Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

पूर्वोक्तविधिना शौचं कुर्यादाचमनं तथा । दंताञ्जिह्वां विशोध्याथ कृत्वा मलविशोधनम्

Transliteration

pūrvoktavidhinā śaucaṃ kuryādācamanaṃ tathā | daṃtāñjihvāṃ viśodhyātha kṛtvā malaviśodhanam

Translation

Nach der zuvor genannten Vorschrift soll man die Reinigung vollziehen und ebenso Ācamana. Dann, nachdem Zähne und Zunge gesäubert sind, soll die Beseitigung der Unreinheiten vollendet werden.

Word by Word

• पूर्वोक्त-विधिना: by the previously stated rule
• पूर्वोक्त-विधिना: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वोक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (पूर्वोक्तः विधिः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/प्रकारवाचक

• शौचम्: purification
• शौचम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आचमनम्: sipping (water)
• आचमनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb)

• दन्तान्: teeth
• दन्तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• जिह्वाम्: tongue
• जिह्वाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• विशोध्य: having cleaned
• विशोध्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + शुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभावः; ‘having cleaned/purified’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereafter)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभावः; ‘having done’

• मल-विशोधनम्: cleansing of impurities
• मल-विशोधनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल (प्रातिपदिक) + विशोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (मलस्य विशोधनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee at dawn near a Kāśī ghāṭa performs ācamanam with cupped hands; nearby are a small water-vessel, twig for dental cleaning, and a discreet depiction of completing purification; the rising light suggests readiness for sandhyā.

Characters & Entities

• Śauca
• Ācamana
• Danta-śodhana
• Jihvā-śodhana

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Outer cleanliness supports inner clarity; disciplined purity prepares one for mantra, worship, and study.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named in this verse; it functions as a Kāśī Khaṇḍa dharma guideline for residents/pilgrims living the sacred routine.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Śauca (cleanliness), ācamana, and cleansing teeth and tongue as preparatory acts.