Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 72

Devanagari script

अंगुष्ठानामिकाग्राभ्यां चक्षुः श्रोत्रे पुनः पुनः । कनिष्ठांगुष्ठयोगेन नाभिरंध्रमुपस्पृशेत्

Transliteration

aṃguṣṭhānāmikāgrābhyāṃ cakṣuḥ śrotre punaḥ punaḥ | kaniṣṭhāṃguṣṭhayogena nābhiraṃdhramupaspṛśet

Translation

With the tips of the thumb and ring finger, one should touch the eyes and ears again and again; and with the little finger joined to the thumb, one should touch the navel-opening, as part of the purificatory rite.

Word by Word

• अङ्गुष्ठानामिकाग्राभ्याम्: with the tips of the thumb and ring finger
• अङ्गुष्ठानामिकाग्राभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ-अनामिका-अग्र (प्रातिपदिक; अङ्गुष्ठ + अनामिका + अग्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), द्विवचन; ‘अङ्गुष्ठस्य अनामिकायाश्च अग्रे’ (tips of thumb and ring-finger)

• चक्षुः: eye
• चक्षुः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रोत्रे: the ears
• श्रोत्रे: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (वैकल्पिकरूपे सप्तमी-एकवचन सम्भवम्; अत्र ‘कर्णद्वयम्’ अर्थे द्विवचनम्)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (again)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (again)

• कनिष्ठाङ्गुष्ठयोगेन: by joining the little finger and thumb
• कनिष्ठाङ्गुष्ठयोगेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनिष्ठा-अङ्गुष्ठ-योग (प्रातिपदिक; कनिष्ठा + अङ्गुष्ठ + योग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; ‘कनिष्ठया अङ्गुष्ठेन च योगः’ (joining little finger and thumb)

• नाभिरन्ध्रम्: the navel opening
• नाभिरन्ध्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि-रन्ध्र (प्रातिपदिक; नाभि + रन्ध्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘नाभेः रन्ध्रम्’

• उपस्पृशेत्: should touch
• उपस्पृशेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly as Skanda teaching Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī śauca-vidhi (aṅga-sparśa completion)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee completes ācamana by touching eyes and ears with thumb and ring finger, then touches the navel area with little finger and thumb, seated on ghāṭa steps with ritual vessels beside.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purification extends to the senses and the body’s symbolic centers, preparing the practitioner for sacred action.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is stated; the verse is part of Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s broader dharma and ritual instruction.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Touch eyes and ears with thumb and ring-finger tips; touch the navel with little finger and thumb together as part of ācamana/upaspṛśa.