Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 64

Devanagari script

नोत्पाटयेल्लोमनखं दशनेन कदाचन । करजैः करजच्छेदं तृणच्छेदं विवर्जयेत्

Transliteration

notpāṭayellomanakhaṃ daśanena kadācana | karajaiḥ karajacchedaṃ tṛṇacchedaṃ vivarjayet

Translation

எப்போதும் பற்களால் முடி அல்லது நகங்களைப் பிடுங்கக் கூடாது. நகங்களால் நகங்களைப் பிளத்தலும், புல் (தೃணம்) பறித்தல்/முறித்தலும் தவிர்க்க வேண்டும்.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• utpāṭayet: should not pluck out
• utpāṭayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paṭ/paṭh? (पाटने/उत्पाटने धातु) उपसर्गः ut-
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; causative sense ‘to pluck out’ (उत्पाटयति)

• loma-nakham: hair and nails
• loma-nakham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loman (प्रातिपदिक) + nakha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (लोम च नखं च)

• daśanena: with the teeth
• daśanena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• kadācana: ever/at any time
• kadācana: Kāla (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācana (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• karajaiḥ: with the fingernails
• karajaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• karaja-cchedam: cutting the nails
• karaja-cchedam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karaja (प्रातिपदिक) + cheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (करजानां छेदः)

• tṛṇa-cchedam: cutting grass
• tṛṇa-cchedam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tṛṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + cheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तृणस्य छेदः)

• vivarjayet: should avoid
• vivarjayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛj/varj (वर्जने धातु) उपसर्गः vi-
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Skanda (deduced for Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kshetra (temple/ghāṭa precincts)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka-ādi Ṛṣis (frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim seated near a temple courtyard garden in Kāśī, consciously refraining from idle plucking of grass; hands folded with japa-mālā, nails trimmed properly with a small tool kept aside, expression composed.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Self-control and non-harmful habits refine one’s purity and readiness for worship in a sacred environment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named; the verse supports the broader dharmic culture of Kāśī.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Personal-grooming and non-injury restraints (niyamas) rather than a formal ritual.