Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 20
धर्मारण्यस्य क्षेत्रस्य विद्धि मामधिदेवताम् । वर्षाणि द्वादशेहैव जातानि दुःखि तास्म्यहम्
dharmāraṇyasya kṣetrasya viddhi māmadhidevatām | varṣāṇi dvādaśehaiva jātāni duḥkhi tāsmyaham
ധർമ്മാരണ്യ ക്ഷേത്രത്തിന്റെ അധിദേവതയായി എന്നെ അറിയുക. ഇവിടെ പന്ത്രണ്ടു വർഷങ്ങൾ കഴിഞ്ഞു; അതിനാൽ ഞാൻ ദുഃഖിതനാണ്।
Dharmāraṇya-kṣetra Adhidevatā (the presiding deity of Dharmāraṇya)
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya
Type: kshetra
Scene: The presiding deity of Dharmāraṇya reveals identity and duration of suffering—twelve years—standing amid a quiet, under-attended sacred landscape.
FAQs
A kṣetra is not merely land—its presiding divinity safeguards dharma and laments prolonged disruption.
Dharmāraṇya-kṣetra, explicitly named and personified through its adhidevatā.
None; the verse establishes authority (adhidevatā) and the duration of distress.