Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 5
जवनो नृपतिः क्षीणो मिथ्याशपथमाचरेत् । वसिष्ठाग्रे वर्षमध्ये सान्वयः किल भारत
javano nṛpatiḥ kṣīṇo mithyāśapathamācaret | vasiṣṭhāgre varṣamadhye sānvayaḥ kila bhārata
ഹേ ഭാരതാ! ജവനൻ എന്ന നൃപതി നശിച്ച നിലയിൽ, വർഷത്തിന്റെ മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ, വസിഷ്ഠന്റെ സന്നിധിയിൽ—സ്വവംശസഹിതം—മിഥ്യാശപഥം ആചരിച്ചുവെന്ന് കേൾക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced); addressing a Bhārata-line listener within the narrative
Listener: Arjuna (addressed as Bhārata)
Scene: King Javana, diminished and anxious, swears falsely before Vasiṣṭha; the sage remains composed, while a shadow of misfortune hangs over the king’s family line—suggested by fading banners or withering tree imagery.
FAQs
A false oath destroys merit and stability; even kings decline when they abandon truth before the wise.
No site is praised here; the verse uses an illustrative episode centered on Vasiṣṭha to teach dharma.
Avoid mithyā-śapatha (false oaths), especially in formal settings before sages and elders.