Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

वर्णिनां च तथा कालं तंदुलं मुखरोगिणाम्

Transliteration

varṇināṃ ca tathā kālaṃ taṃdulaṃ mukharogiṇām

Translation

Likewise, for the initiated students (varṇins) one should give kāla (the prescribed item or measure), and for those afflicted with diseases of the mouth one should give rice-grains (taṇḍula).

Word by Word

• varṇinām: of the varṇins
• varṇinām: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇin (वर्णिन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (likewise/so)

• kālam: black pepper (kāla as spice) / time (context-dependent)
• kālam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (काल प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• taṇḍulam: rice grain
• taṇḍulam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taṇḍula (तण्डुल प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mukha-rogiṇām: of those suffering from mouth-disease
• mukha-rogiṇām: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (मुख प्रातिपदिक) + rogin (रोगिन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मुखस्य रोगी)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) speaking to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A donor distributes different gifts: a measured, formal gift to a young varṇin/brahmacārin; a bowl of rice grains to a person suffering mouth disease, with compassionate attendants.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Charity should be compassionate and targeted—supporting students and relieving the afflicted through suitable gifts.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is mentioned; the verse is a practical dana-guideline.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Prescribing particular gifts: ‘kāla’ for varṇins and rice (taṇḍula) for those suffering from mouth ailments.