Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 70
या वेदविहिता हिंसा सा न हिंसेति निर्णयः । शस्त्रेणाहन्यते यच्च पीडा जंतुषु जायते
yā vedavihitā hiṃsā sā na hiṃseti nirṇayaḥ | śastreṇāhanyate yacca pīḍā jaṃtuṣu jāyate
“வேதம் விதித்த ஹிம்சை, தீர்மானப்படி ‘ஹிம்சை’ எனக் கருதப்படாது. ஆனால் ஆயுதத்தால் உயிர்களை அடித்து, ஜீவராசிகளில் வேதனை எழும்பினால்—”
Brāhmaṇas (continuing)
Listener: Interlocutors in dharma debate
Scene: A teacher explains a fine distinction: one hand indicates scripture/mantra, the other gestures away from weapons; listeners contemplate the ethical nuance.
FAQs
Dharma evaluates actions by scriptural injunction and intention; cruelty that produces suffering is condemned, while Veda-framed duty is treated differently.
The setting remains Dharmāraṇya; the verse is primarily ethical/doctrinal rather than a direct tirtha-glorification.
Implicitly references Veda-enjoined rites (such as yajña) as a framework for dharma, without naming a specific ritual here.