Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 7
वेदशर्माभिधो विद्वान्सर्वकर्मकलापवित् । ब्राह्मणाय प्रतिश्रुत्य न मया तत्र जन्मनि
vedaśarmābhidho vidvānsarvakarmakalāpavit | brāhmaṇāya pratiśrutya na mayā tatra janmani
J’étais un érudit nommé Vedaśarman, versé dans l’ensemble des rites et des devoirs. Pourtant, ayant promis un don à un brāhmaṇa, en cette vie-là je ne l’accomplis pas.
Sṛgāla (jackal; past-life confession as Vedaśarman)
Scene: A remorseful jackal narrates: behind him, a flashback shows Vedaśarman promising wealth to a brāhmaṇa petitioner near a ritual fire; the promise hangs like an uncut thread into the present cremation-ground.
FAQs
Ritual knowledge and competence do not excuse ethical breach; a promised dāna must be fulfilled.
The Setu-khaṇḍa setting underlies the teaching, situating dharma-instruction within the pilgrimage ethos of the Setu (Rāmeśvara).
Fulfilling a promised gift (pratiśruti) to a brāhmaṇa—i.e., do not withhold what has been vowed as dāna.