Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 56
तद्यथा । नमोनमस्तेऽस्तु अभये अनघे अजिते अत्रसिते अमृते अपराजिते पठितसिद्धे स्मरितसिद्ध एकानंशे उमे ध्रुवे अरुंधति सावित्रि गायत्रि जातवेदसि मानस्तोके सरसि सरस्वति धरणि धारिणि सौदामिनि अदिते विनते गौरि गांधारि मातंगि कृष्णे यशोदे सत्यवादिनि ब्रह्मवादिनि कालि कपालिनि सद्योवयवचयनकरि स्थलगतं जलगतमंतरिक्षगतं वा रक्ष २ सर्वभूतभयोपद्रवेभ्यो रक्ष २ स्वाहा
tadyathā | namonamaste'stu abhaye anaghe ajite atrasite amṛte aparājite paṭhitasiddhe smaritasiddha ekānaṃśe ume dhruve aruṃdhati sāvitri gāyatri jātavedasi mānastoke sarasi sarasvati dharaṇi dhāriṇi saudāmini adite vinate gauri gāṃdhāri mātaṃgi kṛṣṇe yaśode satyavādini brahmavādini kāli kapālini sadyovayavacayanakari sthalagataṃ jalagatamaṃtarikṣagataṃ vā rakṣa 2 sarvabhūtabhayopadravebhyo rakṣa 2 svāhā
Thus (the mantra is recited): “Homage, homage to You—O Fearless One; O Sinless One; O Unconquered One; O Unafraid One; O Immortal One; O Invincible One; O She whose power is accomplished by recitation, and accomplished by remembrance; O Ekānaṃśā; O Umā; O Dhruvā; O Arundhatī; O Sāvitrī; O Gāyatrī; O Jātavedasī; O tenderly protective toward the mind and one’s offspring; O Sarasi; O Sarasvatī; O Earth; O Supporter; O Lightning-like One; O Aditi; O Vinatā; O Gaurī; O Gāndhārī; O Mātaṅgī; O Kṛṣṇā; O Yaśodā; O Speaker of truth; O Proclaimer of Brahman; O Kālī; O Kapālinī; O Swift Gatherer and Restorer of the limbs—protect, protect (us), whether the danger arises on land, in water, or in the sky. Protect, protect (us) from the fears and afflictions caused by all beings. Svāhā.”
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative convention)
Tirtha: Aparājitā (protective Devī-Vidyā)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A radiant Devī manifests as a single form containing many aspects—gentle Sāvitrī-Gāyatrī light, Sarasvatī’s purity, Umā-Gaurī’s grace, and Kālī’s fierce protection—extending a tri-realm shield over land, water, and sky.
FAQs
Remembrance and recitation of the Goddess’s many sacred names is presented as an immediate source of fearlessness and protection, affirming Purāṇic dharma that divine refuge overcomes worldly dangers.
This verse functions chiefly as a universal rakṣā-mantra and does not explicitly name a single tīrtha; its emphasis is on the Goddess’s all-pervading protective power rather than a location-specific māhātmya.
Japa/uccāraṇa (recitation) and smaraṇa (remembrance) are implied as efficacious practices—“paṭhita-siddhe, smarita-siddhe”—with the mantra sealed by “svāhā,” indicating a mantra used for protection and, where applicable, oblation-linked recitation.