Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

कामकेलिकलाभिज्ञा द्यूतविद्याविशारदाः । रसज्ञा भाववेदिन्यश्चतुराश्चोचितोक्तिषु

Transliteration

kāmakelikalābhijñā dyūtavidyāviśāradāḥ | rasajñā bhāvavedinyaścaturāścocitoktiṣu

Translation

她们通达情爱嬉戏之艺，精于博弈之学，善知“味”（rasa）之妙，体察诸情，且能以得体而雅致之言应对。

Word by Word

• कामकेलिकलाभिज्ञाः: versed in the arts of amorous play
• कामकेलिकलाभिज्ञाः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + केलि (प्रातिपदिक) + कला (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (काम-केलि-कला-भिज्ञाः = कामकेलिकलासु अभिज्ञाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• द्यूतविद्याविशारदाः: expert in the science of gambling
• द्यूतविद्याविशारदाः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्यूत (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (द्यूतविद्यायां विशारदाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• रसज्ञाः: knowers of aesthetic sentiment
• रसज्ञाः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (रसे ज्ञाः/रसवेदिनः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• भाववेदिन्यः: understanding emotions
• भाववेदिन्यः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (भावं वेदन्ति इति); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• चतुराः: clever
• चतुराः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

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

• उचितोक्तिषु: in appropriate speech/utterances
• उचितोक्तिषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उचित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + उक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (उचिताः उक्तयः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

Speaker

Gaṇas (continued explanation)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śivaśarmā

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A refined assembly: women demonstrate arts of love-play through symbolic gestures, a gaming board nearby, and a circle of connoisseurs reacting to nuanced expressions; speech is shown as poised, witty conversation.

Characters & Entities

• vāravilāsinyaḥ (implied)
• rasa
• bhāva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It portrays the refined accomplishments of celestial beings, implying that karma can mature into cultivated capacities and experiences.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tirtha is named in this verse; it continues the Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative framework connected with Kāśī.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is descriptive, not prescriptive.