Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 19
आर्तानां शरणार्तानां त्राणं कुर्वंति पार्थिवाः । प्राणैरर्थैश्च धर्मज्ञास्तद्विहीना मृतोपमाः
ārtānāṃ śaraṇārtānāṃ trāṇaṃ kurvaṃti pārthivāḥ | prāṇairarthaiśca dharmajñāstadvihīnā mṛtopamāḥ
Raja yang mengetahui dharma melindungi orang yang menderita dan para pemohon suaka, sekalipun harus mengorbankan nyawa dan harta. Yang tanpa semangat itu bagaikan orang mati.
A moral instructor within the narrative (same female speaker continuing), addressing the kingly ideal
Scene: A dharma-knowing king stands before petitioners—wounded, displaced, and supplicants with folded hands—offering protection, even as ministers warn of cost; the king’s resolve is shown as a radiant aura of dharma.
FAQs
Śaraṇāgata-rakṣaṇa (protecting those who surrender) is central to rāja-dharma; without it, rulership is spiritually hollow.
No holy site is mentioned in this verse.
No ritual is prescribed; the ‘prescription’ is protection through sacrifice of resources if needed.