Adhyaya 265
This adhyāya is framed as a concise Śaiva-Śākta instruction: Īśvara speaks to Mahādevī and points to a particular deity-site—the goddess Kanakanandā, situated in the Īśānya (northeastern) direction. It gives an itinerary and procedure: it identifies the shrine, praises the goddess as the giver of the fruits of all desires (sarva-kāma-phala-pradā), and prescribes a calendrical observance—undertaking a yātrā in the month of Caitra on the Śukla tṛtīyā tithi, to be performed according to rule (vidhānataḥ). The teaching integrates place (kṣetra), time (tithi/māsa), and regulated devotion (vidhi) as an ethical guide for pilgrimage. The phalāśruti states plainly that the disciplined pilgrim attains desired aims (sarva-kāma-avāpti) through correctly performed sacred travel and worship.
Shlokas
Verse 1
ईश्वर उवाच । ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि ऐशान्यां दिशि संस्थिताम् । देवीं कनकनंदाख्यां सर्वकामफलप्रदाम्
Īśvara said: “Then, O great Goddess, one should go to the deity named Kanakanandā, situated in the north-eastern direction—she who bestows the fruits of all desired aims.”
Verse 2
तत्र शुक्लतृतीयायां चैत्रे मासि विधानतः । यात्रां कुर्याच्च मतिमान्सर्वकाममवाप्नुयात्
There, on the bright third lunar day in the month of Caitra, the wise person should undertake the pilgrimage according to proper rule; thereby one attains the fulfillment of all desired aims.
Verse 265
इति श्रीस्कांदे महा पुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखण्डे प्रथमे प्रभासक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये कनकनंदामाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम पंचषष्ट्युत्तरद्विशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the 265th chapter, entitled “The Description of the Greatness of Kanakanandā,” in the Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa (Book Seven) of the Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, within the Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya (first division).