Chapter 186 - Importance of an Atithi

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The sages said:

1-3. O highly esteemed Sūtaja, do narrate further unto us the excellent greatness of Atithi in its entire detail.

Sūta said:

May all the sages listen to this excellent greatness. Merely by listening to it the sin of day will perish.

This splendid greatness was heard by me from my father.

4. There is no greater duty of householders than worship of a guest. There is no fault attributed to an Atithi, if there be transgression on his part.

5. If an Atithi goes back disappointed from a house actually he hands over his sin to him (the householder) and takes away his merits.

6. If anyone does not honour a guest, everything good in him perishes such as truth, personal purity, power of penance, acquisition of learning, gifts made, and the performance of a Yajña for a hundred years.

7. Only he can be called a (real) Gṛhastha (householder), to whose house eager and joyous guests flock together. All the rest are Gṛharakṣiṇaḥ (watchmen of the house).

8. The following three are never disallowed in the house of men who have performed meritorious deeds earlier: Śrāddha, Dāna and splendidly pleasing words.

9. If the guest is pleased with the householder, all the Devas are also pleased with him. If he is displeased (keeps his face averted), all the Devas are also displeased.

10. Hence, a guest must always be satisfied by a householder even by sacrificing himself if he wishes for his own good.

11. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, guests of householders are of three types. I shall tell you the time when they appear. Listen with attention.

12. (They are:) Śrāddhīya, Vaiśvadevīya and Sūryoḍha the third. The others are ordinary ones. At best they can be mentioned as Bhojanārthīyas (seekers of meal).

13. Śrāddhīya is that guest who comes at the proper time to partake of the food when the Śrāddha of the Pitṛs has been concluded in the manner resolved upon.

14. That guest should be considered Vaiśvadevīya, who has traversed a great distance, has become weary and arrives at the conclusion of Vaiśvadeva rite and not one who has come before time.

15. A guest who arrives at the conclusion of the Vaiśvadeva is one who transports one to heaven. He may be a beloved one or one worthy of being hated, an illiterate one or a great scholar.

16. The host should not ask him about his Gotra or Pravara, place of nativity or the Veda of special study. After seeing the sacred thread, the host shall feed him with devotion.

17. If the (invited) Atithi does not come at the time of Śrāddha or Vaiśvadeva, the host should utter his name and offer ghee Āhuti in the sacred fire.

18. If the host is incapable of offering full food, he should give him some little food with great devotion whereby he shall be satisfied.

19. The third type of Atithi is called Sūryoḍha (carried by the Sun i.e. the evening guest) if he arrives after the host has taken food or even at night. To him the householder should offer some vegetable dish within his capacity.

20. After arriving, if the Sūryoḍha guest is forced to depart without being honoured, such a poor disappointed man hands over his own sin before leaving.

21. These things are not short in the house of good people: grass, place (to study), water and pleasing words (i.e. a guest should be offered something).

22. By extending welcome the fires of the householder attain satisfaction. By offering a seat the Self-existing Greatgrandfather becomes satisfied.

23. Śaṃbhu is pleased if he is given Arghya and all the Devas including Vāsava, if Pādya is offered to him. Viṣṇu shall become pleased if food is offered to the guests. Hence the Atithi is full of all the Devas.

24. Hence, O Brāhmaṇas, the other Brāhmaṇas (guest) should be hououred always, fed in particular or at least after uttering the name.