Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 82

Devanagari script

क्षीरवृक्षोद्भवं वापि प्रशस्तं दंतधावनम् । जिह्वोल्लेखनिकां चापि कुर्याच्चापाकृतिं शुभाम्

Transliteration

kṣīravṛkṣodbhavaṃ vāpi praśastaṃ daṃtadhāvanam | jihvollekhanikāṃ cāpi kuryāccāpākṛtiṃ śubhām

Translation

A tooth-cleaning twig taken from a milky-sapped tree is likewise praised as excellent. One should also make a tongue-scraper and fashion it in an auspicious form.

Word by Word

• kṣīra-vṛkṣa-udbhavam: derived from a milk/latex-yielding tree
• kṣīra-vṛkṣa-udbhavam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + udbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (क्षीरवृक्षात् उद्भवम्; ‘milk-tree’ = latex-yielding tree)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (also/even)

• praśastam: excellent/commended
• praśastam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśasta (कृदन्त; प्र-√śas धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (commended/excellent)

• danta-dhāvanam: tooth-cleaning stick
• danta-dhāvanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: danta (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (दन्तानां धावनम्)

• jihvā-ullekhanikām: a tongue-scraper
• jihvā-ullekhanikām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jihvā (प्रातिपदिक) + ullekhanikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (जिह्वायाः उल्लेखनिका)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (also)

• kuryāt: should make/do
• kuryāt: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• apākṛtim: a (proper) shape/form (design)
• apākṛtim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apākṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• śubhām: auspicious/good
• śubhām: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

Speaker

Skanda

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee at dawn fashions a simple tongue-scraper (jihvollekhanikā) and holds a milky-tree twig; the scene emphasizes auspicious shaping and careful preparation before temple visit.

Characters & Entities

• Kṣīravṛkṣa (latex-bearing trees)
• Jihvollekhanī (tongue scraper)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred living values completeness—purity includes teeth and tongue, made orderly with auspicious intention.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The guidance is part of Kāśī Khaṇḍa’s dharma-teaching, reinforcing the sanctified routine associated with Kāśī.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Prefer tooth-sticks from latex-bearing trees; additionally, use a tongue-scraper made in an auspicious form.