varpata wafers made of urad-dal and pumpkin—

Verse 15 (skanda.2.142.15)

वटकान्नवधा रम्यान्कुर्यान्मासे सहे मम ।। द्विधा जातीमरीचैश्च पूरिता द्रोणके शुभाः

vaṭakānnavadhā ramyānkuryānmāse sahe mama dvidhā jātīmarīcaiśca pūritā droṇake śubhāḥ

One should make nine kinds of lovely vataka fritters in my month of Saha — two kinds filled with nutmeg and pepper, placed auspiciously in a small vessel—

Verse 16 (skanda.2.142.16)

युक्तेन लवणेनाऽतिशुद्धतैलेन पूरिताः ।। कुंकुमाभाः स्नेहहीनाः सक्षता इव दुर्जनाः

yuktena lavaṇenā'tiśuddhatailena pūritāḥ kuṁkumābhāḥ snehahīnāḥ sakṣatā iva durjanāḥ

—seasoned with proper salt and filled with pure oil, saffron-colored, without excess oil, crisp as the wounded pride of the wicked—

Verse 17 (skanda.2.142.17)

दधिदुग्धयुताः केचिच्चिंचिणीचूतसंभवाः ।। द्राक्षारसयुताः केचित्तथैवेक्षुरसैर्युताः

dadhidugdhayutāḥ kecicciṁciṇīcūtasaṁbhavāḥ drākṣārasayutāḥ kecittathaivekṣurasairyutāḥ

Some joined with curd and milk, some made with tamarind and mango; some joined with grape-juice, and likewise others with sugarcane juice—

Verse 18 (skanda.2.142.18)

राजिका जलमध्यस्थास्तथाऽन्ये सितया सह ।। रसैश्चतुर्विधैश्चान्यैर्वटका नवधा मताः

rājikā jalamadhyasthāstathā'nye sitayā saha rasaiścaturvidhaiścānyairvaṭakā navadhā matāḥ

Some steeped in mustard-seed water, and others with sugar — with these four kinds of juices, and others, the vataka are reckoned ninefold.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.142.19)

वज्रप्रभाऽनुकणिकाचारबीजसुखारिकैः ।। शकलैर्नारिकेलस्य लवंगशतसंयुताः

vajraprabhā'nukaṇikācārabījasukhārikaiḥ śakalairnārikelasya lavaṁgaśatasaṁyutāḥ

Bright as diamond, with fine grains, made with areca-nut and other pleasant ingredients, with shavings of coconut and joined with hundreds of cloves—

Verse 20 (skanda.2.142.20)

घृतक्षीरसिताद्यास्ताः कटाहे सुप्रलोडिताः ।। लब्धासितादिकृसररम्याः स्निग्धाश्च फेणिकाः

ghṛtakṣīrasitādyāstāḥ kaṭāhe supraloḍitāḥ labdhāsitādikṛsararamyāḥ snigdhāśca pheṇikāḥ

Made with ghee, milk and sugar and the like, well-cooked in a pan; lovely sweetened kritsara and soft, oily phenika—

Verse 21 (skanda.2.142.21)

पराकिकासु वै पक्वाः कृताश्चंद्रेण पोलिकाः ।। मोदकास्तत्र वै कार्याश्चारबीजभवाः परे

parākikāsu vai pakvāḥ kṛtāścaṁdreṇa polikāḥ modakāstatra vai kāryāścārabījabhavāḥ pare

Baked on special griddles, polika made bright as the moon; modaka sweets too should be made there, and other confections made of areca-nut.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.142.22)

सितया सहिताः कार्या अन्ये दुग्धेन निर्मिताः ।। नारिकेलफलैश्चाऽन्ये वृक्षनिर्यासनिर्मिताः

sitayā sahitāḥ kāryā anye dugdhena nirmitāḥ nārikelaphalaiścā'nye vṛkṣaniryāsanirmitāḥ

Some should be made with sugar, others made with milk; others with coconut, and others made with tree-gum.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.142.23)

बदामैश्च शुभाश्चाऽन्ये तिलैश्च कणबीजकैः ।। ईदृशान्मोदकांश्चान्यांस्तुष्ट्यर्थं मम कारयेत्

badāmaiśca śubhāścā'nye tilaiśca kaṇabījakaiḥ īdṛśānmodakāṁścānyāṁstuṣṭyarthaṁ mama kārayet

Other auspicious ones made with almonds, and with sesame and poppy seed — such other modakas too should be made for my satisfaction.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.142.24)

अर्शोघ्नं मोचनीकंदं तथाऽऽर्द्रं करमर्दकम् ।। नारिंगं चिंचिणीकं च कंकोलफलमेव च

arśoghnaṁ mocanīkaṁdaṁ tathā''rdraṁ karamardakam nāriṁgaṁ ciṁciṇīkaṁ ca kaṁkolaphalameva ca

The root that cures piles, moist karamarda, orange, tamarind, and cubeb fruit too—

Verse 25 (skanda.2.142.25)

दशारं त्रिपुरीजातं शुभं निंबफलं बिसम् ।। तिंदूफलं लवंगं च श्रीफलं तिलकं लुति

daśāraṁ tripurījātaṁ śubhaṁ niṁbaphalaṁ bisam tiṁdūphalaṁ lavaṁgaṁ ca śrīphalaṁ tilakaṁ luti

The auspicious dashara fruit born at Tripuri, neem fruit, lotus stem, tinduka fruit, cloves, bilva fruit, tilaka fruit, and luti fruit—

Verse 26 (skanda.2.142.26)

वल्कलं वंशकारीरं तथा कायफलं बलम् ।। द्राक्षाफलं चूतफलं रम्यं कंटकिनीफलम्

valkalaṁ vaṁśakārīraṁ tathā kāyaphalaṁ balam drākṣāphalaṁ cūtaphalaṁ ramyaṁ kaṁṭakinīphalam

Bark, bamboo shoot, kayaphala and the medicinal root bala; grape fruit, mango fruit, and the lovely fruit of a thorny plant—

Verse 27 (skanda.2.142.27)

धात्रीफलं शुक्तिभवं फलमंबाडवं तथा ।। रंभाफलं पिप्पली च मरीचाश्च मनोहराः

dhātrīphalaṁ śuktibhavaṁ phalamaṁbāḍavaṁ tathā raṁbhāphalaṁ pippalī ca marīcāśca manoharāḥ

Amalaka fruit, the shell-born fruit, ambada fruit, plantain fruit, long pepper, and lovely black pepper—

Verse 28 (skanda.2.142.28)

शुद्धसर्षपतैलेन लवणेन सुवेधितम् ।। तथा राजिकया विद्धं त्रिभिर्वर्षैर्घटे स्थितम्

śuddhasarṣapatailena lavaṇena suvedhitam tathā rājikayā viddhaṁ tribhirvarṣairghaṭe sthitam

—well-seasoned with pure mustard oil and salt, mixed with mustard seed, kept for three years in a jar—

Verse 29 (skanda.2.142.29)

एवंविधानि जातानि व्यंजनानि च मानद ।। कर्तव्यानि सहोमासे मम प्रीतिकराणि वै

evaṁvidhāni jātāni vyaṁjanāni ca mānada kartavyāni sahomāse mama prītikarāṇi vai

O giver of honor, such prepared dishes as these should be made in the month of Sahoma; they are exceedingly pleasing to me.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.142.30)

एतादृशे भोजने चेदसामर्थ्यं भवेद्यदि ।। एवं कार्यं तदा तेन संक्षेपेण शृणुष्व मे

etādṛśe bhojane cedasāmarthyaṁ bhavedyadi evaṁ kāryaṁ tadā tena saṁkṣepeṇa śṛṇuṣva me

If one is unable to prepare a meal such as this, then hear from me what should be done in brief instead.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.142.31)

लड्डूकमेकं घृतपूरमेकं फेनद्वयं कोकरसत्रयं च ।। घृतप्लुतं मंडकषोडशानां वटाष्टदायी नरकं न पश्येत्

laḍḍūkamekaṁ ghṛtapūramekaṁ phenadvayaṁ kokarasatrayaṁ ca ghṛtaplutaṁ maṁḍakaṣoḍaśānāṁ vaṭāṣṭadāyī narakaṁ na paśyet

One laddu, one ghee-fried cake, two phena-sweets, three kokarasa sweets soaked in ghee, sixteen mandaka cakes, and eight vataka fritters — whoever offers this gift need never see hell.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.142.32)

आढकं सुचिरपर्युषितं च दुग्धं खंडस्य षोडशपलानि शशिप्रभस्य ।। सर्पिष्पलं मधुपलं मरिचं द्विकर्षं शुंठ्याः पलार्धमथवाऽर्धपलं चतुर्णाम्

āḍhakaṁ suciraparyuṣitaṁ ca dugdhaṁ khaṁḍasya ṣoḍaśapalāni śaśiprabhasya sarpiṣpalaṁ madhupalaṁ maricaṁ dvikarṣaṁ śuṁṭhyāḥ palārdhamathavā'rdhapalaṁ caturṇām

One adhaka measure of long-settled milk, sixteen pala of moon-bright sugar, one pala of ghee, one pala of honey, two karsha of pepper, and half a pala of dried ginger, or half a pala combined for the four spices—

Verse 33 (skanda.2.142.33)

श्लक्ष्णे पटे ललनया मृदुपाणिघृष्टां कर्पूरधूलिधवलीकृतभांडसंस्थाम् ।। एतां शुभां रसवतीं प्रकरोति यो वै कामान्ददामि सकलान्मनुजस्य तस्य

ślakṣṇe paṭe lalanayā mṛdupāṇighṛṣṭāṁ karpūradhūlidhavalīkṛtabhāṁḍasaṁsthām etāṁ śubhāṁ rasavatīṁ prakaroti yo vai kāmāndadāmi sakalānmanujasya tasya

—this same auspicious rich dish, which a fair maiden, with soft hands, rubs upon smooth cloth and places in a vessel whitened with camphor dust — to whatever man prepares such a dish, I grant all his desires.