Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 43
सर्वैस्तैर्जायते यज्ञः पार्थिवैः करदीकृतैः । युद्धं विना करं तेऽपि न यच्छन्ति यतो विभो
sarvaistairjāyate yajñaḥ pārthivaiḥ karadīkṛtaiḥ | yuddhaṃ vinā karaṃ te'pi na yacchanti yato vibho
Ce sacrifice ne s’accomplit que lorsque tous ces rois ont été rendus tributaires. Car sans guerre, ils ne versent pas le tribut — ainsi, ô Seigneur.
Harīścandra
Scene: A conceptual tableau: on one side, a grand yajña-altar awaiting completion; on the other, rival kings refusing tribute; between them, Harīścandra torn, addressing the deity about the necessity of making kings tributary.
FAQs
Great dharmic undertakings have worldly prerequisites; a ruler must confront realpolitik while remaining aligned with righteousness.
No site is mentioned; the verse is part of a tīrtha-māhātmya dialogue but focuses on the mechanics of Rājasūya.
Rājasūya’s prerequisite is implied: securing tributary status (kara) from other kings.