Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

तेन तौर्यत्रिकेणापि प्रीणयित्वाथ सा नटी । रत्नेश्वरं महालिंगं देशमिष्टं जगाम ह

Transliteration

tena tauryatrikeṇāpi prīṇayitvātha sā naṭī | ratneśvaraṃ mahāliṃgaṃ deśamiṣṭaṃ jagāma ha

Translation

她以那表演三艺——歌唱、器乐与舞蹈——令主神欢喜；随后那舞伎前往她所钟爱的圣地，至名为“宝主”（Ratneśvara）的大灵伽。

Word by Word

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम् (instrumental singular of 'tad')

• तौर्यत्रिकेण: by the triad of instruments
• तौर्यत्रिकेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तौर्यत्रिक (प्रातिपदिक; तूर्य+त्रिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचनम्; समासः—तूर्याणां त्रिकम् (three musical instruments)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे ‘also/even’

• प्रीणयित्वा: having pleased
• प्रीणयित्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रीण् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having pleased/satisfied’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/अनन्तर (then/thereupon)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

• नटी: the actress/dancer
• नटी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नटी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• रत्नेश्वरम्: Ratneśvara (name of Śiva/linga)
• रत्नेश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्नेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; रत्न+ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्; समासः—रत्नानाम् ईश्वरः (Lord of jewels)

• महालिङ्गम्: the great liṅga
• महालिङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महालिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; महत्+लिङ्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः—महच्च तत् लिङ्गम्

• देशम्: to the place
• देशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• इष्टम्: desired, beloved
• इष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √इष्/इच्छ्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘desired/pleasing’; ‘देशम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• ह: indeed, it is said
• ह: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; कथन-समाप्ति/प्रसिद्ध्यर्थ (indeed/it is said)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ratneśvara (Kāśī-liṅga)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and other ṛṣis (typical frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A temple forecourt in Kāśī: the actress completes a triad performance—song, vīṇā/paṇava-like instruments, and graceful dance—before a radiant black-stone Mahāliṅga adorned with gems; lamps flicker, devotees watch, and the performer departs toward Ratneśvara with folded hands.

Characters & Entities

• Ratneśvara
• Liṅga
• Naṭī (dancer)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotional offering through sacred arts (song, instruments, and dance) can please Śiva and lead one toward auspicious sacred destinations and merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Ratneśvara Mahāliṅga in Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) is highlighted as a revered Śaiva locus.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

An implied upacāra is offered: worship/pleasing the Lord through tauryatrika (music, instrumental accompaniment, and dance) as devotional service.