Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 39
धेनव ऊचुः । न गंतव्यं त्वया तत्र कथंचिदपि नंदिनि । आपद्धर्मं न वेत्सि त्वं नूनं येन प्रगच्छसि
dhenava ūcuḥ | na gaṃtavyaṃ tvayā tatra kathaṃcidapi naṃdini | āpaddharmaṃ na vetsi tvaṃ nūnaṃ yena pragacchasi
धेनूंनी म्हटले—हे नंदिनी, तू कशाही प्रकारे तिथे जाऊ नकोस। तू आपद्धर्म जाणत नाहीस, म्हणूनच तू पुढे निघाली आहेस।
Dhenavaḥ (the herd of cows)
Scene: A circle of cows speaks to Nandinī, heads lowered and eyes wide; one cow steps forward as spokesperson; the forest edge and tiger’s direction are implied; the mood is urgent yet caring.
FAQs
Dharma includes prudent counsel: in crisis, one must weigh duty with wise survival and communal responsibility.
Not stated in this verse; it is part of a Mahātmya chapter where ethical instruction accompanies sacred-place narration.
None; it introduces āpaddharma as a guiding principle rather than a ritual act.