Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 135
अपविद्धापशौचाश्च वर्जयेत्पंच मृत्तिकाः । गन्धलेपापहरणं शौचं कुर्यात्तथा बुधः
apaviddhāpaśaucāśca varjayetpaṃca mṛttikāḥ | gandhalepāpaharaṇaṃ śaucaṃ kuryāttathā budhaḥ
जो पाँच प्रकार की मृत्तिकाएँ शौच के लिए कही गई हैं, वे यदि अपवित्र हों या अनुचित रूप से फेंकी/दूषित हों तो उनका त्याग करे; बुद्धिमान पुरुष गंध और लेप (मलिनता) दूर करने हेतु शुद्धि करे।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages
Scene: A wise practitioner examines earth before use, rejecting a soiled heap; he chooses clean soil from a pure spot, performs cleansing thoroughly until no stain or odor remains; a small water pot and ācamana spoon are nearby.
FAQs
Cleanliness is not symbolic alone—true śauca means avoiding contaminated means and achieving real purity.
None is specified; the teaching applies broadly to daily religious discipline.
Avoid impure/contaminated cleansing earths; cleanse until smells and stains are removed.