Part 7 - References to Hospitality in Abhijñānaśākuntala

In Abhijñānaśākuntala, When King Duṣyanta arrives at the hermitage of Kaṇva, Vaikhānasa asked Duṣyanta to go Kaṇva’s hermitage and receive hospitality.^[1] When Kaṇva goes to Somatīrtha he appoints Śakuntalā for receiving atithis in his absence.^[2] When Duṣyanta comes to Kaṇvas hermitage, Anasūya asks Śakuntalā to bring fruits and arghya for atithi-saparyā.^[3] Hearing this, King Duṣyanta says that their sweet words pleased him very much.^[4]

The importance of atithi-saparyā can be found in the fourth act of Abhijñānaśākuntala. Here sage Durvāsa came to Kaṇvāśrama. Śakuntalā who was in the hermitage, thinking of Duṣyanta, thus she did not receive her atithi, Sage Durvāsas properly. Sage Durvāsas became angry and cursed Śakuntalā by saying: “āḥ atithiparibhāvini”^[5] as she had forgotten to receive her atithi in a respectful manner. In Mahābhārata, the curse of Durvāsas is not seen. N.K.Sundareswaran points out that this episode has resemblance to the story of Sahasrānīka in Kathāsaritsāgara.^[6] Sahasrānīka went to abode of Indra to help him in a war. Sahasrānīka was a bachelor. Knowing his willingness for marriage, Indra proposes Mṛgāvati to marry Sahasrānīka. On hearing this Sahasrānīka with his charioteer Mātali went down in haste. On their way back Tilottama tries to stop them for a moment to say something. Sahasrānīka did not hear it, he was fully engulfed in thought of his meeting Mṛgāvati, hence he did not stop there. Tilottama then cursed him by saying that he and the one whom he has thinking of would have to face a separation for 14 years.

When Mātali goes to Duṣyanta’s palace, Duṣyanta receives Mātali in a respectful manner.^[7] In the seventh act of Abhijñānaśākuntala, Duṣyanta says about the hospitality of Devendra. Devendra gives seat and mandāra garland for him.^[8]