Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 66
व्याघ्र उवाच । अन्येषां चैव भूतानां तद्दानं युज्यते शुभे । अहिंसया भवेद्येषां प्राणयात्रान्नपूर्वकम्
vyāghra uvāca | anyeṣāṃ caiva bhūtānāṃ taddānaṃ yujyate śubhe | ahiṃsayā bhavedyeṣāṃ prāṇayātrānnapūrvakam
വ്യാഘ്രൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ ശുഭേ! ആ (അഭയ) ദാനം മറ്റു ജീവികൾക്കാണ് യുക്തം; അഹിംസയാൽ, ആഹാരത്തിന്റെ ആശ്രയത്തോടെ, ജീവയാത്ര നടത്താൻ കഴിയുന്നവർക്ക്.
Vyāghra (the tiger)
Listener: Nandinī
Scene: A tiger, surprisingly articulate and composed, addresses Nandinī with folded forepaws or respectful posture, questioning how abhaya-dāna applies to beings whose sustenance depends on violence.
FAQs
It raises the dilemma of applying non-violence and fearlessness when a being’s livelihood seems tied to harming others.
The verse is part of the lead-up to a local shrine’s praise; the specific sacred Liṅga is introduced shortly afterward.
No direct ritual; it frames a moral question about ahiṃsā and sustaining life.