Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 21
क्षेत्रपालाः स्थिताश्चैव यथास्थाने निरूपिताः । इति वः क्षेत्रपालानां सृष्टिः प्रोक्ता समासतः
kṣetrapālāḥ sthitāścaiva yathāsthāne nirūpitāḥ | iti vaḥ kṣetrapālānāṃ sṛṣṭiḥ proktā samāsataḥ
இவ்வாறு க்ஷேத்ரபாலர்கள் தத்தம் நியமிக்கப்பட்ட இடங்களில் நிறுவப்பட்டனர். இந்த முறையில் க்ஷேத்ரபாலர்களின் படைப்பு உங்களுக்குச் சுருக்கமாக உரைக்கப்பட்டது.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)
Tirtha: Kṣetrapāla system (general)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A concluding tableau: the guardians stand stationed at their appointed places—some celestial, some subterranean, some earthly—forming an invisible protective lattice around sacred spaces.
FAQs
Sacred spaces are not merely physical; they are ritually guarded and ordered, emphasizing reverence and disciplined conduct at holy places.
No single tīrtha is named in this verse; it describes a general arrangement of guardians across sacred locales.
A contextual prescription: recognize and honor the appointed guardians (Kṣetrapālas) when approaching or worshiping at sacred sites.