Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 65
तृणेषु चैव वृक्षेषु पतंगेषु नरेषु च । कीटेषु मत्कुणाद्येषु अजाश्वेषु गजेषु च
tṛṇeṣu caiva vṛkṣeṣu pataṃgeṣu nareṣu ca | kīṭeṣu matkuṇādyeṣu ajāśveṣu gajeṣu ca
«في الحشائش وفي الأشجار، وفي الحشرات وفي الناس؛ وفي الديدان وفي مخلوقاتٍ كالبقّ وما شابهه، وفي الماعز والخيول، وحتى في الفيلة كذلك—»
The king (continuing his teaching)
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya
Type: kshetra
Listener: Brāhmaṇas
Scene: As the king speaks, the scene visually expands: grasses, trees, insects, humans, goats, horses, and elephants appear in a panoramic forest tableau, suggesting one moral canopy over all life.
FAQs
Non-violence is not selective; it extends across the spectrum of life, from vegetation to animals and humans.
Dharmāraṇya frames the discourse; the ‘māhātmya’ here is the exaltation of compassionate conduct.
No ritual is specified; the verse expands the scope of ahiṃsā as a lived vow.