Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 21
प्राणसंशयमापन्नान्प्राणिनो भयविह्वलान् । यो न रक्षति शक्तोपि स तत्पापं समश्नुते
prāṇasaṃśayamāpannānprāṇino bhayavihvalān | yo na rakṣati śaktopi sa tatpāpaṃ samaśnute
ജീവൻ അപകടത്തിൽപ്പെട്ടു ഭയത്തിൽ വിറയ്ക്കുന്ന ജീവികളെ, കഴിവുണ്ടായിട്ടും ആരെങ്കിലും രക്ഷിക്കാതിരുന്നാൽ, അവൻ ആ പാപം തന്നെ അനുഭവിക്കും.
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.