Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 4
अविदस्तत्त्वतः सत्यं शपथेनाभिलंघयेत् । महर्षिभिश्च देवैश्च सत्यार्थाः शपथाः कृताः
avidastattvataḥ satyaṃ śapathenābhilaṃghayet | maharṣibhiśca devaiśca satyārthāḥ śapathāḥ kṛtāḥ
Celui qui ne connaît pas réellement les faits peut outrepasser la vérité en se retranchant derrière un serment. C’est pourquoi les grands rishis et les dieux ont institué les serments uniquement pour soutenir la vérité.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)
Listener: Arjuna
Scene: A didactic vision: ṛṣis and devas collectively ‘establish’ the institution of oath for truth—shown as a cosmic assembly handing down a dharma-scroll; below, a human figure tempted to misuse an oath is restrained by the teaching.
FAQs
Oaths are meant to protect truth, not to cover ignorance or enable wrongdoing; dharma stands on truthful speech.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it focuses on universal purāṇic dharma regarding truth and oaths.
The verse implies the proper use of śapatha (oath) as a dharmic safeguard, not as a casual or deceptive practice.