Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 73
सदा दण्डरुचिर्यश्च यो वा दण्डरुचिर्न हि । उत्कोचकैरधिकृतैस्तस्करैस्च प्रपीड्यते
sadā daṇḍaruciryaśca yo vā daṇḍarucirna hi | utkocakairadhikṛtaistaskaraisca prapīḍyate
Qu’on soit sans cesse épris du châtiment, ou qu’on ne l’aime point, on est harcelé et opprimé par des fonctionnaires preneurs de pots-de-vin et par des voleurs.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narrative convention
Scene: A road with travelers/pilgrims being squeezed by bribery-taking officials at a checkpoint while thieves lurk; the ruler’s emblem appears indifferent, symbolizing imbalance in daṇḍa.
FAQs
When governance and social order degrade, corruption and theft prevail; dharma requires balanced, principled administration of daṇḍa.
No sacred site is referenced; the verse is a nīti-oriented observation.
None; it discusses administrative ethics and social consequences.