Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 87

Devanagari script

दक्षा प्रजावती साध्वी प्रियवाक्च वशंवदा । गुणैरमीभिः संयुक्ता सा श्रीः स्त्रीरूपधारिणी

Transliteration

dakṣā prajāvatī sādhvī priyavākca vaśaṃvadā | guṇairamībhiḥ saṃyuktā sā śrīḥ strīrūpadhāriṇī

Translation

Celle qui est capable, riche d’enfants, vertueuse, douce de parole et conciliante—unie à ces qualités—celle-là est Śrī elle-même, Fortune et Auspice, ayant pris la forme d’une femme.

Word by Word

• दक्षा: capable
• दक्षा: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रजावती: having children
• प्रजावती: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रजा + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; वत्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

• साध्वी: virtuous
• साध्वी: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रियवाक्: sweet-spoken
• प्रियवाक्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय + वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (प्रिया वाक् यस्याः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• वशंवदा: obedient/submissive
• वशंवदा: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशम् + वद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (वशं वदति/वशे वर्तते)

• गुणैः: with qualities
• गुणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अमीभिः: with these
• अमीभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमि (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम; 'एतैः/अमीभिः'

• संयुक्ता: endowed/connected
• संयुक्ता: Karta (Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• श्रीः: prosperity/fortune
• श्रीः: Karta (Subject/Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• स्त्रीरूपधारिणी: bearing the form of a woman
• स्त्रीरूपधारिणी: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्री + रूप + धारिणी (प्रातिपदिक; √धृ (धातु) + णिनि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्त्रियाः रूपं धारयति)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśī Khaṇḍa context: Skanda to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A virtuous woman portrayed with subtle Lakṣmī-like iconography—lotus, kalasha, gentle radiance—within a Kāśī home; her sweet speech and cooperative demeanor are shown through harmonious family interaction and hospitality to pilgrims.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī
• Strī (woman)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Auspicious prosperity (Śrī) is embodied in virtues—skill, goodness, kind speech, and cooperative conduct in family life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tirtha is named in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it describes virtues that support dharma and prosperity in the household.