Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 20
सत्यं न त्यज सर्वत्र प्राप्तेऽपि प्राणसंकटे । गोब्राह्मणानां रक्षार्थमसत्यं त्वं वद क्वचित्
satyaṃ na tyaja sarvatra prāpte'pi prāṇasaṃkaṭe | gobrāhmaṇānāṃ rakṣārthamasatyaṃ tvaṃ vada kvacit
Never abandon truth anywhere, even when life itself is in danger. Yet, for the protection of cows and the Brāhmaṇas, in some situation you may speak what is untrue.
Unspecified elder/teacher figure in Brahmottarakhaṇḍa (didactic instruction)
Listener: General addressee
Scene: A moral dilemma scene: a protector stands between aggressors and a cow/Brāhmaṇa; the protector’s raised hand signals restraint, while his face shows resolve and discernment.
FAQs
Truth is the norm, but dharma also weighs protection of the vulnerable and sacred—go and brāhmaṇa—when harm is imminent.
None; this is a general dharma-nīti statement.
No ritual; it addresses ethical speech and protective duty (rakṣā-dharma).