Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 69
नियमान्स्वयमादाय ये त्यजंत्यजितेंद्रियाः । ये ताडयंति गां नित्यं वाहयंति मुहुर्मुहुः
niyamānsvayamādāya ye tyajaṃtyajiteṃdriyāḥ | ye tāḍayaṃti gāṃ nityaṃ vāhayaṃti muhurmuhuḥ
जो नियमों को स्वयं ग्रहण करके भी, इन्द्रियों को न जीत पाने से, उन्हें छोड़ देते हैं; और जो नित्य गौओं को मारते तथा बार-बार हाँकते हैं—ऐसा आचरण निन्द्य है, संयम-धर्म के विरुद्ध है।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narrative convention
Scene: Two-part moral tableau: on one side a person ties a vow-thread then discards it; on the other a herdsman beats a cow repeatedly; a serene ascetic stands between, hand raised in restraint (abhaya/niyama).
FAQs
Vows without self-control are hollow, and cruelty to animals is adharma; discipline and compassion are essential to righteous living.
No holy site is mentioned; it is a general dharma instruction.
Reference is to niyamas (observances), but no specific vrata is named; the verse stresses not abandoning disciplines and practicing non-violence.