Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 44
स एव विष्णुर्द्रुम एव मूर्तो महात्मभिः सेवितपुण्यमूलः । यस्याश्रयः पापसहस्रहंता भवेन्नृणां कामदुघो गुणाढ्यः
sa eva viṣṇurdruma eva mūrto mahātmabhiḥ sevitapuṇyamūlaḥ | yasyāśrayaḥ pāpasahasrahaṃtā bhavennṛṇāṃ kāmadugho guṇāḍhyaḥ
تلك الشجرة بعينها هي فيشنو متجسّدًا؛ جذورها أصلُ البركة، يخدمها العظماء من أهل الروح. ومن احتمى بها أبادت عنه آلاف الآثام؛ فتغدو مُعطيةً مُحقِّقةً للأماني، غنيةً بالفضائل.
Brahmā (deduced from 'Brahma–Nārada saṃvāda' colophon context)
Tirtha: Aśvattha as Viṣṇu-mūrti
Type: kshetra
Scene: The Aśvattha appears as Viṣṇu incarnate: bark subtly forms a four-armed silhouette; roots glow with puṇya; great sages worship; a stream of dark ‘sins’ shatters upon touching the tree’s aura; devotees receive blessings like a kāmadhenū of boons.
FAQs
When a devotee recognizes the sacred as Viṣṇu’s manifestation and takes refuge, purification and auspicious fulfillment follow.
The Aśvattha is glorified as a living shrine—an accessible ‘tīrtha’ for refuge and merit.
Āśraya and sevā—taking shelter in and worshipping/serving the sacred tree as Viṣṇu’s mūrti.