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Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 15

रम्यध्वजप्रभाधौता रेजुः प्रति शिवालयम् । क्वचिद्गायंति गीतज्ञाः क्वचिन्नृत्यंति नर्तकाः

ramyadhvajaprabhādhautā rejuḥ prati śivālayam | kvacidgāyaṃti gītajñāḥ kvacinnṛtyaṃti nartakāḥ

Lavés par l’éclat de beaux étendards, les chemins menant à chaque sanctuaire de Śiva resplendissaient. Ici, des chanteurs experts chantaient ; là, des danseurs dansaient.

ramya-dhvaja-prabhā-dhautāḥcleansed by the radiance of beautiful banners
ramya-dhvaja-prabhā-dhautāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootramya (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhauta (कृदन्त; √dhāv धाव्/√dhū धू? + क्त; here 'washed/cleansed')
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; समासः (रम्यध्वजस्य प्रभया धौताः = cleansed by the radiance of lovely flags)
rejuḥshone
rejuḥ:
Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√rāj (राज्)
Formलिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन
pratitowards/at
prati:
Sambandha (Prepositional/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootprati (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
Formअव्यय; उपपद (towards/at)
śiva-ālayamŚiva’s temple
śiva-ālayam:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśiva (प्रातिपदिक) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (śivasya ālayaḥ)
kvacitsomewhere
kvacit:
Deśa (Place/देश)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkvacit (अव्यय)
Formदेशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb: somewhere)
gāyantising
gāyanti:
Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√gai (गै)
Formलट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन
gīta-jñāḥthose skilled in song
gīta-jñāḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootgīta (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (गीतं जानन्ति)
kvacitelsewhere
kvacit:
Deśa (Place/देश)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkvacit (अव्यय)
Formदेशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)
nṛtyantidance
nṛtyanti:
Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√nṛt (नृत्)
Formलट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन
nartakāḥdancers
nartakāḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootnartaka (प्रातिपदिक; √nṛt नृत् + ण्वुल्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

Skanda

Tirtha: Kāśī Śiva-alaya-mārga (temple approaches)

Type: ghat

Listener: A sage

Scene: Temple lanes gleam, ‘washed’ by the radiance of colorful flags; at intersections, trained singers perform devotional songs while dancers move in rhythmic patterns before Śiva shrines.

Ś
Śivālaya (Śiva temples)
S
Singers
D
Dancers
F
Flags
K
Kāśī (implied)
Ś
Śiva

FAQs

Bhakti expresses itself through art—song and dance become offerings when directed toward Śiva.

Kāśī’s network of Śiva-temples (śivālaya) is implied, emphasizing the city as Śiva’s living sanctuary.

Implied devotional practices include kīrtana (singing) and nṛtya (dance) in a temple-festival setting.