Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 96
राजोवाच । यदि त्वं नारदो विप्र राज्यमस्त्वखिलं तव । अहं हि ब्राह्मणानां ते दास्यं कर्ता न संशयः
rājovāca | yadi tvaṃ nārado vipra rājyamastvakhilaṃ tava | ahaṃ hi brāhmaṇānāṃ te dāsyaṃ kartā na saṃśayaḥ
Raja berkata: “Wahai brāhmaṇa Nārada, jika benar engkau, maka seluruh kerajaan ini biarlah menjadi milikmu. Adapun aku, aku akan berkhidmat kepada engkau dan para brāhmaṇa; tiada keraguan tentang hal itu.”
Rājā (Dharmavarmā; inferred from next verse context)
Listener: Nārada (in-scene); broader audience are the sages in the frame narrative
Scene: A king, hands folded, offers his kingdom and personal service to sage Nārada; attendants and brāhmaṇas witness the vow of humility in a royal court setting.
FAQs
Ideal kingship honors spiritual authority: the ruler protects society by serving dharma and respecting brāhmaṇas and sages.
No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is part of a dharmic dialogue on kingship and reverence.
No explicit ritual; it affirms brāhmaṇa-sevā and support as a dharmic obligation of rulers.