Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 94
औरसानिव पुत्रांश्च प्रजा धर्मेण धर्मज । पालयसि किमाश्चर्यं त्वया धन्या हि सा प्रजा
aurasāniva putrāṃśca prajā dharmeṇa dharmaja | pālayasi kimāścaryaṃ tvayā dhanyā hi sā prajā
يا دارماراجا، إنك تحمي رعاياك بالدارما كأنهم أبناؤك. فأيُّ عجبٍ في ذلك؟ طوبى حقًّا للشعب الذي تحكمه أنت.
Unspecified (a praising interlocutor addressing Yudhiṣṭhira/Dharmarāja)
Scene: धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर सिंहासन/सभा में, प्रजा को पुत्रवत् संरक्षण देते हुए; ऋषि/ब्राह्मणों द्वारा प्रशंसा, शांत-गंभीर राजसभा।
FAQs
Righteous kingship (rājadharma) is parental in spirit—protecting subjects like one’s own children is itself a mark of dharma.
The broader context is Dharmāraṇya (the sacred forest) whose greatness is being unfolded, though this verse focuses on rājadharma rather than a named tīrtha.
None; the verse praises ethical governance as a dharmic act that generates merit.