Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 20
चण्डिका च तथा देवी ह्यूर्द्ध्वबाहुश्च राक्षसः । पद्माक्षः क्षेत्रपालश्च नागश्चाश्वतरस्तथा
caṇḍikā ca tathā devī hyūrddhvabāhuśca rākṣasaḥ | padmākṣaḥ kṣetrapālaśca nāgaścāśvatarastathā
તથા દેવી ચંડિકા; અને રાક્ષસ ઊર્ધ્વબાહુ; પદ્માક્ષ તથા ક્ષેત્રપાલ; તેમજ નાગ અને અશ્વતર—આ પણ રક્ષકરૂપે સ્થિત છે.
Skanda (deduced from Dvārakā Māhātmya narrative style within Skanda Purāṇa)
Tirtha: Dvārakā (guardian circuit)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A fierce yet auspicious tableau: Caṇḍikā with weapons and lion aura; Ūrddhvabāhu rākṣasa towering with raised arms; Padmākṣa and Kṣetrapāla as vigilant sentinels; Nāga and Aśvatara as serpentine/horse-like guardian presences near the gate foundations.
FAQs
A sacred city is protected by a multi-layered spiritual ecology—Deity, kṣetrapāla, and powerful beings together sustain its holiness.
Dvārakā and its sacred precinct (kṣetra) safeguarded by kṣetrapālas and divine forces.
No procedural rite; the mention of Kṣetrapāla supports the common Purāṇic practice of honoring the guardian before entering/performing worship.