Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 4
समागम्याथ मां प्रोचुर्नारद व्रियतां वरः । प्रोक्तं तानार्च्य च मया क्रियतां स्थानरक्षणम्
samāgamyātha māṃ procurnārada vriyatāṃ varaḥ | proktaṃ tānārcya ca mayā kriyatāṃ sthānarakṣaṇam
तब वे मेरे पास आकर बोले—“हे नारद, वर माँगो।” मैंने उनका पूजन करके कहा—“इस पवित्र स्थान की रक्षा सुनिश्चित की जाए।”
Unspecified narrator addressing Nārada (contextual)
Tirtha: Śālā
Type: kshetra
Scene: The Trimūrti approach Nārada and offer a boon; Nārada, after respectful worship, requests protection of the sacred place. The scene shows divine figures descending, Nārada in añjali, and a luminous boundary around the kṣetra indicating divine safeguarding.
FAQs
The highest boon sought by the righteous is the safeguarding of dharma—here expressed as protection of a sacred place and its order.
The verse references a “sthāna” (holy station) without naming it; the adhyāya context supplies the particular locale.
Honoring the deities (arcana) and formally requesting “sthānarakṣaṇam” (protection of the sacred precinct).