Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 120
अथापि नरकावासं प्रायशो नेयमर्हति । किंतु गोवत्सकं हत्वा विमृश्यागतसाध्वसा
athāpi narakāvāsaṃ prāyaśo neyamarhati | kiṃtu govatsakaṃ hatvā vimṛśyāgatasādhvasā
ومع ذلك فهي في الغالب لا تستحق الإقامة في الجحيم؛ لكنها لما قتلت عِجلاً ثم تفكّرت، استولى عليها الخوف والندم.
Unspecified (narrative voice within Brahmottara Khaṇḍa)
Scene: A woman (or penitent figure) stands shaken after an unintended killing of a calf; the calf lies still; the penitent’s hands folded, eyes downcast; a distant temple silhouette suggests the path to expiation.
FAQs
Remorse and moral reflection arise as the conscience awakens; grave acts like killing a calf are treated as especially fearful in dharma.
No site is named in this verse; subsequent verses in the same chapter move toward Śiva-related observance.
Prāyaścitta is implied by the context of fear and reflection, though no specific expiation is stated here.