Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 40
अश्वत्थे चरणं दत्त्वा ब्रह्महत्या प्रजायते । निष्कारणं संकुथित्वा नरके पच्यते ध्रुवम्
aśvatthe caraṇaṃ dattvā brahmahatyā prajāyate | niṣkāraṇaṃ saṃkuthitvā narake pacyate dhruvam
অশ্বত্থে পা রাখলে ব্রহ্মহত্যাসম দোষ জন্মায়। আর যে অকারণে তাকে আঘাত করে, সে নিশ্চিতই নরকে দগ্ধ হয়।
Brahmā (deduced from 'Brahma–Nārada saṃvāda' colophon context)
Tirtha: Aśvattha
Type: kshetra
Scene: A cautionary scene: a person about to place a foot on Aśvattha is stopped by elders; the tree is shown as a sanctum, while a shadowy vision of naraka warns against needless injury.
FAQs
Sacred presence demands reverence; harming or dishonoring what is worship-worthy becomes a grave dharmic transgression.
The Aśvattha itself is treated as a sanctified locus; the warning protects the integrity of this living ‘tīrtha’.
A prohibition: do not step on or needlessly damage the Aśvattha.