Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 140
उवाच वाचं साधूंश्च यत्नात्पालयतां फलम् । दुष्टान्विनिघ्नतां चैव तत्फलं मम जायताम्
uvāca vācaṃ sādhūṃśca yatnātpālayatāṃ phalam | duṣṭānvinighnatāṃ caiva tatphalaṃ mama jāyatām
तो म्हणाला—जे साधूंचे यत्नपूर्वक रक्षण करतात त्यांचे पुण्यफळ त्यांनाच लाभो; आणि जे दुष्टांचा नाश करतात त्या कर्माचे फळही मला प्राप्त होवो।
Hari (Vāsudeva)
Scene: A martial yet restrained hero-figure speaks a vow-like utterance: ‘Let the merit of protecting the good and striking the wicked come to me.’ Background suggests a battlefield-camp with sages sheltered behind a protective cordon.
FAQs
Dharma is defined as protecting the virtuous and restraining the wicked, while remaining detached from personal reward.
None; this is an ethical-theological statement within a battle narrative.
No ritual is prescribed; it speaks of moral action and the ‘fruit’ (phala) of dharmic deeds.