Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 51
तथान्यैः क्षत्रविट्शूद्रस्त्रीगोहत्या दिपातकैः । वीरहत्याश्वहत्याभ्यां मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
tathānyaiḥ kṣatraviṭśūdrastrīgohatyā dipātakaiḥ | vīrahatyāśvahatyābhyāṃ mucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ
Likewise, one is released from other sins—such as killing a Kṣatriya, a Vaiśya, a Śūdra, a woman, or a cow—and from killing a hero or a horse; of this there is no doubt.
Deductive attribution: Purāṇic narrator (likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa tradition within Brāhma Khaṇḍa)
Scene: A penitent devotee with downcast eyes applies Tripuṇḍra; behind him, shadowy forms symbolizing grave sins dissolve into ash-like light, while a compassionate Śiva presence is implied above.
FAQs
The text magnifies the purificatory power of the Śaiva observance, portraying it as capable of dissolving even severe wrongdoing.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the passage is doctrinal/ritual in focus.
Implied: continued practice of Tripuṇḍra/bhasma dhāraṇa as a prāyaścitta-like purifier.