Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 47
ममाभूदीश्वरस्यैव सतीधर्मद्रुहो नृप । ब्रूहि किं क्रियतां शत्रोरपि ते गृहगामिनः
mamābhūdīśvarasyaiva satīdharmadruho nṛpa | brūhi kiṃ kriyatāṃ śatrorapi te gṛhagāminaḥ
হে রাজন, আমি ঈশ্বরেরই হয়েও সজ্জনদের ধর্মের বিরোধী হয়ে পড়েছি। বলুন—যে শত্রুও আপনার গৃহে আসে, তার প্রতি কী করা উচিত?
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating (contextual attribution within Māheśvara-khaṇḍa)
Listener: nṛpa (king)
Scene: A remorseful speaker addresses a king, confessing betrayal of the virtuous and asking how to treat even an enemy who comes home; the king listens with measured authority.
FAQs
Atithi-dharma (hospitality) is so sacred that even an enemy arriving at one’s home must be treated according to dharma.
No specific tīrtha is named; the verse shifts to dharma-ethics within the narrative.
No ritual is prescribed; it asks about proper conduct toward an enemy-guest (ethical dharma).