Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 71
अर्थशास्त्रपरेणैव विधिना तमबोधयत् । आततायिनमायांतं ब्राह्मणं वा तपस्विनम् । हंतुकामं जिघांसीयान्न तेन ब्रह्महा भवेत्
arthaśāstrapareṇaiva vidhinā tamabodhayat | ātatāyinamāyāṃtaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ vā tapasvinam | haṃtukāmaṃ jighāṃsīyānna tena brahmahā bhavet
अर्थशास्त्राधिष्ठित विधीनुसार त्याने उपदेश दिला—आततायी येत असेल, तो ब्राह्मण असो वा तपस्वी, आणि मारण्याच्या हेतूने आला असेल, तर त्याचा वध करावा; त्यामुळे ब्रह्महत्येचा दोष लागत नाही।
Brahmā
Tirtha: Kedāra (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis (typical frame; not explicit)
Scene: Brahmā instructs Indra with a calm, authoritative gesture; the concept of the ‘aggressor’ is symbolized by a shadowy figure approaching with weapon, while Indra stands poised yet restrained.
FAQs
Dharma recognizes protection of life: stopping a murderous aggressor is not counted as brahmahatyā when done as necessary defense.
No direct tīrtha is named; the Kedāra context provides the broader sacred setting for dharma-teaching.
A legal-dharma injunction is given (ātatāyin doctrine); no snāna/dāna/japa is specified in this verse.