Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

सौभाग्यभाजि रूपाढ्ये शौर्यौदार्यगुणान्विते । सीमंतिनीनां रम्याणां लावण्यवर्जित सुश्रियाम्

Transliteration

saubhāgyabhāji rūpāḍhye śauryaudāryaguṇānvite | sīmaṃtinīnāṃ ramyāṇāṃ lāvaṇyavarjita suśriyām

Translation

ഈ രാജ്യം സൗഭാഗ്യവും സൗന്ദര്യവും നിറഞ്ഞത്, ശൗര്യവും ഔദാര്യവും ഉള്ളത്; ഇവിടെ മനോഹരമായി അലങ്കരിച്ച കുലസ്ത്രീകളിലും വെറും ലാവണ്യഗർവ്വമല്ല, ശീലമയമായ ഗൗരവത്തിന്റെ ദീപ്തിയാണ് തെളിയുന്നത്।

Word by Word

• सौभाग्य-भाजि: O sharer of good fortune
• सौभाग्य-भाजि: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौभाग्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (addressing)

• रूप-आढ्ये: O one rich in beauty
• रूप-आढ्ये: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• शौर्य-औदार्य-गुण-अन्विते: O one endowed with valor, generosity, and virtues
• शौर्य-औदार्य-गुण-अन्विते: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शौर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + औदार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• सीमन्तिनीनाम्: of women (married women)
• सीमन्तिनीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीमन्तिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• रम्याणाम्: of charming (ones)
• रम्याणाम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

• लावण्य-वर्जित: devoid of beauty/grace
• लावण्य-वर्जित: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लावण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (वृज्/वर्ज्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular) वा सम्बोधन-एकवचन (Vocative) इति सन्देहः; विशेषण

• सु-श्रियाम्: excellent splendors/beautiful women
• सु-श्रियाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A refined Kāśī courtyard: noblewomen (sīmanta/elite ladies) in elegant attire and ornaments, faces serene and modest; their beauty is understated, emphasizing dignity and auspicious presence rather than vanity.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In a dharmic sacred land, external beauty is secondary to inner dignity, generosity, and noble character.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), praised as a culture of auspiciousness and refined virtue.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse praises ethical and cultural refinement as an effect of sacred geography.