Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 5
जवनो नृपतिः क्षीणो मिथ्याशपथमाचरेत् । वसिष्ठाग्रे वर्षमध्ये सान्वयः किल भारत
javano nṛpatiḥ kṣīṇo mithyāśapathamācaret | vasiṣṭhāgre varṣamadhye sānvayaḥ kila bhārata
Hỡi Bhārata, người ta kể rằng vua Javana, khi đã suy vong, đã thề gian—ngay trước mặt hiền thánh Vasiṣṭha, giữa năm—cùng với cả dòng tộc của mình.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced); addressing a Bhārata-line listener within the narrative
Listener: Arjuna (addressed as Bhārata)
Scene: King Javana, diminished and anxious, swears falsely before Vasiṣṭha; the sage remains composed, while a shadow of misfortune hangs over the king’s family line—suggested by fading banners or withering tree imagery.
FAQs
A false oath destroys merit and stability; even kings decline when they abandon truth before the wise.
No site is praised here; the verse uses an illustrative episode centered on Vasiṣṭha to teach dharma.
Avoid mithyā-śapatha (false oaths), especially in formal settings before sages and elders.