Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 160
तच्च त्राणं सदा कार्यं प्राणैः कंठगतैरपि । अस्माकं पश्यतामेवं यदि संक्षोभ्यते जगत्
tacca trāṇaṃ sadā kāryaṃ prāṇaiḥ kaṃṭhagatairapi | asmākaṃ paśyatāmevaṃ yadi saṃkṣobhyate jagat
«C’est pourquoi l’œuvre de salut doit toujours être entreprise, fût-ce lorsque le souffle de vie monte à la gorge. Car si, sous nos yeux, le monde est ainsi ébranlé…»
Devas (collectively) addressing Vāsava (Indra) within Sūta’s narration
Listener: Devas/Indra (contextual)
Scene: Devas in a tense vow-like stance, hands raised in resolve, declaring that rescue must be done even if breath is at the throat; the world trembles in the background as if shaken by impending catastrophe.
FAQs
Protecting the world is a non-negotiable dharma—true guardians act even at the edge of death.
None.
None; it is a statement of duty (dharma) rather than a ritual rule.