Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 13
न पाटितं समश्नीयाद्दंतकाष्ठं न सव्रणम् । न चोर्द्धशुष्कं वक्रं वा नैव च त्वग्विवर्ज्जितम्
na pāṭitaṃ samaśnīyāddaṃtakāṣṭhaṃ na savraṇam | na corddhaśuṣkaṃ vakraṃ vā naiva ca tvagvivarjjitam
பிளந்த பல்-குச்சியைப் பயன்படுத்தக் கூடாது; காயமுற்ற/குறைபாடுள்ளதையும் அல்ல. பாதி உலர்ந்தது, வளைந்தது, அல்லது பட்டை இல்லாத தந்தகாஷ்டத்தையும் எடுத்துக்கொள்ளக் கூடாது.
Skanda (deduced from instructional dharma tone within Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Beloved interlocutor / inquirer
Scene: Close-up instructional scene: a teacher-figure indicates acceptable vs unacceptable tooth-sticks—split, wounded, crooked, barkless—laid on a cloth; the pilgrim selects a straight, fresh twig near a water pot, emphasizing discipline and care.
FAQs
Purāṇic dharma treats bodily cleanliness as a sacred discipline, requiring care, propriety, and avoidance of defective implements.
Prabhāsakṣetra, where even daily rites are framed as meritorious when performed according to rule.
Selection rules for dantakāṣṭha: avoid split, damaged, half-dry, crooked, or barkless tooth-sticks.