Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 24
मयि तिष्ठति केनापि शस्त्रग्राह्यं न क्षत्रियैः । स्वधर्मशपथो वोऽस्तु मृते ग्राह्यं ततो मयि
mayi tiṣṭhati kenāpi śastragrāhyaṃ na kṣatriyaiḥ | svadharmaśapatho vo'stu mṛte grāhyaṃ tato mayi
मयि तिष्ठति क्षत्रियैः केनापि शस्त्रं न ग्राह्यम्; स्वधर्मशपथो वः—मम मरणानन्तरं ततो मयि शस्त्रग्रहणं कुरुत।
Warrior-speaker within the narrative (Bhīma implied); framed by Sūta’s narration
Tirtha: Guptakṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A commanding figure stands as a living boundary; warriors lower weapons, hands paused mid-draw, as if an invisible dharma-field prevents aggression.
FAQs
Dharma restrains even warfare: vows and rules of engagement are upheld as sacred obligations.
Not directly; the ethical posture is embedded in the Guptakṣetra-centered episode.
No ritual; an ethical prescription is given—an oath aligned with svadharma.