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
แม้ศัตรูจะสมควรถูกประหาร ก็อย่าฆ่าผู้ที่มาขอพึ่งพิง—ไม่ว่าเขาจะไม่คู่ควรหรือคู่ควร ต่ำต้อยหรือสูงส่งยิ่ง
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.