Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 69
ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः । अहिंसा परमो धर्मः सत्यमेतत्त्वयोदितम् । परं तथापि धर्मोऽस्ति शृणुष्वैकाग्रमानसः
brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ | ahiṃsā paramo dharmaḥ satyametattvayoditam | paraṃ tathāpi dharmo'sti śṛṇuṣvaikāgramānasaḥ
Para Brāhmaṇa berkata: “Ahiṃsā ialah dharma yang tertinggi—kata-katamu benar. Namun masih ada satu dharma yang lain; dengarlah dengan hati yang satu-tumpu.”
Brāhmaṇas (Dwijas)
Listener: Vaḍavās / interlocutors in the debate
Scene: Brāhmaṇas speak calmly to an agitated group, one elder raising a hand in instruction, faces serene, inviting single-pointed attention.
FAQs
Ahimsa is upheld as supreme, but dharma can also be contextual; one must listen carefully to discern higher intent.
Dharmāraṇya is implied as a sanctified arena for dharma-inquiry, though no single tirtha-name is specified in this verse.
No explicit ritual is prescribed; the verse introduces a doctrinal clarification about dharma.