Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 23
तस्माल्लिंगकृतो नाशो ब्राह्मणानां तपस्विनाम् । यथा न स्यात्सुरश्रेष्ठ तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्
tasmālliṃgakṛto nāśo brāhmaṇānāṃ tapasvinām | yathā na syātsuraśreṣṭha tathā nītirvidhīyatām
Oleh itu, wahai yang terbaik antara para dewa, tetapkanlah suatu jalan tindakan yang wajar agar kebinasaan yang ditimbulkan oleh liṅga-liṅga itu tidak menimpa para brāhmaṇa dan para pertapa.
Local devotees/attendants addressing Rudra (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Sura-śreṣṭha (best of gods)
Scene: A group of worried brāhmaṇas and ascetics petition a radiant deva, hands raised in supplication, pointing toward the dangerous liṅgas; the scene conveys urgent governance and protection.
FAQs
True governance (nīti) in sacred space prioritizes the protection of the spiritually devoted and preserves the dharmic order.
The immediate setting is the Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya (Adhyāya 106), emphasizing a tīrtha’s duty to protect its seekers.
A request for divinely sanctioned nīti—an authorized corrective procedure—rather than adharmic removal of liṅgas.