Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 20
येन तप्तं गुप्तक्षेत्रे येन देव्यः सुतोषिताः । यस्यातुलं बाहुबलं तेन चोक्तं निशम्यताम्
yena taptaṃ guptakṣetre yena devyaḥ sutoṣitāḥ | yasyātulaṃ bāhubalaṃ tena coktaṃ niśamyatām
اسمعوا ما يعلنه ذلك البطل بعينه—هو الذي أقام الزهد والتقشّف في غوبتكشيترا، وهو الذي أرضى الإلهات تمام الرضا، والذي لا يُجارى في قوة ذراعيه.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating; within the narrative a warrior speaks (Bhīma implied by context)
Tirtha: Guptakṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A herald-like introduction of Barbarīka: imagery flashes of him performing austerities in a secluded sacred grove/rocky shrine (Guptakṣetra), Devīs appearing pleased, and his mighty arms radiating power.
FAQs
Austerity and sincere Devī-upāsanā performed at a sacred site bear tangible spiritual and worldly strength.
Guptakṣetra is praised as a potent sacred field where tapas quickly pleases the Devīs.
No explicit ritual is prescribed here; the verse highlights tapas (austerity) and Devī-ārādhanā as the cause of merit and power.