Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 16
त्यक्त्वा चंद्रमसं दुःस्थं मघां पौष्णं विहाय च । शुचिः सन्निर्विशेत्पत्नीं पुन्नामर्क्षे विशेषतः । शुचिं पुत्रं प्रसूयेत पुरुषार्थप्रसाधकम्
tyaktvā caṃdramasaṃ duḥsthaṃ maghāṃ pauṣṇaṃ vihāya ca | śuciḥ sannirviśetpatnīṃ punnāmarkṣe viśeṣataḥ | śuciṃ putraṃ prasūyeta puruṣārthaprasādhakam
അശുഭമായ ചന്ദ്രദിനം ഒഴിവാക്കി, മഘായും പൗഷ്ണവും നക്ഷത്രങ്ങളും വర్జിച്ച്, ശുചിയായി—പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് ‘പുന്നാമ’ എന്ന നക്ഷത്രത്തിൽ—ഭാര്യയെ സമീപിക്കണം. അപ്പോൾ ശുദ്ധനായ പുത്രൻ ജനിച്ച്, പുരുഷാർത്ഥങ്ങളെ സഫലമാക്കും.
Skanda
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: Night sky over Kāśī with highlighted nakṣatra symbols; a pure couple prays before a home Śiva shrine, with a priest indicating auspicious stars; Gaṅgā glimmers outside.
FAQs
Dharma integrates purity, timing, and intention; progeny is envisioned not merely biologically but as a carrier of puruṣārtha and righteous life.
The verse sits within Kāśī’s broader dharma discourse; it does not directly praise a named tīrtha, but reflects Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s role as a sacred guide for right living.
It advises avoiding inauspicious lunar timing and specific nakṣatras (Maghā, Pauṣṇa), and favors the Punnāma asterism for approaching one’s wife to beget virtuous offspring.