Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 13
न पाटितं समश्नीयाद्दंतकाष्ठं न सव्रणम् । न चोर्द्धशुष्कं वक्रं वा नैव च त्वग्विवर्ज्जितम्
na pāṭitaṃ samaśnīyāddaṃtakāṣṭhaṃ na savraṇam | na corddhaśuṣkaṃ vakraṃ vā naiva ca tvagvivarjjitam
On ne doit pas utiliser un bâtonnet dentaire fendu, ni blessé ou abîmé; ni celui qui est à demi sec, ni tordu, ni dépouillé de son écorce.
Skanda (deduced from instructional dharma tone within Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Beloved interlocutor / inquirer
Scene: Close-up instructional scene: a teacher-figure indicates acceptable vs unacceptable tooth-sticks—split, wounded, crooked, barkless—laid on a cloth; the pilgrim selects a straight, fresh twig near a water pot, emphasizing discipline and care.
FAQs
Purāṇic dharma treats bodily cleanliness as a sacred discipline, requiring care, propriety, and avoidance of defective implements.
Prabhāsakṣetra, where even daily rites are framed as meritorious when performed according to rule.
Selection rules for dantakāṣṭha: avoid split, damaged, half-dry, crooked, or barkless tooth-sticks.