Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 120
अथापि नरकावासं प्रायशो नेयमर्हति । किंतु गोवत्सकं हत्वा विमृश्यागतसाध्वसा
athāpi narakāvāsaṃ prāyaśo neyamarhati | kiṃtu govatsakaṃ hatvā vimṛśyāgatasādhvasā
तरीही ती बहुधा नरकवासास पात्र नव्हती; पण वासरू मारून, नंतर विचार करता ती भयाने (पश्चात्तापाने) ग्रासली गेली.
Unspecified (narrative voice within Brahmottara Khaṇḍa)
Scene: A woman (or penitent figure) stands shaken after an unintended killing of a calf; the calf lies still; the penitent’s hands folded, eyes downcast; a distant temple silhouette suggests the path to expiation.
FAQs
Remorse and moral reflection arise as the conscience awakens; grave acts like killing a calf are treated as especially fearful in dharma.
No site is named in this verse; subsequent verses in the same chapter move toward Śiva-related observance.
Prāyaścitta is implied by the context of fear and reflection, though no specific expiation is stated here.