Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 12
स्वप्राणान्यः परप्राणैः प्रपुष्णात्यघृणः पुमान् । तद्वधस्तस्य हि श्रेयो यद्दोषाद्यात्यधः पुमान्
svaprāṇānyaḥ paraprāṇaiḥ prapuṣṇātyaghṛṇaḥ pumān | tadvadhastasya hi śreyo yaddoṣādyātyadhaḥ pumān
Ang walang awang lalaking iyon na bumubuhay sa kanyang sarili sa pamamagitan ng pagkitil sa buhay ng iba—ang pagpatay sa kanya ay tunay na mas mabuting landas; sapagkat dahil sa kanyang kasamaan ay hinihila niya ang mga tao sa kapahamakan.
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.