Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 75
स्वयोनिः पितृदेवेभ्यो विभजञ्छुक्लकृष्णयोः । अधः प्रजानां सर्वासां राजा नः सोमोस्तु
svayoniḥ pitṛdevebhyo vibhajañchuklakṛṣṇayoḥ | adhaḥ prajānāṃ sarvāsāṃ rājā naḥ somostu
Soma, né de lui-même, qui répartit sa course en quinzaine claire et quinzaine sombre pour les Pitṛ et pour les Devas—que Soma soit notre roi sur toutes les créatures d’ici-bas.
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.