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
اے نیک دوبار جنم لینے والو! جب وہ کرشن پکش اور شکلا پکش سے گزرتا ہے تو وہ دیوی زمین پر ‘سپت وِمشَتِکا’ (ستائیس) کہلاتی ہے۔ اسی مقدس کھیتر میں قائم ہو کر وہ عورتوں کو ہر طرح کی سعادت و سہاگ عطا کرتی ہے۔
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.