Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 80
अश्वत्थफलनिर्यासपानात्प्राणा मया धृताः । गौणं तदा तया तस्य पिप्पलादेति कल्पि तम्
aśvatthaphalaniryāsapānātprāṇā mayā dhṛtāḥ | gauṇaṃ tadā tayā tasya pippalādeti kalpi tam
अश्वत्थफलनिर्यासपानात् प्राणा मया धृताः इति स उवाच; ततोऽस्या तदा तस्मै गौणं नाम ‘पिप्पलाद’ इति कल्पितम्।
Pippalāda (explaining how he survived)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (aśvattha-sthala within)
Type: kshetra
Listener: null
Scene: The son explains he lived by drinking the sap-juice of aśvattha fruit; the mother bestows the name Pippalāda. A sacred peepal tree dominates the scene, radiating protective presence.
FAQs
Sacred nature sustains life; the aśvattha becomes a dharmic symbol of protection and providence.
The narrative belongs to Prabhāsa-kṣetra’s māhātmya; the sacred fig motif strengthens the sanctity of the locale.
No formal ritual is prescribed; the verse highlights the sacred fig’s life-sustaining role.