Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 53
जातुमांसं न भोक्तव्यं प्राणैः कंठगतैरपि । भोक्तव्यं तर्हि भोक्तव्यं स्वमांसं नेतरस्य च
jātumāṃsaṃ na bhoktavyaṃ prāṇaiḥ kaṃṭhagatairapi | bhoktavyaṃ tarhi bhoktavyaṃ svamāṃsaṃ netarasya ca
எப்போதும் மாம்சம் உண்ணக் கூடாது—உயிரே தொண்டையில் நின்றாலும். ஏதாவது உண்ண வேண்டுமெனில், பிறருடையதை அல்ல; தன் மாம்சமே உண்ண வேண்டும்.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra)
Type: kshetra
Scene: An ascetic idealized figure in Kāśī refuses meat even at the brink of death, symbolically choosing self-sacrifice over harming another being; the scene conveys stern compassion.
FAQs
Ahiṃsā is elevated above even self-preservation; harming another for survival is portrayed as adharma.
The ethical teaching is given within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s praise of Kāśī as a purifier and guide to dharma.
A strict niyama: avoid meat under all circumstances; no additional ritual acts are specified.