Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 22
विनाशं सहसा प्राप्तस्तस्मान्मान्याः सुराः सदा । यदि कश्चित्समायाति मानुषोऽत्र कथंचन । मत्काय एव द्रष्टव्यः सर्वैरेव निशाचरैः
vināśaṃ sahasā prāptastasmānmānyāḥ surāḥ sadā | yadi kaścitsamāyāti mānuṣo'tra kathaṃcana | matkāya eva draṣṭavyaḥ sarvaireva niśācaraiḥ
Kebinasaan mendadak menimpa yang angkuh; maka para dewa hendaklah senantiasa dimuliakan. Dan bila kebetulan seorang manusia datang ke sini, hendaklah semua niśācara memandangnya sebagai tubuhku sendiri—tak boleh dinodai, melainkan dihormati.
Rāma (implied, addressing Vibhīṣaṇa; issuing protective injunctions)
Tirtha: Setu-tīrtha (implied)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A solemn decree: the arrogant meet sudden destruction; therefore honor the gods. Any human arriving at this place must be treated by all night-rangers as the speaker’s own body—an edict of sacred immunity.
FAQs
Reverence for the gods and protection of visitors are essential dharmas; harming the innocent leads to swift ruin.
The verse implies a protected sacred zone within the chapter’s tīrtha-māhātmya, but does not name the site in this snippet.
No specific ritual is stated; a dharmic injunction is given: treat any arriving human as inviolable.