Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 14
पापिनं पुरुषं यो हि समर्थो न निहंति च । तस्य तावंति पापानि तदर्धं सोऽप्यवाश्रुते
pāpinaṃ puruṣaṃ yo hi samartho na nihaṃti ca | tasya tāvaṃti pāpāni tadardhaṃ so'pyavāśrute
यः समर्थोऽपि पापिनं पुरुषं न निहन्ति, तस्य तावन्ति पापानि भवन्ति; तेषां च अर्धं स एवावाश्रुते।
Vāsudeva
Listener: Guha (Skanda/Kumāra)
Scene: A capable warrior-guardian hesitates while a wrongdoer harms others; a scale appears overhead showing sin tipping toward the hesitator; then the guardian acts, restoring balance and protecting the vulnerable.
FAQs
In dharma, negligence is also culpable: failing to restrain harm when one can makes one share the moral burden.
None; the focus is ethical duty rather than sacred geography.
None; it is a moral injunction regarding action and responsibility.