Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 32
आदित्योढोऽतिथिः सायं सत्कर्तव्यः प्रयत्नतः । असत्कृतोन्यतो गच्छन्दुष्कृतं भूरि यच्छति
ādityoḍho'tithiḥ sāyaṃ satkartavyaḥ prayatnataḥ | asatkṛtonyato gacchanduṣkṛtaṃ bhūri yacchati
সূর্যাস্তের সময় সন্ধ্যায় যে অতিথি আসে, তাকে বিশেষ যত্নে সৎকার করা উচিত। সৎকার না পেয়ে সে অন্যত্র গেলে, সে গৃহে প্রচুর পাপফল আরোপ করে।
Skanda
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A twilight courtyard in Kāśī: the sun setting over the Gaṅgā; a weary traveler-guest arrives at the threshold; the householder hastens with a lamp, water-pot, and offering of food, aware that neglect brings sin.
FAQs
The evening guest is especially sacred; neglecting him turns hospitality-failure into heavy demerit.
The instruction belongs to the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s Kāśī dharma-setting, emphasizing righteous living in the holy city.
Satkāra of the sāyam-atithi—intentional, effortful honoring and feeding of a guest arriving at sunset.