श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणज्ञा ब्राह्मणाः परिकीर्तिताः । तदुक्ताचारचरणा इतरे नामधारकाः
śrutismṛtipurāṇajñā brāhmaṇāḥ parikīrtitāḥ | taduktācāracaraṇā itare nāmadhārakāḥ
Mereka yang benar-benar mengetahui Śruti, Smṛti dan Purāṇa itulah yang dipuji sebagai Brāhmaṇa; dan yang menuruti ācāra yang diajarkan di dalamnya, merekalah Brāhmaṇa sejati—yang lain hanyalah Brāhmaṇa pada nama semata-mata.
Skanda (deduced for Kāśīkhaṇḍa dialogue context)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Ṛṣis of Naimiṣāraṇya / Kāśī-mahātmya listeners (contextual)
Scene: A learned assembly in Kāśī: a true brāhmaṇa teaching from palm-leaf manuscripts (Śruti/Smṛti/Purāṇa), while a merely nominal brāhmaṇa stands aside, contrasted by posture and aura; the ghāṭs and a distant Viśvanātha spire suggest the sacred setting.
True spiritual identity is measured by scriptural understanding and lived conduct, not by mere social label.
The verse is situated in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa and supports the Dharma-framework that underlies Kāśī’s māhātmya, though it does not name a specific tīrtha.
No specific rite is prescribed; the emphasis is on ācāra—living according to Śruti-Smṛti-Purāṇa.