Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 65
तृणेषु चैव वृक्षेषु पतंगेषु नरेषु च । कीटेषु मत्कुणाद्येषु अजाश्वेषु गजेषु च
tṛṇeṣu caiva vṛkṣeṣu pataṃgeṣu nareṣu ca | kīṭeṣu matkuṇādyeṣu ajāśveṣu gajeṣu ca
“گھاس میں بھی اور درختوں میں بھی، پتنگوں میں اور انسانوں میں؛ کیڑوں میں، کھٹمل وغیرہ جانداروں میں، بکریوں اور گھوڑوں میں، اور ہاتھیوں میں بھی—”
The king (continuing his teaching)
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya
Type: kshetra
Listener: Brāhmaṇas
Scene: As the king speaks, the scene visually expands: grasses, trees, insects, humans, goats, horses, and elephants appear in a panoramic forest tableau, suggesting one moral canopy over all life.
FAQs
Non-violence is not selective; it extends across the spectrum of life, from vegetation to animals and humans.
Dharmāraṇya frames the discourse; the ‘māhātmya’ here is the exaltation of compassionate conduct.
No ritual is specified; the verse expands the scope of ahiṃsā as a lived vow.