Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 41
दण्डश्चापि प्रयोक्तव्यो नित्यकालं दुरात्मसु । साम दैत्येषु नैवास्ति निर्गुणत्वाद्दुरात्मसु
daṇḍaścāpi prayoktavyo nityakālaṃ durātmasu | sāma daityeṣu naivāsti nirguṇatvāddurātmasu
«Daṇḍa (châtiment ou force) doit aussi être employé sans cesse contre les êtres mauvais. Chez les Daityas, il n’y a point de place pour sāma, car, dépourvus de vertu, ils sont d’esprit malfaisant.»
Bṛhaspati
Listener: Suraśreṣṭha (deva leadership)
Scene: A stark contrast: on one side, failed conciliation with grim Daityas; on the other, disciplined daṇḍa—deva forces in ordered ranks, weapons lowered but ready, embodying protective severity rather than rage.
FAQs
Dharma includes protection: when virtue is absent and harm is certain, firmness and restraint through just force may be necessary.
No holy site is described.
None.