Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 66

Devanagari script

ओष्ठद्वयकपाटं च दंतार्गलविमुद्रितम् । नाडीस्वेदप्रवाहं च कफपित्तपरिप्लुतम्

Transliteration

oṣṭhadvayakapāṭaṃ ca daṃtārgalavimudritam | nāḍīsvedapravāhaṃ ca kaphapittapariplutam

Translation

Its double lips are like door-panels, sealed by the bolt of teeth; its channels run with sweat, and it is flooded with phlegm and bile.

Word by Word

• ओष्ठ-द्वय-कपाटम्: a door-leaf of two lips
• ओष्ठ-द्वय-कपाटम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक) + कपाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु/तत्पुरुष (द्वौ ओष्ठौ) + कपाटम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• दन्त-अर्गल-विमुद्रितम्: latched/locked by the teeth as bolts
• दन्त-अर्गल-विमुद्रितम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्गल (प्रातिपदिक) + विमुद्रित (कृदन्त; मुद्र् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दन्ताः अर्गलाः) + क्त (वि+मुद्र्)

• नाडी-स्वेद-प्रवाहम्: a flow of sweat through channels
• नाडी-स्वेद-प्रवाहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाडी (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नाडीनां स्वेदस्य प्रवाहः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• कफ-पित्त-परिप्लुतम्: flooded with phlegm and bile
• कफ-पित्त-परिप्लुतम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कफ (प्रातिपदिक) + पित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + परिप्लुत (कृदन्त; प्लु धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कफपित्ताभ्यां परिप्लुतम्) + क्त (परि+प्लु)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: dvija (addressed)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close allegory of the mouth as a sealed gate: lips as panels, teeth as bolt; subtle depiction of nāḍīs and sweat streams; symbolic waves labeled kapha and pitta surrounding the figure.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Contemplating the body’s impure and mechanical nature weakens pride and attachment, supporting the pursuit of mokṣa.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is mentioned.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it serves as a reflective teaching for detachment.