Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 8
ब्रह्मतेजोभिवृद्ध्यर्थं विप्रोब्देपंचमेर्हति । षष्ठे बलार्थी नृपतिर्मौजीं वैश्योष्टमे ध्रियेत्
brahmatejobhivṛddhyarthaṃ viprobdepaṃcamerhati | ṣaṣṭhe balārthī nṛpatirmaujīṃ vaiśyoṣṭame dhriyet
برہمنی تجلّی (روحانی نور) کی افزائش کے لیے برہمن پانچویں برس میں مقدّس میکھلا باندھنے کا اہل ہے؛ قوت کے طالب کشتری راجا چھٹے میں؛ اور ویش آٹھویں میں مُنجا کی میکھلا پہن لے۔
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A guru in a simple āśrama setting measures and ties the muñja-girdle on a young initiate; three boys of different varṇas are shown with distinct emblems—brāhmaṇa with palm-leaf, kṣatriya with bow, vaiśya with scales/grain—while Kāśī’s ghāṭas shimmer in the distance as a symbolic backdrop.
FAQs
Right timing and right discipline strengthen one’s inner radiance—brahmacarya begins with proper saṃskāra performed according to dharma.
The immediate verse is a dharma-instruction within the Kāśī Khaṇḍa framework; the broader setting is Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) as the field where dharma and purity are upheld.
Eligibility ages for receiving/wearing the mekhalā (muñja-girdle), part of upanayana and brahmacārin observance.