Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 37
अपि शत्रुं वधस्यार्हं मा वधीः शरणागतम् । अप्यपात्रं सुपात्रं वा नीचो वापि महत्तमः
api śatruṃ vadhasyārhaṃ mā vadhīḥ śaraṇāgatam | apyapātraṃ supātraṃ vā nīco vāpi mahattamaḥ
கொல்லத் தகுந்த பகைவனாக இருந்தாலும், சரணடைந்து வந்தவனை கொல்லாதே—அவன் அபாத்திரனாக இருந்தாலும் சுபாத்திரனாக இருந்தாலும், தாழ்ந்தவனாக இருந்தாலும் மிக உயர்ந்தவனாக இருந்தாலும்.
Unspecified (didactic instruction within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa; speaker not stated in the snippet)
Scene: A battlefield edge or royal court: a defeated enemy drops weapons and kneels with folded hands; the victor raises an ‘abhaya’ hand, restraining soldiers; dharma-banner and a calm guru/minister figure endorsing the decision.
FAQs
Śaraṇāgati is sacred: one who seeks refuge must be protected, regardless of status or prior enmity.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse teaches a universal dharma principle.
No ritual is stated; it is an ethical injunction emphasizing protection of the surrendered.