Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 13
आर्यावर्ते नृपः कश्चिदासीद्धर्मभृतां वरः । चित्रवर्मेति विख्यातो धर्मराजो दुरात्मनाम्
āryāvarte nṛpaḥ kaścidāsīddharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | citravarmeti vikhyāto dharmarājo durātmanām
In Āryāvarta lebte einst ein König, der Vornehmste unter den Trägern des Dharma; berühmt war er als Citravarman, ein Dharma-König für die Bösen.
Unknown (narrative voice within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa; likely the main narrator)
Tirtha: Āryāvarta (as dharma-bhūmi, not a single tīrtha)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A righteous king, Citravarman, seated in court with ministers and sages; banners and royal parasol; the land of Āryāvarta suggested by river plains and distant Himalaya silhouettes; the king’s gaze is firm yet compassionate.
FAQs
A ruler’s greatness is measured by steadfast protection of dharma and firm justice toward wrongdoing.
No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the verse establishes the geographic-cultural setting of Āryāvarta.
None explicitly; it introduces a dharmic king as the narrative foundation.