Adhyaya 243
In this chapter, Īśvara instructs Devī on how to approach a mighty kṣetrapāla (guardian of the sacred precinct) stationed in the Īśāna, the northeastern direction, and described as adorned with a mantramālā, a garland-like series of mantras. He is said to stand in protection near a golden bank (hiraṇya-taṭa), safeguarding a sub-region called hīraka-kṣetra, a “diamond” or jewel-like field. The text then prescribes a calendrical observance: on trayodaśī, the thirteenth lunar day of the dark fortnight (kṛṣṇa-pakṣa), the worshipper should honor the kṣetrapāla with fragrances, flowers, offerings, and bali (ritual presentations/oblations). The concluding phalaśruti declares that, when properly worshipped, the deity becomes sarva-kāma-prada, the giver of all desired aims, presenting this devotion as both protective and wish-fulfilling within the ethical discipline of tīrtha practice.
Shlokas
Verse 1
ईश्वर उवाच । ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि क्षेत्रपालं महाप्रभम् । ईशाने संस्थितं देवं मंत्रमालाविभूषितम्
Īśvara said: “Then, O great Goddess, one should go to the mighty and radiant Kṣetrapāla, the Guardian of the sacred field, stationed in the northeastern quarter, adorned with a garland of mantras.”},{
Verse 2
हिरण्यातटमाश्रित्य रक्षार्थं समुपस्थितम् । तत्रैव हीरकं क्षेत्रं तस्मिन्रक्षां करोति सः
Resorting to the bank of the Hiraṇyā, he stands present there for the sake of protection. There itself is the Hīraka field, and in that place he performs guardianship.
Verse 3
कृष्णपक्षे त्रयोदश्यां तत्र तं पूजयेन्नरः । गंधपुष्पोपहारैश्च तथा बलि निवेदनैः
On Trayodaśī, the thirteenth lunar day of the dark fortnight, a person should worship him there with offerings of fragrance and flowers, and also with presentations of bali (ritual food-offerings).
Verse 4
एवं संपूजितो देवः सर्वकामप्रदो भवेत्
Thus worshipped, the Deity becomes the bestower of all desired aims.
Verse 243
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखण्डे प्रथमे प्रभासक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये मंत्रावलिक्षेत्रपालमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम त्रिचत्वारिंशदुत्तरद्विशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the 243rd chapter, entitled “The Account of the Glory of Mantrāvalī Kṣetrapāla,” in the Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa—within the Prabhāsa Kṣetra Māhātmya—of the venerable Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, in the Saṃhitā of eighty-one thousand verses.