Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

पूर्वोक्तविधिना शौचं कुर्यादाचमनं तथा । दंताञ्जिह्वां विशोध्याथ कृत्वा मलविशोधनम्

Transliteration

pūrvoktavidhinā śaucaṃ kuryādācamanaṃ tathā | daṃtāñjihvāṃ viśodhyātha kṛtvā malaviśodhanam

Translation

पूर्वोक्त विधीने शौच करावे आणि तसेच आचमन करावे. मग दात व जीभ स्वच्छ करून मल-विशोधन (अपवित्रता-निवारण) पूर्ण करावे.

Word by Word

• पूर्वोक्त-विधिना: by the previously stated rule
• पूर्वोक्त-विधिना: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वोक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (पूर्वोक्तः विधिः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/प्रकारवाचक

• शौचम्: purification
• शौचम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आचमनम्: sipping (water)
• आचमनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb)

• दन्तान्: teeth
• दन्तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• जिह्वाम्: tongue
• जिह्वाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• विशोध्य: having cleaned
• विशोध्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + शुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभावः; ‘having cleaned/purified’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereafter)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभावः; ‘having done’

• मल-विशोधनम्: cleansing of impurities
• मल-विशोधनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल (प्रातिपदिक) + विशोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (मलस्य विशोधनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee at dawn near a Kāśī ghāṭa performs ācamanam with cupped hands; nearby are a small water-vessel, twig for dental cleaning, and a discreet depiction of completing purification; the rising light suggests readiness for sandhyā.

Characters & Entities

• Śauca
• Ācamana
• Danta-śodhana
• Jihvā-śodhana

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Outer cleanliness supports inner clarity; disciplined purity prepares one for mantra, worship, and study.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named in this verse; it functions as a Kāśī Khaṇḍa dharma guideline for residents/pilgrims living the sacred routine.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Śauca (cleanliness), ācamana, and cleansing teeth and tongue as preparatory acts.