Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 37
अपि शत्रुं वधस्यार्हं मा वधीः शरणागतम् । अप्यपात्रं सुपात्रं वा नीचो वापि महत्तमः
api śatruṃ vadhasyārhaṃ mā vadhīḥ śaraṇāgatam | apyapātraṃ supātraṃ vā nīco vāpi mahattamaḥ
Même si un ennemi mérite la mort, ne tue pas celui qui est venu chercher refuge, qu’il soit indigne ou digne, humble ou même éminent.
Unspecified (didactic instruction within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa; speaker not stated in the snippet)
Scene: A battlefield edge or royal court: a defeated enemy drops weapons and kneels with folded hands; the victor raises an ‘abhaya’ hand, restraining soldiers; dharma-banner and a calm guru/minister figure endorsing the decision.
FAQs
Śaraṇāgati is sacred: one who seeks refuge must be protected, regardless of status or prior enmity.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse teaches a universal dharma principle.
No ritual is stated; it is an ethical injunction emphasizing protection of the surrendered.