Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

सुवासोपस्कराढ्यानि नागवल्ल्या द्विजोत्तम । शय्याविचित्राभरणा रतिशालोचितानि च

Transliteration

suvāsopaskarāḍhyāni nāgavallyā dvijottama | śayyāvicitrābharaṇā ratiśālocitāni ca

Translation

Wahai dwijottama, yang kaya dengan busana indah dan perlengkapan kemewahan, beserta nagavallī (sulur sirih); dihias dengan ranjang-ranjang elok dan perhiasan, serta segala yang layak bagi kamar kenikmatan (rati-śālā).

Word by Word

• सुवासोपस्कराढ्यानि: rich in fragrant accessories/ingredients
• सुवासोपस्कराढ्यानि: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवास (प्रातिपदिक) + उपस्कर (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (सुवासोपस्करैः आढ्यानि), विशेषण (नागवल्ल्याः/नागवल्लीः)

• नागवल्ल्याः: of betel-vine (betel leaves)
• नागवल्ल्याः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागवल्ली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजोत्तम: Sambodhana (Vocative address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्विजानाम् उत्तमः)

• शय्याविचित्राभरणाः: having varied ornaments for the bed
• शय्याविचित्राभरणाः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शय्या (प्रातिपदिक) + विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (शय्यायाः विचित्राणि आभरणानि यस्याः), विशेषण (नागवल्ल्याः/नागवल्लीः)

• रतिशालोचितानि: suitable for the pleasure-chamber
• रतिशालोचितानि: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक) + शाला (प्रातिपदिक) + उचित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (रतिशालायाम् उचितानि), भूतकृदन्त-प्राय विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sages at Naimiṣāraṇya (typical)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A well-appointed donation scene: bundles of fine garments, perfumed articles, betel leaves, ornate bedding and jewelry presented respectfully to a learned Brahmin in Kāśī.

Characters & Entities

• Dvijottama
• Nāgavallī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dāna and ritual hospitality are portrayed as dharmic acts; even worldly comforts can be sanctified when offered with right intent.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The context remains within Kāśī-khaṇḍa, emphasizing dharmic giving associated with sacred life around Kashi.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Provision of fine clothing, luxury items, betel, beds, ornaments, and related articles as part of giving/worship.