Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 71
अर्थशास्त्रपरेणैव विधिना तमबोधयत् । आततायिनमायांतं ब्राह्मणं वा तपस्विनम् । हंतुकामं जिघांसीयान्न तेन ब्रह्महा भवेत्
arthaśāstrapareṇaiva vidhinā tamabodhayat | ātatāyinamāyāṃtaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ vā tapasvinam | haṃtukāmaṃ jighāṃsīyānna tena brahmahā bhavet
Par une règle fondée sur l’arthaśāstra et la loi, il l’instruisit : « Même si un agresseur survient — fût-il brāhmane ou ascète — résolu à tuer, qu’on le frappe jusqu’à la mort ; par cet acte on ne devient pas meurtrier d’un brāhmane. »
Brahmā
Tirtha: Kedāra (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis (typical frame; not explicit)
Scene: Brahmā instructs Indra with a calm, authoritative gesture; the concept of the ‘aggressor’ is symbolized by a shadowy figure approaching with weapon, while Indra stands poised yet restrained.
FAQs
Dharma recognizes protection of life: stopping a murderous aggressor is not counted as brahmahatyā when done as necessary defense.
No direct tīrtha is named; the Kedāra context provides the broader sacred setting for dharma-teaching.
A legal-dharma injunction is given (ātatāyin doctrine); no snāna/dāna/japa is specified in this verse.