Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 27
अश्वत्थ सेवा न कृता त्यक्त्वा चार्कं त्रयोदशीम् । सद्यः पापहरा सा हि न रात्रौ न भृगोर्दिने
aśvattha sevā na kṛtā tyaktvā cārkaṃ trayodaśīm | sadyaḥ pāpaharā sā hi na rātrau na bhṛgordine
لم أقم بخدمة شجرة الأشفَتّه (التين المقدّس)، كما أهملت نذر أركا-ترايودشي. فهذه العبادة تزيل الذنوب حالًا، ومع ذلك لم أفعلها لا ليلًا ولا في يوم بهريغو (الجمعة).
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda speaking to Agastya)
Scene: A devotee stands before an aśvattha tree with lamps and water-pot, confessing neglect of aśvattha-sevā and Arka-trayodaśī; the city’s ghats and shrines suggest Kāśī’s living dharma.
FAQs
Simple, accessible observances—like sacred tree worship and specific tithi-vratas—are praised as swift means of purification.
The Kāśīkhaṇḍa setting is Kāśī, but the verse highlights vrata and aśvattha-sevā as general dharmic practices.
Aśvattha-sevā and Arka-trayodaśī observance, described as sadyaḥ-pāpaharā (immediately sin-removing), with timing cautions (not at night / not on Friday).