Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 4
राजोवाच । अनर्होऽहं द्विजश्रेष्ठाः संदेहं हर्तुमेव वः । रक्षां कर्तुं विशेषेण त्यक्तशस्त्रोऽस्मि चाधुना
rājovāca | anarho'haṃ dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ saṃdehaṃ hartumeva vaḥ | rakṣāṃ kartuṃ viśeṣeṇa tyaktaśastro'smi cādhunā
พระราชาตรัสว่า: “โอ้พราหมณ์ผู้ประเสริฐ ข้าพเจ้าไม่สมควรจะขจัดความสงสัยของท่านทั้งหลาย และยิ่งไม่สมควรจะคุ้มครองเป็นพิเศษ เพราะบัดนี้ข้าพเจ้าได้วางอาวุธลงแล้ว”
The King (Satyasaṃdha, implied)
Listener: Brāhmaṇas
Scene: The king addresses brāhmaṇas with palms joined, his sword/bow placed aside on a cloth; brāhmaṇas listen intently, their faces showing concern; the contrast between royal insignia and ascetic simplicity is emphasized.
FAQs
Renunciation entails relinquishing coercive power; one who has laid down weapons cannot easily resume the protector’s role without violating his chosen dharma.
The dialogue occurs within the Śrīhāṭakeśvara-kṣetra-māhātmya narrative frame, though the verse is about dharma and eligibility.
None; it emphasizes the ethical state of being tyaktaśastra (weapon-renounced), not a ritual act.