Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 40
पितुरानंदकृन्नित्यं वसुभूतेर्घटोद्भव । सर्वगांधर्वकुशला गुणरत्नमहाखनिः
piturānaṃdakṛnnityaṃ vasubhūterghaṭodbhava | sarvagāṃdharvakuśalā guṇaratnamahākhaniḥ
Née de Vasubhūti, elle réjouissait sans cesse son père ; experte en tous les arts des Gandharvas, elle était une vaste mine de vertus semblables à des joyaux.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (as karmic source)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Ṛṣi audience (frame)
Scene: In a celestial palace, Vasubhūti watches proudly as Ratnāvalī performs refined gandharva arts—singing with perfect pitch, playing instruments, and demonstrating graceful movement; her presence is depicted as a ‘mine of virtues’ through symbolic jewels and radiant aura.
FAQs
True excellence is measured not only by skill but by virtue—qualities that become spiritual wealth when aligned with dharma.
The verse is part of the Ratneśvara context in Kāśī, though it primarily praises the devotee’s character.
None directly; it establishes eligibility and merit through character and cultivated skill.