Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 34
आत्मरक्षापरो नित्यमप्रमत्तो दृढव्रतः । विश्वासं नैव कुर्वीथाः स्वभृत्येष्वपि कुत्र चित्
ātmarakṣāparo nityamapramatto dṛḍhavrataḥ | viśvāsaṃ naiva kurvīthāḥ svabhṛtyeṣvapi kutra cit
আত্মৰক্ষা কৰাত সদায় মনোযোগী হওঁক, সতৰ্ক থাকক, আৰু দৃঢ়ব্ৰতী হওঁক; ক’তোৱে—নিজ ভৃত্যসকলৰ ওপৰতো—বিশ্বাস নকৰিবা।
Unspecified (didactic instruction within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa; speaker not stated in the snippet)
Scene: A vigilant traveler/householder with a staff and travel bundle, alert eyes, keeping watch at dusk; attendants nearby, but the protagonist maintains careful oversight; symbolic imagery of a lamp (awareness) and a locked chest (guarded resources).
FAQs
Dharma requires vigilance; careless trust can lead to harm and moral downfall.
No sacred site is mentioned; it is practical nīti.
No ritual; the prescription is constant alertness and firmness in one’s resolve.