Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 20
अद्यप्रभृति यः कश्चिद्विनाशं नीयते क्वचित् । ब्राह्मणो वाऽथवाऽन्योऽपि तद्भवेन्मम पातकम्
adyaprabhṛti yaḥ kaścidvināśaṃ nīyate kvacit | brāhmaṇo vā'thavā'nyo'pi tadbhavenmama pātakam
Dès aujourd’hui, si quelqu’un, où que ce soit, est conduit à la destruction—brāhmaṇa ou autre—que cela devienne mon péché.
Kuśa (continuing)
Listener: Assembly context implied (vipras/elders)
Scene: Kuśa (or the royal figure) stands upright, right hand raised in oath; behind him citizens and brāhmaṇas look reassured; a symbolic scale of justice appears faintly, indicating moral resolve.
FAQs
True leadership accepts karmic responsibility and commits to preventing harm to any being under one’s protection.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse.
A vow-like declaration (self-imposed moral accountability) is expressed, not a formal ritual.