Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 65
तृणेषु चैव वृक्षेषु पतंगेषु नरेषु च । कीटेषु मत्कुणाद्येषु अजाश्वेषु गजेषु च
tṛṇeṣu caiva vṛkṣeṣu pataṃgeṣu nareṣu ca | kīṭeṣu matkuṇādyeṣu ajāśveṣu gajeṣu ca
പുല്ലുകളിലും വൃക്ഷങ്ങളിലും, കീടപതംഗങ്ങളിലും മനുഷ്യരിലും; പുഴുക്കളിലും മത്കുണാദി ജീവികളിലും, ആടുകളിലും കുതിരകളിലും ആനകളിലും കൂടി।
The king (continuing his teaching)
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya
Type: kshetra
Listener: Brāhmaṇas
Scene: As the king speaks, the scene visually expands: grasses, trees, insects, humans, goats, horses, and elephants appear in a panoramic forest tableau, suggesting one moral canopy over all life.
FAQs
Non-violence is not selective; it extends across the spectrum of life, from vegetation to animals and humans.
Dharmāraṇya frames the discourse; the ‘māhātmya’ here is the exaltation of compassionate conduct.
No ritual is specified; the verse expands the scope of ahiṃsā as a lived vow.