Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 90
आप्तैः सुगुप्तदारः स्याद्रक्ष्यश्चान्यो घृणी नृपः । स्त्रियं सेवेत नात्यर्थं मृष्टं भुंजीत नाऽहितम्
āptaiḥ suguptadāraḥ syādrakṣyaścānyo ghṛṇī nṛpaḥ | striyaṃ seveta nātyarthaṃ mṛṣṭaṃ bhuṃjīta nā'hitam
രാജാവ് വിശ്വസ്തരാൽ തന്റെ ഗൃഹം നന്നായി കാവൽവെക്കട്ടെ; കരുണയോടെ മറ്റുള്ളവരെയും സംരക്ഷിക്കട്ടെ. അത്യധികം ഭോഗാസക്തനാകരുത്; ശുദ്ധവും ഹിതകരവും ആയ ആഹാരം കഴിക്കട്ടെ, അഹിതകരമല്ല.
Unspecified (didactic instruction within the narrative of Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa)
Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A compassionate king patrols a pilgrim town near the sea-temple; trusted guards stand discreetly at palace gates; the king turns away from a lavish pleasure scene and accepts a simple refined meal offered by a priest.
FAQs
A ruler’s dharma rests on protection, compassion, and self-restraint—private discipline supports public welfare.
The instruction appears within the Vastrāpathakṣetra-māhātmya of Prabhāsa, where righteous conduct is treated as part of preserving sacred order.
No explicit ritual; it prescribes moderation in sensuality and diet as dharmic discipline.