Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 34
मादृश्यो मंदभाग्यायाः प्रमदासु प्रतिष्ठिताः । केवलं राजपत्नीत्ववादस्तासु न तद्रुचिः
mādṛśyo maṃdabhāgyāyāḥ pramadāsu pratiṣṭhitāḥ | kevalaṃ rājapatnītvavādastāsu na tadruciḥ
Perempuan sepertiku, yang bernasib kecil, mungkin mendapat tempat di antara para wanita istana; namun bagi mereka itu hanya gelar ‘istri raja’ semata—tiada sukacita sejati dan tiada penghargaan di dalamnya.
Sunīti
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A palace interior: a modest queen/consort stands slightly apart from richly adorned women; her face shows restrained sadness as she reflects on the emptiness of the title ‘king’s wife’.
FAQs
Worldly rank without inner contentment or genuine regard is empty; dharma encourages humility and detachment.
None is named; the verse is ethical reflection within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa storyline.
No ritual is stated; the focus is on insight into the limits of social status.