Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 1
ऋषय ऊचुः । अष्टषष्टिरियं प्रोक्ता या त्वया सूतनन्दन । क्षेत्राणां देवदेवस्य कथं सा तत्र संस्थिता । एतत्सर्वं समाचक्ष्व परं कौतूहलं हि नः
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | aṣṭaṣaṣṭiriyaṃ proktā yā tvayā sūtanandana | kṣetrāṇāṃ devadevasya kathaṃ sā tatra saṃsthitā | etatsarvaṃ samācakṣva paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi naḥ
ऋषी म्हणाले—“हे सूतनंदना! देवदेवाच्या क्षेत्रांची ही ‘छयासष्ट’ संख्या तू सांगितलीस. ती तेथे कशी प्रतिष्ठित झाली? हे सर्व सांग; आम्हाला फारच कुतूहल आहे।”
Ṛṣis
Tirtha: Aṣṭaṣaṣṭi-kṣetra (the ‘sixty-six’ Śaiva sacred fields)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Sūtanandana (son of Sūta)
Scene: An assembly of sages seated in a forest hermitage, addressing the storyteller (Sūta’s son) with raised hands in inquiry; behind them, a symbolic map-like backdrop of many kṣetras.
FAQs
Holy geography is to be approached through śravaṇa (listening) and inquiry; curiosity directed toward dharma becomes a path to understanding.
Not one single tīrtha; the verse introduces the wider network of ‘sixty-six kṣetras’ under the God of gods.
None; it is a question initiating doctrinal and geographical exposition.