Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 12
स्वप्राणान्यः परप्राणैः प्रपुष्णात्यघृणः पुमान् । तद्वधस्तस्य हि श्रेयो यद्दोषाद्यात्यधः पुमान्
svaprāṇānyaḥ paraprāṇaiḥ prapuṣṇātyaghṛṇaḥ pumān | tadvadhastasya hi śreyo yaddoṣādyātyadhaḥ pumān
यः क्रूरोऽघृणः पुमान् परप्राणैः स्वप्राणान् प्रपुष्णाति, तस्य वध एव श्रेयः; यतोऽस्य दोषात् जनाः अधः पतन्ति विनाशं यान्ति।
Vāsudeva
Listener: Guha (Skanda/Kumāra)
Scene: A guardian-king or divine commander confronts a ruthless predator who feeds on others’ lives; behind them, frightened people and a threatened sacrificial fire symbolize collapsing order; the act is shown as protective, not vengeful.
FAQs
Dharma permits decisive restraint of violent cruelty; protecting others can be a higher good than tolerating destructive wrongdoing.
No tīrtha is referenced; the teaching concerns social and moral protection.
None; this verse frames a dhārmic rationale for punishment.