Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 70
करजैः करजच्छेदं विवर्जयेच्छुभाय तु । यदायत्यां त्यजेत्तन्न कुर्यात्कर्म प्रयत्नतः
karajaiḥ karajacchedaṃ vivarjayecchubhāya tu | yadāyatyāṃ tyajettanna kuryātkarma prayatnataḥ
Pour l’heureux présage, qu’on évite de couper ou déchirer les ongles avec les ongles. Ce que l’on regretterait plus tard et rejetterait, qu’on ne l’accomplisse pas du tout, fût-ce avec effort.
Sūta (deduced: Brāhma Khaṇḍa didactic narration in Dharmāraṇya context)
Scene: A pilgrim trims nails properly with a small implement, seated neatly; above/behind, a symbolic ‘mirror of conscience’ motif—an elder or inner-voice figure indicating restraint before action.
FAQs
Auspicious life is built by mindful habits and refusing actions that conscience will later reject.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is general ethical instruction.
A rule of auspicious personal grooming (avoid tearing nails) and a broader vow-like restraint against regrettable actions.