Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 27
सूत उवाच । इति पृष्टः क्षणं ध्यात्वा प्राह दामोदरो विभुः । वत्स क्षेत्रं प्रवक्ष्यामि यत्र तप्स्यसि तत्तपः । गुप्तक्षेत्रमिति ख्यातं महीसागरसंगमे
sūta uvāca | iti pṛṣṭaḥ kṣaṇaṃ dhyātvā prāha dāmodaro vibhuḥ | vatsa kṣetraṃ pravakṣyāmi yatra tapsyasi tattapaḥ | guptakṣetramiti khyātaṃ mahīsāgarasaṃgame
ସୂତ କହିଲେ: ଏଭଳି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ ହେଲାପରେ, ବିଭୁ ଦାମୋଦର କ୍ଷଣମାତ୍ର ଧ୍ୟାନ କରି କହିଲେ—‘ବତ୍ସ, ଯେଉଁ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ତୁମେ ସେଇ ତପ କରିବ, ସେଥି ମୁଁ କହୁଛି। ଭୂମି ଓ ସାଗରର ସଙ୍ଗମସ୍ଥଳରେ ତାହା “ଗୁପ୍ତକ୍ଷେତ୍ର” ନାମେ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ।’
Sūta (narrator); within the story: Dāmodara instructs Barbarīka
Tirtha: Guptakṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: Sūta narrates as Dāmodara points toward a vast shoreline where waves meet firm land; the ‘Guptakṣetra’ is suggested by a partially veiled shrine/forest grove near the coast, evoking secrecy and revelation.
FAQs
Spiritual power is cultivated through tapas and devotion performed in a sanctified landscape revealed by tradition and realized by guidance.
Guptakṣetra, described as located at the confluence where land meets the ocean (mahī-sāgara-saṃgama).
Performing tapas (austerity) in Guptakṣetra as the preparatory discipline for Devī worship and receiving grace.