Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 21
प्राणसंशयमापन्नान्प्राणिनो भयविह्वलान् । यो न रक्षति शक्तोपि स तत्पापं समश्नुते
prāṇasaṃśayamāpannānprāṇino bhayavihvalān | yo na rakṣati śaktopi sa tatpāpaṃ samaśnute
«Les êtres tombés dans le péril de mort et tremblant de peur—celui qui, bien qu’en ayant le pouvoir, ne les protège pas, encourt ce péché.»
Unnamed ṛṣi (contextual speaker within the narrative; later Śiva speaks at v.24)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Pilgrim-audience (implied)
Scene: A scene of imminent danger—beings trembling with fear near water/shore—while a capable protector hesitates; the verse condemns omission and praises active rescue.
FAQs
Neglecting to save others when one has the power is a moral fault; protection of life is a core dharma.
Prabhāsakṣetra is the overarching sacred setting in which such protective dharma is praised.
No ritual; it is a clear ethical injunction—render protection and aid when able.