Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 48
हत्वा गावो वरं मांसं भक्षयीत द्विजाधमः । वरं जीवन्समं मत्स्यैर्न कुर्याद्वेदविक्रयम् । ब्रह्महत्यासमं पापं न भूतं न भविष्यति
hatvā gāvo varaṃ māṃsaṃ bhakṣayīta dvijādhamaḥ | varaṃ jīvansamaṃ matsyairna kuryādvedavikrayam | brahmahatyāsamaṃ pāpaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati
اس سے بہتر ہے کہ وہ کمینہ دوجا گائے کو مار کر گوشت کھا لے؛ بہتر ہے کہ مچھلیوں کے برابر زندگی گزار لے—مگر وید کو نہ بیچے۔ برہماہتیا کے برابر گناہ اس سے بڑھ کر نہ کبھی ہوا ہے نہ ہوگا۔
Skanda (deduced from Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa māhātmya narration style)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A stark moral tableau: the text declares that even shocking transgressions are ‘preferable’ to selling the Veda, underscoring the inviolability of śruti. The scene contrasts a brāhmaṇa tempted by coins with the radiant, untouchable Veda as a divine presence.
FAQs
Commercializing sacred revelation is portrayed as an extreme dharmic downfall, condemned even more strongly than other notorious transgressions.
The warning is framed for tīrtha-context generally, within the Prabhāsa-kṣetra Māhātmya.
Do not sell Vedic recitation/teaching; it is condemned as a brahma-hatyā-like sin.