Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 75
स्वयोनिः पितृदेवेभ्यो विभजञ्छुक्लकृष्णयोः । अधः प्रजानां सर्वासां राजा नः सोमोस्तु
svayoniḥ pitṛdevebhyo vibhajañchuklakṛṣṇayoḥ | adhaḥ prajānāṃ sarvāsāṃ rājā naḥ somostu
Self-born Soma, who apportions his course into the bright and the dark fortnights for the Pitṛs and the Gods—may Soma be our king over all creatures in this lower world.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages
Type: kshetra
Scene: Soma as radiant lunar king above, holding a nectar vessel; below, two ritual assemblies: Devas receiving offerings in bright fortnight imagery and Pitṛs receiving tarpaṇa in dark fortnight imagery; the moon’s phases arc across the sky like a calendar.
FAQs
Time itself (pakṣas/fortnights) is sacredly governed; honoring Soma aligns one with dharma for Gods, ancestors, and living beings.
None is specified; the focus is on Soma’s cosmic function rather than a named pilgrimage site.
A benedictive invocation—"may Soma be our king"—functions as a devotional prayer, suitable for recitation in lunar observances.