Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 16
राजा भूत्वा न यः सम्यग्विचारयति वादिनम् । तस्य तत्पातकं घोरं राज्ञश्चैव प्रजायते
rājā bhūtvā na yaḥ samyagvicārayati vādinam | tasya tatpātakaṃ ghoraṃ rājñaścaiva prajāyate
ผู้ใดแม้เป็นพระราชา แต่ไม่ไต่สวนคำร้องของผู้ฟ้องคดีโดยชอบธรรม บาปอันน่าสะพรึงนั้นย่อมบังเกิดแก่พระราชาผู้นั้นเอง
Narrative context (Didactic statement within Tīrthamāhātmya; likely Sūta or a dharma-instructor figure)
Scene: A king on the judgment seat ignores or dismisses a petitioner; a shadowy aura of ‘ghora pāṭaka’ looms behind the throne; sages gesture toward scriptures, urging proper inquiry.
FAQs
Righteous governance requires careful inquiry; failure in justice becomes a grave karmic fault for the ruler.
Not specified in this verse; it functions as dharma-teaching within a broader tīrtha narrative.
None in this verse; it sets up the need for later purification practices.