Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 100

Devanagari script

अधस्तादधिकैर्दंतैर्मातरं भक्षयेत्स्फुटम् । पतिहीना च विकटैः कुलटा विरलैर्भवेत्

Transliteration

adhastādadhikairdaṃtairmātaraṃ bhakṣayetsphuṭam | patihīnā ca vikaṭaiḥ kulaṭā viralairbhavet

Translation

If the teeth of the lower jaw are excessive, it is said plainly that one ‘devours the mother’, bringing harm to the mother. And if the teeth are grotesque and widely spaced, a woman is said to be husbandless and of unchaste conduct.

Word by Word

• अधस्तात्: below
• अधस्तात्: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम्; देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (below)

• अधिकैः: with excessive/more
• अधिकैः: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• दन्तैः: with teeth
• दन्तैः: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचनम्

• मातरम्: mother
• मातरम्: Karman (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• भक्षयेत्: would eat/devour
• भक्षयेत्: Kriyā (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• स्फुटम्: clearly
• स्फुटम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्फुट (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: clearly/distinctly)

• पति-हीना: husbandless
• पति-हीना: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; नञ्-रहितार्थक-तत्पुरुषः (devoid of husband); विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• विकटैः: with ugly/terrible
• विकटैः: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• कुलटा: an unchaste woman
• कुलटा: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलटा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्

• विरलैः: with sparse/irregular
• विरलैः: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda instructing Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta (Kāśī)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A stern didactic moment: the teacher explains severe-sounding consequences tied to dental irregularities; listeners appear uneasy, underscoring the cautionary tone.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī (context)
• Skanda (context)
• Agastya (context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It reflects a traditional (and culturally bound) omen-system linking physical irregularities with family and social outcomes.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named in this verse; it is part of the Kāśīkhaṇḍa discourse set in the Kāśī tradition.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a statement of perceived omens and consequences.