Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 59

Devanagari script

कनिष्ठाग्रपरीमाणं सत्वचं निर्व्रणारुजम् । द्वादशांगुलमानं च सार्द्रं स्याद्दंतधावनम्

Transliteration

kaniṣṭhāgraparīmāṇaṃ satvacaṃ nirvraṇārujam | dvādaśāṃgulamānaṃ ca sārdraṃ syāddaṃtadhāvanam

Translation

ദന്തധാവനത്തിനുള്ള ദന്തകാഷ്ഠം ചെറുവിരലിന്റെ അഗ്രത്തോളം കട്ടിയുള്ളതും, തൊലിയോടുകൂടിയതും, മുറിവ്-രോഗദോഷരഹിതവും, പന്ത്രണ്ടു അങ്കുല നീളമുള്ളതും, പുതുമയുള്ള ഈർപ്പമുള്ളതുമായിരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• कनिष्ठाग्रपरीमाणम्: of the measure of the tip of the little finger
• कनिष्ठाग्रपरीमाणम्: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa / Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनिष्ठा + अग्र + परिमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः: तत्पुरुष (कनिष्ठायाः अग्रस्य परिमाणम्) — परिमाणवाचक विशेषण, दन्तधावनम् इति विशेष्ये

• सत्वचम्: having bark (with outer skin)
• सत्वचम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + त्वच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: सत्वचं = यस्य त्वक् अस्ति (with bark/skin)

• निर्व्रण: without wounds
• निर्व्रण: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + व्रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: निर्व्रणं = यस्मिन् व्रणः नास्ति (without wounds)

• अरुजम्: not causing pain
• अरुजम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + रुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: अरुजं = यस्मिन् रुजा नास्ति (painless; not causing pain)

• द्वादशाङ्गुलमानम्: of twelve-finger length
• द्वादशाङ्गुलमानम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश + अङ्गुल + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः: तत्पुरुष (द्वादशानाम् अङ्गुलानां मानम्)

• च: and
• च: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• सार्द्रम्: moist
• सार्द्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + आर्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: सार्द्रं = सम्यग् आर्द्रम् (moist)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दंतधावनम्: tooth-cleaning stick/act of cleaning teeth
• दंतधावनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त + धावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता-स्थानी), एकवचन; समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दन्तानां धावनम्)

Speaker

Sūta (deduced, Brāhma Khaṇḍa narration style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A close, instructional scene: a devotee selects a fresh twig of correct length and thickness, showing bark intact; a measuring gesture of twelve finger-breadths is emphasized.

Characters & Entities

• Dantadhāvana
• Dantakāṣṭha
• Aṅgula (measure)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purity is supported by careful choice of means; dharma values non-harmful, disciplined daily conduct.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is described; the verse gives specifications for a daily practice.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A proper tooth-stick should be little-finger-tip thick, bark-bearing, defect-free, twelve aṅgulas long, and fresh/moist.