Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 76
राज्ञश्च तारकस्यापि दर्शयिष्यथ किं मुखम् । विरतानां रणाच्चासौ क्रुद्धः प्राणान्हरिष्यति
rājñaśca tārakasyāpi darśayiṣyatha kiṃ mukham | viratānāṃ raṇāccāsau kruddhaḥ prāṇānhariṣyati
اور تم بادشاہ تارک کو کون سا منہ دکھاؤ گے؟ اگر تم میدانِ جنگ سے ہٹ گئے تو وہ غضبناک ہو کر تمہاری جانیں تک چھین لے گا۔
Sūta narrating a daitya’s warning to fellow daityas (deduced)
Scene: A commander’s harsh admonition on the battlefield: warriors hesitate, and the speaker warns that the enemy-king Tāraka will slaughter deserters; banners, weapons, and tense faces under a cold, dim sky.
FAQs
Actions have consequences: abandoning one’s duty invites both inner downfall and external punishment.
None; the verse is within the mythic war account connected to Tāraka’s forces.
None.