Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 7
यत्र यत्र भवेद्यज्ञः सत्रं ऽप्युत्सवोऽथवा । तत्र गत्वा निशायोगे प्रकुर्वंति जनक्षयम्
yatra yatra bhavedyajñaḥ satraṃ 'pyutsavo'thavā | tatra gatvā niśāyoge prakurvaṃti janakṣayam
Wo immer ein Opfer, eine lange Sitzung oder ein Fest stattfand, gingen sie bei Einbruch der Nacht hin und führten ein Gemetzel unter den Menschen durch.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced from Purāṇic māhātmya narration style within Nāgarakhaṇḍa)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A brightly lit yajña pavilion with fire-altars and festive banners; at the night’s junction, attackers arrive and chaos erupts among celebrants and priests.
FAQs
Even sacred gatherings like yajñas and festivals must be protected by dharma; when adharma intrudes, violence can arise precisely where holiness should prevail.
This verse speaks generally about pilgrimage-like religious gatherings (yajña/satra/utsava) and does not name a specific tīrtha in the shloka itself.
No positive prescription (snāna, dāna, japa, vrata) is stated here; the verse functions as a cautionary description tied to yajña/satra/utsava contexts and the timing of niśā-yoga (night-junction).