Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 16
बाल उवाच । न भेतव्यं कालिकायाः सौम्या देवी यतः कृता । अस्ति चेद्भवतां भीतिरन्यान्स्रक्ष्यामि बालकान् । चतुःषष्टिक्षेत्रपालानित्युक्त्वा सोऽसृजन्मुखात्
bāla uvāca | na bhetavyaṃ kālikāyāḥ saumyā devī yataḥ kṛtā | asti cedbhavatāṃ bhītiranyānsrakṣyāmi bālakān | catuḥṣaṣṭikṣetrapālānityuktvā so'sṛjanmukhāt
Sang Kanak-kanak bersabda: “Janganlah takut akan Kālikā, kerana Sang Dewi telah dijadikan lembut dan sejahtera. Namun jika ketakutan masih ada pada kamu, akan Kuciptakan bentuk-bentuk kanak-kanak yang lain—enam puluh empat Kṣetrapāla.” Setelah berkata demikian, baginda memancarkan mereka dari mulutnya.
Bāla-Rudra (Śiva in child form)
Tirtha: Kṣetrapāla-maṇḍala (Sixty-four guardians)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Devas (collectively)
Scene: The divine child speaks fearlessly; from his mouth emanate sixty-four radiant child-guardians (kṣetrapālas), forming a protective circle/mandala; devas’ fear melts into relief; Kālikā remains gentle behind.
FAQs
Divine guardianship is instituted to remove fear and protect sacred order; fierce powers can be harmonized into auspicious protection.
No single tīrtha is named, but the concept of kṣetra (sacred precinct) and its guardians (Kṣetrapālas) is emphasized.
Implicitly, Kṣetrapālas are to be acknowledged as protectors of sacred spaces; no explicit ritual steps are given in this verse.