Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 35
चत्वरेषु दुरारोहः पर्वते कुरवस्तथा । निर्झरेषु प्रवाहाख्यो माणिभद्रो निधिष्वपि
catvareṣu durārohaḥ parvate kuravastathā | nirjhareṣu pravāhākhyo māṇibhadro nidhiṣvapi
चौराहों पर वह ‘दुरारोह’ है; पर्वतों पर ‘कुरव’ है। निर्झरों में ‘प्रवाहाख्य’ और निधियों में भी ‘माणिभद्र’ रूप से स्थित रहता है।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Catuṣpatha (crossroads) / Parvata-sthala / Nirjhara-tīrtha / Nidhi-sthāna
Type: ghat
Scene: A pilgrim at a four-way crossroads meets Durāroha, a hard-to-approach guardian; then a mountain ridge with Kurava standing sentinel; a cascading waterfall where Pravāhākhya appears within the spray; and a subterranean vault where Māṇibhadra guards glittering treasures.
FAQs
Guardianship extends to risky thresholds (crossroads, mountains, torrents) and to wealth itself, urging reverence and restraint.
No single site is named; the verse sacralizes common pilgrimage terrains and liminal points.
Invoke the appropriate guardian-name when approaching crossings, mountain paths, waterfalls, or places associated with hidden wealth.