Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 64

Devanagari script

नोत्पाटयेल्लोमनखं दशनेन कदाचन । करजैः करजच्छेदं तृणच्छेदं विवर्जयेत्

Transliteration

notpāṭayellomanakhaṃ daśanena kadācana | karajaiḥ karajacchedaṃ tṛṇacchedaṃ vivarjayet

Translation

Qu’on n’arrache jamais ses cheveux ni ne morde ses ongles avec les dents. Qu’on évite de déchirer les ongles avec les ongles, et qu’on s’abstienne d’arracher ou de briser l’herbe.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• utpāṭayet: should not pluck out
• utpāṭayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paṭ/paṭh? (पाटने/उत्पाटने धातु) उपसर्गः ut-
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; causative sense ‘to pluck out’ (उत्पाटयति)

• loma-nakham: hair and nails
• loma-nakham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loman (प्रातिपदिक) + nakha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (लोम च नखं च)

• daśanena: with the teeth
• daśanena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• kadācana: ever/at any time
• kadācana: Kāla (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācana (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• karajaiḥ: with the fingernails
• karajaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• karaja-cchedam: cutting the nails
• karaja-cchedam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karaja (प्रातिपदिक) + cheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (करजानां छेदः)

• tṛṇa-cchedam: cutting grass
• tṛṇa-cchedam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tṛṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + cheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तृणस्य छेदः)

• vivarjayet: should avoid
• vivarjayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛj/varj (वर्जने धातु) उपसर्गः vi-
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Skanda (deduced for Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kshetra (temple/ghāṭa precincts)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka-ādi Ṛṣis (frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim seated near a temple courtyard garden in Kāśī, consciously refraining from idle plucking of grass; hands folded with japa-mālā, nails trimmed properly with a small tool kept aside, expression composed.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Self-control and non-harmful habits refine one’s purity and readiness for worship in a sacred environment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named; the verse supports the broader dharmic culture of Kāśī.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Personal-grooming and non-injury restraints (niyamas) rather than a formal ritual.