Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 22
प्रतिघातविदस्तेषां योजयेद्धर्मवत्सलान् । दिव्यानां स्तभकाञ्ज्ञात्वा पापान्नित्यं महीपतिः
pratighātavidasteṣāṃ yojayeddharmavatsalān | divyānāṃ stabhakāñjñātvā pāpānnityaṃ mahīpatiḥ
तेषां प्रतिघातविदो धर्मवत्सलान् नियोजयेत् महीपतिः। दिव्यस्तम्भकान् पापान् ज्ञात्वा नित्यं तेषु दण्डं प्रवर्तयेत्।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) speaking to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: The king confers with a circle of austere, dharma-loving experts holding śāstra scrolls and protective implements; they demonstrate counter-rites to dispel a dark spell hovering over an ordeal altar; guards seize identified offenders.
FAQs
A ruler protects dharma by empowering the righteous and restraining those who corrupt sacred or judicial processes.
No tīrtha is referenced; the focus is on royal duty and social protection.
Engaging dharma-aligned experts to counteract and identify those who ‘stambha’ (obstruct) divine ordeals, and taking continual action against them.