Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 6
यदि सा निश्चयं गच्छेन्मरणं प्रति भामिनी । तदा रक्ष्या प्रयत्नेन वाच्यं हास्यं ममोद्भवम्
yadi sā niścayaṃ gacchenmaraṇaṃ prati bhāminī | tadā rakṣyā prayatnena vācyaṃ hāsyaṃ mamodbhavam
அந்த மங்கை மரணத்தை உறுதி செய்தால், அவளை முயற்சியுடன் காக்க வேண்டும்; மேலும் என்னிடமிருந்து வந்த நகைச்சுவைத் தூண்டும் சொற்களைச் சொல்ல வேண்டும்.
Indrasena (continuing instructions)
Tirtha: Arbuda-kṣetra (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Kingly addressee within frame
Scene: The king’s contingency plan: if Sunandā chooses death, the messenger must physically guard her and distract her with laughter-inducing words—an unsettling blend of care and manipulation.
FAQs
One becomes responsible for the consequences of one’s words; preventing harm is a dharmic imperative even after wrongdoing.
None is named in this verse.
No ritual is prescribed; the instruction is practical—protect her and distract her with humor.