Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5
नागराणां तु ये धर्मा व्यवहाराश्च केवलाः । तेषु चेद्वर्तते नित्यं संभाव्यो नागरो हि सः
nāgarāṇāṃ tu ye dharmā vyavahārāśca kevalāḥ | teṣu cedvartate nityaṃ saṃbhāvyo nāgaro hi saḥ
Barangsiapa senantiasa hidup menurut dharma dan tata laku sosial yang khas milik para Nāgara, dialah yang patut dipandang sebagai Nāgara sejati dan terhormat.
Viśvāmitra (deduced from immediate narrative context in Adhyāya 204)
Listener: Mahārāja
Scene: A depiction of daily Nāgara duties: morning ablutions, sandhyā, respectful commerce/transactions, hospitality, and temple attendance—showing ‘nitya’ adherence to dharma and vyavahāra.
FAQs
True identity is validated by steady practice of dharma and disciplined conduct, not merely by name or birth.
This verse is primarily ethical/communal in focus within the Tīrthamāhātmya setting; no specific tīrtha is named in the verse itself.
No explicit ritual is prescribed here; it defines the standard of conduct for being recognized as a Nāgara.