Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 39

Devanagari script

रम्या रत्नावली नाम रूपलावण्यशालिनी । कलाकलापकुशला मधुरालापवादिनी

Transliteration

ramyā ratnāvalī nāma rūpalāvaṇyaśālinī | kalākalāpakuśalā madhurālāpavādinī

Translation

She was charming, named Ratnāvalī—endowed with beauty and grace; skilled in a multitude of arts, and one whose speech was sweet and melodious.

Word by Word

• रम्या: charming, lovely
• रम्या: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; ‘रत्नावली’ इति विशेषणम्

• रत्नावली: Ratnāvalī (proper name)
• रत्नावली: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्नावली (प्रातिपदिक; रत्न+आवली)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; नाम-विशेषः

• नाम: named
• नाम: Sambandha (Appositive marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-निर्देशे (as named/called)

• रूपलावण्यशालिनी: possessing beauty and charm
• रूपलावण्यशालिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूपलावण्यशालिनी (प्रातिपदिक; रूप+लावण्य+शालिनी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; समासः—रूपेण लावण्येन च शालिनी (possessing beauty and grace)

• कलाकलापकुशला: skilled in many arts
• कलाकलापकुशला: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कलाकलापकुशला (प्रातिपदिक; कला+कलाप+कुशल)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; समासः—कलानां कलापे कुशला (skilled in a collection of arts)

• मधुरालापवादिनी: sweet-speaking / sweet-singing
• मधुरालापवादिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुरालापवादिनी (प्रातिपदिक; मधुर+आलाप+वादिनी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; समासः—मधुरं आलापं वदति/करोति इति (sweet-voiced, speaking sweetly)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣi audience (frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Portrait-like depiction of Ratnāvalī: youthful celestial maiden with luminous complexion, elegant ornaments, poised stance suggesting dance training; she speaks gently while holding a lotus or vīṇā, surrounded by attendants and subtle musical motifs.

Characters & Entities

• Ratnāvalī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Refinement in speech and mastery of arts can become instruments of devotion when oriented toward dharma and worship.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader passage belongs to Kāśī’s Ratneśvara-liṅga glorification, though this verse focuses on the devotee’s qualities.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is stated; it introduces Ratnāvalī as a qualified participant in devotional observances.