Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 23
गच्छमानः क्षयं पक्षं वृद्धिं पक्षं च सद्द्विजाः । सापि देवी ततः प्रोक्ता सप्तविंशतिका क्षितौ । सर्वसौभाग्यदा स्त्रीणां तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे व्यवस्थिता
gacchamānaḥ kṣayaṃ pakṣaṃ vṛddhiṃ pakṣaṃ ca saddvijāḥ | sāpi devī tataḥ proktā saptaviṃśatikā kṣitau | sarvasaubhāgyadā strīṇāṃ tasminkṣetre vyavasthitā
हे सद्द्विजहो, तो कृष्णपक्ष व शुक्लपक्ष असा प्रवास करीत असतो; म्हणून ती देवी पृथ्वीवर ‘सप्तविंशतिका’ (सत्तावीस) म्हणून प्रसिद्ध आहे। त्या क्षेत्रात स्थित होऊन ती स्त्रियांना सर्व सौभाग्य प्रदान करते।
Narrator (contextual, within Tīrthamāhātmya narration)
Tirtha: Saptaviṃśatikā-kṣetra (as implied)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Dvijas (explicit: सद्द्विजाः)
Scene: A goddess enthroned within a sacred precinct, surrounded by a mandala of 27 star-lamps or 27 maiden-forms; devotees (women) approach with offerings, seeking saubhāgya.
FAQs
Cosmic rhythm (waxing/waning) is tied to sacred presence; devotion in a kṣetra channels auspiciousness and well-being.
A named ‘kṣetra’ where Saptaviṃśatikā Devī is established; the passage functions as a local māhātmya for that region’s Devī/Soma sanctity.
No direct rite here; it identifies the deity and her boon (sarva-saubhāgya), preparing for the recitation instruction in the next verse.