Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 40
आत्मप्रत्ययवान्देही क्वेश्वरश्चेदृशोऽस्ति हि । ऐश्वर्यस्यापि सारं स जग्राहैतन्निशामय
ātmapratyayavāndehī kveśvaraścedṛśo'sti hi | aiśvaryasyāpi sāraṃ sa jagrāhaitanniśāmaya
いったいどこに、このような統治者がいようか——身を帯びながらも、自らへの確信（内なる明澄）に堅く立つ者が。彼は王権の精髄さえ掴み取った。これをよく聞け。
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative mode)
Scene: A ruler sits not on a high throne but on a simple seat beside sages; a luminous steady flame at his heart symbolizes ātma-pratyaya; regalia is present but secondary, indicating essence over display.
FAQs
The highest sovereignty is self-mastery; inner conviction and restraint form the essence of true rulership.
No tirtha is mentioned; the verse continues an ethical portrait within the chapter’s discourse.
No ritual; it exhorts attentive listening and learning of the dharmic essence of leadership.