Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 92

Devanagari script

तव दास्यपि भोगाढ्या किमुतांकस्थलीचरी । तत्राप्यनन्यसंपत्तिस्तत्र स्वाधीनभर्तृता

Transliteration

tava dāsyapi bhogāḍhyā kimutāṃkasthalīcarī | tatrāpyananyasaṃpattistatra svādhīnabhartṛtā

Translation

Even your maidservants live amid enjoyments—how much more one who rests upon your lap. Yet even there, the unique treasure is this: a husband who remains devoted, abiding under the gentle sway of love.

Word by Word

• तव: your/of you
• तव: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन — Genitive singular

• दासी: maidservant
• दासी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दासी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative singular

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात — particle “also/even”

• भोगाढ्या: rich in pleasures
• भोगाढ्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः “भोगैः/भोगस्य आढ्या” — Feminine, Nominative singular; “rich in enjoyments”

• किम्: what
• किम्: Sambandha (Interrogative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्ययप्रयोग (नपुंसक-प्रथमा/द्वितीया रूपम्) — interrogative used idiomatically with उत

• उत: then/indeed
• उत: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात — particle “indeed/then; how much more” (with किम्)

• अङ्कस्थलीचरी: a close attendant (moving in the lap/inner quarters)
• अङ्कस्थलीचरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्कस्थली (प्रातिपदिक) + चरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः “अङ्कस्थल्यां चरति” — Feminine, Nominative singular; “one who moves in the lap/inner chambers”

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय — adverb “there”

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात — “also/even”

• अनन्यसंपत्तिः: exclusive/unsurpassed prosperity
• अनन्यसंपत्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + संपत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः “अनन्या संपत्तिः” — Feminine, Nominative singular

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय — “there”

• स्वाधीनभर्तृता: having a husband under one’s control
• स्वाधीनभर्तृता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाधीन (प्रातिपदिक) + भर्तृता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः “स्वाधीनः भर्ता यस्याः सा/तद्भावः” — Feminine, Nominative singular; state of having a husband under one’s control

Speaker

Kalāvatī

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Viśveśvara-kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Spouse (immediate); sages (frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A refined domestic tableau: the speaker contrasts pleasures with the rare ‘unique treasure’—a devoted spouse—hinting at the spiritual analogue of exclusive devotion to Śiva.

Characters & Entities

• Kalāvatī
• Mālpaketu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Comforts are secondary; the highest household ‘wealth’ is steadfast marital devotion and mutual belonging aligned with dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No; this verse is ethical counsel within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa story.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it emphasizes values rather than rites.