Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 27
सूत उवाच । इति पृष्टः क्षणं ध्यात्वा प्राह दामोदरो विभुः । वत्स क्षेत्रं प्रवक्ष्यामि यत्र तप्स्यसि तत्तपः । गुप्तक्षेत्रमिति ख्यातं महीसागरसंगमे
sūta uvāca | iti pṛṣṭaḥ kṣaṇaṃ dhyātvā prāha dāmodaro vibhuḥ | vatsa kṣetraṃ pravakṣyāmi yatra tapsyasi tattapaḥ | guptakṣetramiti khyātaṃ mahīsāgarasaṃgame
सूत ने कहा: ऐसा पूछे जाने पर, समर्थ दामोदर ने क्षण भर ध्यान करके कहा—‘वत्स, मैं वह क्षेत्र बताता हूँ जहाँ तुम वह तप करोगे। वह भूमि और सागर के संगम पर “गुप्तक्षेत्र” नाम से प्रसिद्ध है।’
Sūta (narrator); within the story: Dāmodara instructs Barbarīka
Tirtha: Guptakṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: Sūta narrates as Dāmodara points toward a vast shoreline where waves meet firm land; the ‘Guptakṣetra’ is suggested by a partially veiled shrine/forest grove near the coast, evoking secrecy and revelation.
FAQs
Spiritual power is cultivated through tapas and devotion performed in a sanctified landscape revealed by tradition and realized by guidance.
Guptakṣetra, described as located at the confluence where land meets the ocean (mahī-sāgara-saṃgama).
Performing tapas (austerity) in Guptakṣetra as the preparatory discipline for Devī worship and receiving grace.