Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 93

Devanagari script

न चातिरिक्तहीनांगीं नातिदीर्घां न वा कृशाम् । नालोमिकां नातिलोमां नास्निग्धस्थूलमौलिजाम्

Transliteration

na cātiriktahīnāṃgīṃ nātidīrghāṃ na vā kṛśām | nālomikāṃ nātilomāṃ nāsnigdhasthūlamaulijām

Translation

不应选择肢体过于残缺或过于夸张的女子为妻，也不应选过分高挑或极其消瘦者；亦不选发少或发多者，亦不选头发粗硬、油腻或厚重而不雅者。

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• अतिरिक्तहीनाङ्गीम्: having limbs excessive or deficient
• अतिरिक्तहीनाङ्गीम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिरिक्त-हीन-अङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (स्त्री/भार्या implied)

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• अतिदीर्घाम्: too tall/too long
• अतिदीर्घाम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति-दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक; उपसर्गपूर्वक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Disjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• कृशाम्: too thin
• कृशाम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• अलोमिकाम्: hairless (without body-hair)
• अलोमिकाम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-लोमिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• अतिलोमाम्: overly hairy
• अतिलोमाम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति-लोमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• अस्निग्धस्थूलमौलिजाम्: with hair-knot/head-hair not smooth and thick/coarse
• अस्निग्धस्थूलमौलिजाम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-स्निग्ध-स्थूल-मौलिज (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa instruction)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A didactic tableau: an ācārya explains ‘moderation’ in bodily traits using illustrative sketches or symbolic figures; the emphasis is on balance rather than caricature.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Traditional gṛhastha-dharma emphasizes discernment and stability; physical ‘marks’ are treated as indicators for household harmony.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī is the sacred frame of the Kāśīkhaṇḍa, though this verse addresses domestic dharma rather than a local tirtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A practical prescription within marriage selection: avoid certain bodily characteristics considered inauspicious.