18. Guests

Āpastamba

अग्निर् इव ज्वलन्न् अतिथिर् अभ्यागच्छति ॥3 धर्मेण वेदानाम् एकएकां शाखाम् अधीत्य श्रोत्रियो भवति ॥4 स्वधर्मयुक्तं कुटुम्बिनम् अभ्यागच्छति धर्मपुरस्कारो नअन्यप्रयोजनः सो ऽअतिथिर् भवति ॥5 तस्य पूजायां शान्तिः स्वर्गश् च ॥6 तम् अभिमुखो ऽअभ्यागम्य यथावयः समेत्य तस्यआसनम् आहारयेत् ॥7 शक्तिविषये नअबहुपादम् आसनं भवतिइत्य् एके ॥8 तस्य पादौ प्रक्षालयेत् शूद्रमिथुनाव् इत्य् एके ॥9 अन्यतरो ऽअभिषेचने स्यात् ॥10 तस्यौदकम् आहारयेन् मृन्मयेनैत्य् एके ॥11 नौदकम् आचारयेद् असमावृत्तः ॥12 अध्ययनसांवृत्तिश् चअत्रअधिका ॥13 आवसथं दद्याद् उपरिशय्याम् उपस्तरणम् उपधानं सअवस्तरणम् अभ्यञ्जनं चैति ॥15 अन्नसंस्कर्तारम् आहूय व्रीहीन् यवान् वा तदर्थान् निर्वपेत् ॥16 उद्धृतान्य् अन्नान्य् अवेक्षेतैदं भूया३ इदा३म् इति ॥17 भूय उद्धरैत्य् एव ब्रूयात् ॥18 द्विषन् द्विषतो वा नअन्नम् अश्नीयाद् दोषेण वा मीमांसमानस्य मीमांसितस्य वा ॥19 पाप्मानं हि स तस्य भक्षयतिइति विज्ञायते ॥20

3 A guest comes blazing like a fire. 4 When someone has studied one branch from each of the Vedas in accordance with the Law, he is called a "vedic scholar". 5 When such a man comes to the home of a householder devoted to the Law proper to him—and he comes for no other purpose than to discharge the Law—then he is called a "guest". 6 By paying him homage, the householder obtains peace and heaven. 7 He should go out to meet the guest, receive him according to his age, and have a seat brought for him-8 if possible, some say, a seat that has many legs. 9 He should wash the guest's feet. Some say that this should be done by a pair of Śūdras, 10 one of them being employed in pouring the water. 11 "He should have water brought for the guest; according to some, in a clay pot. 12 If the guest is a student who has not yet returned home, there is no need to have water brought for him; 13 in his case, however, there is the additional requirement to perform the vedic recitation along with him. 14 After addressing the guest with kind words, the host should refresh him with drinks and food, or at a minimum with some water, 15 and offer him a room, a bed, a mattress, a pillow with a cover, and lotion. 16 He should summon his cook and give him rice or barley to be prepared for the guest. 17 When the food has been dished out, he should look at it, thinking: "Is this portion larger or this?" 18 and make sure to tell the guest: "Take the larger portion." 19 A man should not eat the food of someone whom he hates or who hates him, or of someone who suspects him of a sin or who is suspected of a sin; 20 "for that man", it is stated, "eats the other's evil." [A 2.6.3–20]

स एष प्राजापत्यः कुटुम्बिनो यज्ञो नित्यप्रततः ॥1 यो ऽअतिथीनाम् अग्निः स आहवनीयो यः कुटुम्बे स गार्हपत्यो यस्मिन् पच्यते सो ऽअन्वाहार्यपचनः ॥2 ऊर्जं पुष्टिं प्रजां पशून् इष्टापूर्तम् इति गृहाणाम् अश्नाति यः पूर्वो ऽअतिथेर् अश्नाति ॥3 पयौपसेचनम् अन्नम् अग्निष्टोमसंमितं सर्पिषाउक्थ्यसंमितं मधुनाअतिरात्रसंमितं मांसेन द्वादशअहसंमितम् उदकेन प्रजावृद्धिर् आयुषश् च ॥4 प्रिया अप्रियाश् चअतिथयः स्वर्गं लोकं गमयन्तिइति विज्ञायते ॥5 स यत् प्रातर् मध्यंदिने सायम् इति ददाति सवनान्य् एव तानि भवन्ति ॥6 यद् अनुतिष्ठत्य् उदवस्यत्य् एव तत् ॥7 यत् सान्त्वयतति सा दक्षिणा प्रशंसा ॥8 यत् संसाधयति ते विष्णुक्रमाः ॥9 यद् उपावर्तते सो ऽअवभृथः ॥10 इति हि ब्राह्मणम् ॥11 राजानं चेद् अतिथिर् अभ्यागच्छेत्श्रेयसीम् अस्मै पूजाम् आत्मनः कारयेत् ॥12 आहितअग्निं चेद् अतिथिर् अभ्यागच्छेत् स्वयम् एनम् अभ्युदेत्य ब्रूयात् व्रात्य क्वअवात्सीर् इति व्रात्य उदकम् इति व्रात्य तर्पयंः त्व् इति ॥13 पुराअग्निहोत्रस्य होमाद् उपांशु जपेत् व्रात्य यथा ते मनः तथाअस्तुइति व्रात्य यथा ते वशः तथाअस्तुइति व्रात्य यथा ते प्रियं तथाअस्तुइति व्रात्य यथा ते निकामः तथाअस्तुइति ॥14 यस्यौद्धृतेष्व् अहुतेष्व् अग्निष्व् अतिथिर् अभ्यागच्छेत् स्वयम् एनम् अभ्युदेत्य ब्रूयात् व्रात्य अतिसृज होष्यामि इत्य् अतिसृष्टेन होतव्यम् अनतिसृष्टश् चेज्जुहुयाद् दोषं ब्राह्मणम् आह ॥15 एकरात्रं चेद् अतिथीन् वासयेत् पार्थिवांल् लोकान् अभिजयति द्वितीययाअन्तरिक्ष्यांः तृतीयया दिव्यांश् चतुर्थ्या परावतो लोकान् अपरिमिताभिर् अपरिमितांल् लोकान् अभिजयतिइति विज्ञायते ॥16 असमुदेतश् चेद् अतिथिर् ब्रुवाण आगच्छेद् आसनम् उदकम् अन्नं श्रोत्रियाय ददामिइत्य् एव दद्यात् एवम् अस्य समृद्धं भवति ॥17

1 This is the sacrifice to Prajapati that a householder offers incessantly-2 the fire within the guests is the offertorial fire, the fire within his house is the householder's fire, the fire used for cooking is the southern fire. 3 A man who eats before his guest eats up the vigor, prosperity, progeny, livestock, sacrifices, and good works of his family. 4 When milk is poured over it, that food is equal to an Agnistoma sacrifice; when ghee is poured over it, it is equal to an Ukthya sacrifice; when honey is poured over it, it is equal to an Atiratra sacrifice; when meat is poured over it, it is equal to a Dvadasaha sacrifice; and when water is poured over it, it procures the increase of progeny and a long life. 5 "Whether you hold them dear or not," it is stated, "guests lead you to heaven." 6 When a man gives food in the morning, at noon, and in the evening, they constitute the three pressings of Soma; 7 when he rises as his guest gets up to leave, it constitutes the final rite of the Soma sacrifice; 8 when he addresses the guest with kind words, it constitutes the praise of the priestly fee; 9 when he follows the guest as he leaves, it constitutes the Visnu steps; 10 and when he returns, it constitutes the final bath. 11 That is the procedure when a guest comes to a Brahmin. 12 If a guest comes to a king, he should have the guest treated with greater honor than himself. 13 If a guest comes to a man who has set up the three ritual fires, he himself should go out to meet the guest and tell him: "Vratya, where did you stay? Vrātya, here is water. Vrātya, let this refresh you." 14 Before offering his daily fire oblation, he should say softly in a hushed voice, "Vratya, may you obtain whatever you have set your mind on. Vratya, may you obtain whatever you wish. Vratya, may you obtain whatever you like. Vratya, may you obtain whatever you desire." 15 If a guest comes after he has arranged the fires but before he has made the offerings, he himself should go out to meet the guest and tell him: "Vratya, give me leave so I may make the offerings." After he is given leave, he should make the offerings. If he makes the offerings without being given leave, a Brāhmaṇa text states, he commits a sin. 16 "By giving shelter to guests for one night," it is stated, "a man wins earthly worlds; with a second night he wins intermediate worlds; with a third night heavenly worlds; with a fourth night farthermost worlds; and by giving shelter for an unlimited number of nights, he wins unlimited worlds." 17 If an unaccomplished man arrives saying that he is a guest, the householder should give him a seat, water, and food, saying: "I give this to a vedic scholar." In this way he will gain prosperity. [A 2.7.1–17]

येन कृतआवसथः स्याद् अतिथिर् न तं प्रत्युत्तिष्ठेत् प्रत्यवरोहेद् वा पुरस्तात्चेद् अभिवादितः ॥1 शेषभोजीअतिथीनां स्यात् ॥2 न रसान् गृहे भुञ्जीतअनवशेषम् अतिथिभ्यः ॥3 नआत्मअर्थम् अभिरूपम् अन्नं पाचयेत् ॥4

If a person has already paid his respects to a guest whom he has provided with accommodation, thereafter he does not have to rise up or get off his couch to greet him. 2 Let him eat what is left over after he has fed his guests. 3 He should not consume all the savory dishes in his house so that there is nothing left for his guests 4 or have exquisite dishes prepared for his own use. [A 2.8.1–4]

अतिथिं निराकृत्य यत्र गते भोजने स्मरेत् ततो विरम्यौपोष्य ॥14 श्वोभूते यथामनसं तर्पयित्वा संसाधयेत् ॥1 यानवन्तम् आ यानात् ॥2 यावत्नअनुजानीयाद् इतरः ॥3 अप्रतीभायां सीम्नो निवर्तेत ॥4

14 While he is taking his meal, if at some point he remembers that he has spurned a guest, he should stop eating and fast that day. 1 On the next day he should satisfy that guest to his heart's content and follow him as he leaves. 2 If a guest has come in a carriage, he should follow him as far as the carriage; 3 others he should follow until they give him leave to return. 4 If a guest forgets to do so, he may turn back at the village boundary. [A 2.8.14; 2.9.1–4]

अतिथीन् एवअग्रे भोजयेत् ॥11

"1 He should always feed his guests first. 13 The master and mistress should never rebuff anyone who comes asking for food at the proper time. 14 If there is no food, then a place on the floor, some water and straw, and a pleasant welcome-these are never wanting in the house of a good man. 15 A couple who acts this way wins a world without end. 16 Let him give water and a seat to a Brahmin who has not studied the Veda but not rise up to greet him. 17 If the man deserves to be greeted, he may rise up to greet him. 18 Neither should he rise to greet a Kṣatriya or a Vaiśya. 19 When a Śūdra comes as a guest, he should get him to do some work and then give him food. 20 Or else, his servants should bring provisions from the royal store and honor the Śūdra as a guest. [A 2.4.11, 13–20]

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Gautama

भोजयेत् पूर्वमतिथिकुमारव्याधितगर्भिणीस्ववासिनीस्थविराञ् जघन्यांश् । ॥25 आचार्यपितृसखीनां च निवेद्य पचनक्रिया । ॥26

25 He should give food first to guests, children, the sick, pregnant women, females in his household, and the old, as well as the menials. 26 When his teacher, father, or friend is visiting, however, he should check with them before cooking the meal. ... 3 'To a Brahmin who is not a vedic scholar, he should offer a seat and water; 32 but to one who is a vedic scholar he should have water for washing the feet and the welcome water prepared, as also lavish food 33 or the normal food prepared in a special way. 3 To a Brahmin without vedic learning but of good conduct, he should give average food; 35 but to one with the opposite qualities, just some straw and water, and a place on the floor, 36 or at the very least, a word of welcome. 37 He should show respect to the guest and not eat before him. 38 To those who are his equals or superiors, he should offer a room, bed, and seat as good as his; treat them hospitably; and follow them as they leave; 39 somewhat less than that if it is a man inferior to him. 40 A guest is defined as a man from a different village who comes when the sun is setting behind the trees to spend just one night. 41 He should ask him whether he is doing well; or whether he is in good shape; or whether he is in good health, in accordance with his class, 42 the last being used in the case of a Śūdra. 43 A non-Brahmin is never a guest of a Brahmin, unless he has come on the occasion of a sacrifice. 4 A Kṣatriya, however, should be fed after the Brahmins, 45 and the others should be fed together with his servants to show compassion. [G 5.25–6, 31–45]

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Baudhāyana

सायं प्रातर् यद् अशनीयं स्यात् तेनअन्नेन वैश्वदेवंबलिम् उपहृत्य ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविट्शूद्रान् अभ्यागतान् यथाशक्तिपूजयेत् ॥11 यदि बहूनां न शक्नुयाद् एकस्मै गुणवते दद्यात् ॥12 यो वा प्रथमम् उपगतः स्यात् ॥13 शूद्रश् चेद् आगतः तं कर्मणि नियुञ्ज्यात् ॥14 श्रोत्रियाय वाअग्रं दद्यात् ॥15 ये नित्या भाक्तिकाः स्युः तेषामनुपरोधेन संविभागो विहितः ॥16 न त्व् एव कदाचिद् अदत्त्वा भुञ्जीत ॥17 अथअप्य् अत्रअन्नगीतौ श्लोकाव् उदाहरन्ति ॥18 यो माम् अदत्त्वा पितृदेवताभ्योभृत्यअतिथीनां च सुहृज्जनस्य ॥18 संपन्नम् अश्नन् विषम् अत्ति मोहात् तम् अद्म्य् अहं तस्य चमृत्युर् अस्मि ॥18 हुतअग्निहोत्रः कृतवैश्वदेवः पूज्यअतिथीन् भृत्यजनअवशिष्टम् ॥18 तुष्टः शुचिः श्रद्दधद् अत्ति यो मां तस्यअमृतं स्यांस च मां भुनक्ति ॥18 सुब्राह्मणश्रोत्रियवेदपारगेभ्योगुर्वर्थनिवेशऔषधअर्थवृत्तिक्षीणयक्ष्यमाणअध्ययनअध्वसंयोगवैश्वजितेषु द्रव्यसंविभागो यथाशक्ति कार्यो बहिर्वेदिभिक्षमाणेषु ॥19 कृतअन्नम् इतरेषु ॥20

11 Using a portion of whatever food he may have, every morning and evening he should make an offering to the All-gods and a Bali offering, and according to his ability offer hospitality to Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras who have arrived as guests. 12 If he is unable to give food to many, he should give to a single person endowed with the proper qualities, 13 or to the person who arrives first. 14 If a Sūdra comes as a guest, he should employ him in some work. 15 Alternatively, he may give a goodly portion to a vedic scholar. 16 The distribution of food should be carried out in a way that does not cause inconvenience to those who receive food every day, 17 but he should never eat without giving food to someone. 18 Now, on this matter they also quote a couple of verses sung by Food: "Without giving me to ancestors, gods, dependents, guests, and friends, when a man in his folly eats what has been cooked, he eats poison-I eat him and I am his death. After performing the daily fire sacrifice and the oblation to All-gods and offering hospitality to guests, when a man who is content and purified eats the food left over after feeding his dependents-with a spirit of generosity, he relishes me and I am his ambrosia." 19 Provisions should be distributed according to one's ability outside the sacrificial arena to virtuous Brahmins, vedic scholars, and masters of the Veda when they come begging in order to give the teacher's gift, to perform a wedding, or to procure medicine; when they are indigent or preparing to perform a sacrifice; or when they are students, travellers, or people who have offered the Visvajit sacrifice. 20 When others come to beg, he shall give them cooked food. [B 2.5.11–20]

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Vasiṣṭha

सायम् आगतम् अतिथिम्नअपरुन्ध्यात् ॥4 नअस्यअनश्नन् गृहे वसेत् ॥5 यस्य नअश्नाति वासअर्थी ब्राह्मणस्गृहम् आगतः ॥6 सुकृतम्तस्य यत् किम्चित् सर्वम् आदाय गच्छति ॥6 एकरात्रम्तु निवसनतिथिस्ब्राह्मणस्स्मृतः ॥7 अनित्यम्हि स्थितस्यस्मात् तस्माततिथिसुच्यते ॥7 नएकग्रामीण अतिथिस्विप्रस्साङ्गतिकः तथा ॥8 काले प्राप्ते अकाले वा नअस्यअनश्नन् गृहे वसेत् ॥8

4 He should not turn away a guest who arrives in the evening. 5 A guest should not remain in his house without being given to eat. 6 When a Brahmin who has come to someone's house seeking a place to stay is given nothing to eat, he leaves taking with him all the good works of that man. 7 A Brahmin who spends one night, according to tradition, is called a guest. He is called "guest" because his stay is brief. 8 A Brahmin who lives in the same village or comes for a social visit is not a guest. Whether he comes at the proper time or not, a guest should not remain in his house without receiving food. [Va 8.4–8]

सर्वौपयोगेन पुनर्पाकस्यदि निरुप्ते वैश्वदेवेअतिथिसागच्छेत्विशेषेणअस्मैअन्नम्कारयेत् ॥12

विज्ञायते हि वैश्वानरस्प्रविशतिअतिथिस्ब्राह्मणस्गृहम्तस्मातपसानयन्तिअन्नम्वर्षाभ्यः

ताम्हि शान्तिम्जनास्विदुसिति ॥13 तम्भोजयित्वाउपासीत ॥14 आ सीमान्तम् अनुव्रजेतनुज्ञानात्वा ॥15

12 If a guest arrives after he has made the offering to the All-gods, he should have food prepared specially for him. 13 For a Brahmin who has arrived they bring water, for it is stated: "A Brahmin guest enters a house as the fire common to all men. Therefore, they bring water—except during the rainy season—and people call that a rite of appeasement." 14 After giving food to that guest, he should pay him homage. 15 Then, when he departs, he should follow him up to the village boundary or until he gives him leave to return. [Va 11.12–15]

तृणभूमिअग्निउदकवाच्सूनृतअनसूयास्सताम्गृहे नौच्छिद्यन्ते कदाचन कदाचनैति ॥61

61 Some straw, a place on the floor, fire, water, a welcome that is joyful and ungrudging are never wanting in the house of a good man. [Va 13.61]

पितृदेवताअतिथिपूजायाम् अपिएव पशुम्हिंस्यातिति मानवम् ॥5 मधुपर्के च यज्ञे च

पितृदैवतकर्मणि ॥6 अत्रएव च पशुम्हिंस्यात्नअन्यथाइतिअब्रवीत्मनुः ॥6 नअकृत्वा

प्राणिनाम्हिंसाम्मांसम् उत्पद्यते क्वचित् ॥7 न च प्राणिवधस्स्वर्ग्यः तस्मात्यागे वधसवधः ॥7 अथअपि

ब्राह्मणाय वा राजन्याय वाअभ्यागताय महाउक्षाणम्वा महाअजम्वा पचेतेवम् अस्मैआतिथ्यम्कुर्वन्तिइति ॥8

5 The treatise of Manu states: "An animal may be killed only on the occasion of paying homage to ancestors, gods, or guests." 6 When offering the honey mixture, at a sacrifice, and during rites for ancestors and gods-only on these occasions, Manu has declared, should an animal be killed. 7 Without killing a living creature you can never obtain meat; and killing living creatures does not get you to heaven. Killing an animal at a sacrifice, therefore, is not a killing. 8 He should, moreover, cook a big ox or a big male goat for a Brahmin, for a Kṣatriya, or for a visitor. In this way they show him hospitality. [Va 4.5–8]

Āpastamba

गोमधुपर्कअर्हो वेदअध्यायः ॥5 आचार्य ऋत्विक् स्नातको राजा वा धर्मयुक्तः ॥6 आचार्यायऋत्विजे श्वशुराय राज्ञ इति परिसंवत्सराद् उपतिष्ठद्भ्यो गौर् मधुपर्कश् च ॥7 दधि मधुसंसृष्टं मधुपर्कः पयो वा मधुसंसृष्टम् ॥8 अभाव उदकम् ॥9

5 A man who is capable of reciting the Veda is worthy of receiving a cow and the honey mixture, 6 as also a teacher, an officiating priest, a bath-graduate, and a king who follows the Law. 7 A cow and the honey mixture are to be given to a teacher, an officiating priest, a father-in-law, and a king, when they visit after the lapse of one year. 8 The honey mixture is made by mixing honey into curd or milk, or, when they are unavailable, into water. [A 2.8.5–9]

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Gautama

ऋत्विगाचार्यश्वशुरपितृव्यमातुलानाम् उपस्थानेमधुपर्कः । ॥27 सम्वत्सरे पुनः । ॥28 यज्ञविवाहयोर् अर्वाक् । ॥29 राज्ञश् च श्रोत्रियस्य । ॥30

27 When his officiating priest, teacher, father-in-law, or paternal or maternal uncle visits him, he shall offer them the honey mixture. 28 It needs to be repeated only after the interval of a year; 29 but on the occasion of a sacrifice or a wedding, it should be repeated even if a year has not elapsed. 30 It should also be offered to a king and to a vedic scholar. [G 5.27–30]

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Baudhāyana

ऋषिविद्वन्नृपवरमातुलश्वशुरऋत्विजः ॥36 एतेअर्घ्याः शास्त्रविहिताः स्मृताः कालविभागशः ॥36 ऋषिविद्वन्नृपाः प्राप्ताः क्रियाआरम्भे वरऋत्विजौ ॥37 मातुलश्वशुरौ पूज्यौ संवत्सरगतआगतौ इति ॥37

36 A seer, a learned man, a king, a bridegroom, a maternal uncle, a father-in-law, and an officiating priest-these, according to tradition, are the people that the authoritative texts decree as entitled to the welcome water at specific times. 37 A seer, a learned man, and a king should be honored whenever they come; a bridegroom and an officiating priest, at the beginning of the rite; and a maternal uncle and a father-in-law, when they visit after a lapse of one year. [B 2.6.36–7]

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Vasiṣṭha

षटर्घअर्हास्भवन्ति ॥1 ऋत्विज्विवाह्यस्राजापितृव्यस्नातकमातुलास्च ॥2

1 Six individuals are worthy to receive the welcome water: 2 an officiating priest, a bridegroom, a king, a paternal uncle, a bath-graduate, and a maternal uncle. [Va 11.1–2]

मधुपर्के च यज्ञे च पितृदैवतकर्मणि ॥6 अत्रएव च पशुम्हिंस्यात्नअन्यथाइतिअब्रवीत्मनुः ॥6

6 When offering the honey mixture, at a sacrifice, and during rites for ancestors and gods—only on these occasions, Manu has declared, should an animal be killed. [Va 4.6]