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
अश्वत्थावर पाऊल ठेवले असता ब्रह्महत्येसमान दोष लागतो। आणि जो कारणाविना त्याला इजा करतो, तो निश्चयच नरकात यातना भोगतो।
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.