Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 28
मन्यंते भ्रूणहत्यापि विशिष्टा नास्य कर्मणः । अघ्न्या इति गवां नाम श्रुतौ ताः पीडयेत्कथम्
manyaṃte bhrūṇahatyāpi viśiṣṭā nāsya karmaṇaḥ | aghnyā iti gavāṃ nāma śrutau tāḥ pīḍayetkatham
Sie meinen, selbst das Töten eines Embryos sei geringer als diese Tat. Denn die Veden nennen die Kühe „aghnyā“—„nicht zu verletzen“; wie könnte man sie dann quälen?
Lomaharṣaṇa Sūta (deduced; Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narration to sages)
Scene: A dharma-teacher cites Vedic authority ‘aghnyā’ while a distressed cow is protected from torment; the moral gravity is shown through contrasting calm compassion and looming sin.
FAQs
Śruti-based Dharma forbids harming cows; cruelty to them is portrayed as extremely sinful.
No holy site is mentioned; the verse appeals to Vedic authority for ethical teaching.
No formal rite is stated; the prescription is non-harm and reverence toward cows (go-rakṣā/go-sevā).