Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 23
विवासयेत्स्वकाद्राष्ट्रात्ते हि लोकस्य कंटकाः । तेषामन्वेषणे यत्नं राजा नित्यं समाचरेत्
vivāsayetsvakādrāṣṭrātte hi lokasya kaṃṭakāḥ | teṣāmanveṣaṇe yatnaṃ rājā nityaṃ samācaret
ಅವರನ್ನು ತನ್ನ ರಾಜ್ಯದಿಂದ ಹೊರಹಾಕಬೇಕು; ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಅವರು ಜನರಿಗೆ ಮುಳ್ಳಿನಂತೆ. ಅವರನ್ನು ಹುಡುಕುವ ಕಾರ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜನು ನಿತ್ಯವೂ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸಬೇಕು।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) speaking to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: Royal guards escort identified sorcerers/obstructors beyond the city gates; citizens watch with relief; the king stands at the ramparts, symbolically ‘clearing thorns’ from the realm; a road stretches into wilderness.
FAQs
Protecting society is a sacred duty: removing persistent wrongdoers is framed as service to the people and to dharma.
No holy site is mentioned; the verse is a governance directive.
Not a ritual act, but a dharmic administrative measure: investigation and exile of those deemed harmful to public welfare.