Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 96
पितेव सर्वभूतानां धर्मतः पालको भव । विध्वंसनीया विविधा धर्मध्वंसविधायिनः
piteva sarvabhūtānāṃ dharmataḥ pālako bhava | vidhvaṃsanīyā vividhā dharmadhvaṃsavidhāyinaḥ
தந்தைபோல் தர்மத்தின் வழியே எல்லா உயிர்களையும் காக்கும் பாதுகாவலனாக இரு; மேலும் தர்மத்தை அழிக்கும் பலவகைத் தீயவர்களை அழித்தருள்வாயாக.
Śiva (instruction to Viṣṇu)
Listener: Viṣṇu
Scene: Śiva’s injunction visualized as Viṣṇu standing as guardian of the worlds: one hand in protection, another holding discus; behind him, peaceful citizens and sages; in the periphery, figures of adharma subdued—justice without cruelty.
FAQs
Dharma is upheld by compassionate protection of beings and firm removal of forces that undermine righteousness.
Not directly; the instruction appears within the wider Kāśīkhaṇḍa discourse that celebrates Kāśī.
None; it is an ethical directive concerning governance and dharmic protection.