Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 17
वह्निं प्रवेक्ष्यते व्यक्तमयं तदनु वै वयम् । मया निषिद्धोऽयं ज्ञात्वा त्वां चिरंतनमात्मना
vahniṃ pravekṣyate vyaktamayaṃ tadanu vai vayam | mayā niṣiddho'yaṃ jñātvā tvāṃ ciraṃtanamātmanā
“Jelas ia hendak masuk ke dalam api; dan sesudahnya, kami pun akan mengikutinya. Mengetahui engkau sebagai yang purba dan berhati tulus, aku telah menahannya.”
Ulūka (deduced from the ongoing explanation to Gṛdhrarāja)
Listener: Ṛṣi-assembly (frame implied)
Scene: A blazing sacrificial or funeral-like fire is prepared; one figure (bird-companion) is poised to leap in; Ulūka physically or verbally restrains him while addressing the vulture-king as an ancient, true-hearted being.
FAQs
Dharma includes preventing harm when possible; wise restraint can be a higher form of compassion than passive witnessing.
No tīrtha is directly glorified in this verse.
None; the verse concerns averting a destructive act and seeking rightful resolution.