Shloka 43

Devanagari script

गृहस्थैश् च न निन्द्यास्तु सदा ह्यतिथयो द्विजाः विरूपाश् च सुरूपाश् च मलिनाश्चाप्यपण्डिताः

Transliteration

gṛhasthaiś ca na nindyāstu sadā hyatithayo dvijāḥ virūpāś ca surūpāś ca malināścāpyapaṇḍitāḥ

Translation

Hausväter sollen die zu Besuch kommenden Dvija (Zweimalgeborenen) niemals schmähen. Ob sie unansehnlich oder schön erscheinen, ob sie unrein sind oder gar ohne Gelehrsamkeit—ein Atithi ist stets ehrwürdig und soll immer geehrt werden.

Word by Word

• गृहस्थैः: by householders

• च: and

• न: not

• निन्द्याः: to be censured/disparaged

• तु: indeed

• सदा: always

• हि: surely

• अतिथयः: guests (unexpected visitors)

• द्विजाः: twice-born (Brahmin/Kshatriya/Vaishya)

• विरूपाः: of unpleasant appearance

• च: and

• सुरूपाः: of pleasing appearance

• च: and

• मलिनाः: unclean/soiled

• च: and

• अपि: even

• अपण्डिताः: unlearned/not scholarly

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating dharma-teachings within the Linga Purana discourse to the sages of Naimisharanya)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames hospitality as a dharmic act of purification: honoring the atithi becomes a form of Shiva-seva, refining the pashu (individual soul) by reducing pasha (selfishness, pride, and aversion) through humble service.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Implicitly, it points to Shiva-tattva as impartial and all-pervading: reverence is not based on outer form (beauty, cleanliness, scholarship) but on dharma, aligning the devotee with Pati (the Lord) who transcends superficial distinctions.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Atithi-satkara (guest-honoring) is emphasized as a daily grihastha discipline—an ethical sadhana that supports Shaiva purity and steadiness, complementing puja by training non-judgment and self-offering.