Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 34
आत्मरक्षापरो नित्यमप्रमत्तो दृढव्रतः । विश्वासं नैव कुर्वीथाः स्वभृत्येष्वपि कुत्र चित्
ātmarakṣāparo nityamapramatto dṛḍhavrataḥ | viśvāsaṃ naiva kurvīthāḥ svabhṛtyeṣvapi kutra cit
ہمیشہ اپنی حفاظت میں لگے رہو، ہوشیار رہو اور اپنے عہد میں مضبوط رہو؛ کہیں بھی—حتیٰ کہ اپنے خادموں پر بھی—بھروسا نہ کرو۔
Unspecified (didactic instruction within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa; speaker not stated in the snippet)
Scene: A vigilant traveler/householder with a staff and travel bundle, alert eyes, keeping watch at dusk; attendants nearby, but the protagonist maintains careful oversight; symbolic imagery of a lamp (awareness) and a locked chest (guarded resources).
FAQs
Dharma requires vigilance; careless trust can lead to harm and moral downfall.
No sacred site is mentioned; it is practical nīti.
No ritual; the prescription is constant alertness and firmness in one’s resolve.