Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 23
विवासयेत्स्वकाद्राष्ट्रात्ते हि लोकस्य कंटकाः । तेषामन्वेषणे यत्नं राजा नित्यं समाचरेत्
vivāsayetsvakādrāṣṭrātte hi lokasya kaṃṭakāḥ | teṣāmanveṣaṇe yatnaṃ rājā nityaṃ samācaret
ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିଜ ରାଜ୍ୟରୁ ନିର୍ବାସିତ କରିବା ଉଚିତ, କାରଣ ସେମାନେ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ କଣ୍ଟକ ସମାନ। ସେମାନଙ୍କ ଅନ୍ୱେଷଣରେ ରାଜା ସଦା ପ୍ରୟାସ କରିବେ।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) speaking to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: Royal guards escort identified sorcerers/obstructors beyond the city gates; citizens watch with relief; the king stands at the ramparts, symbolically ‘clearing thorns’ from the realm; a road stretches into wilderness.
FAQs
Protecting society is a sacred duty: removing persistent wrongdoers is framed as service to the people and to dharma.
No holy site is mentioned; the verse is a governance directive.
Not a ritual act, but a dharmic administrative measure: investigation and exile of those deemed harmful to public welfare.