Shloka 29
अगस्त्याश्रमप्रवेशः तथा दिव्यायुधप्रदानम्
Entry into Agastya’s Hermitage and the Gift of Divine Weapons
अग्निं हुत्वा प्रदायार्घ्यमतिथिं प्रतिपूजयेत्।अन्यथा खलु काकुत्स्थ तपस्वी समुदाचरन्।।।।दुःसाक्षीव परे लोके स्वानि मांसानि भक्षयेत्।
agniṃ hutvā pradāyārghyam atithiṃ pratipūjayet |
anyathā khalu kākutstha tapasvī samudācaran ||
duḥsākṣīva pare loke svāni māṃsāni bhakṣayet |
«Erst nachdem man dem Feuer die Opfergaben dargebracht und das Arghya gereicht hat, soll man den Gast ehren. Andernfalls, o Kakutstha, wird ein Gastgeber — selbst wenn er ein Asket ist — der anders handelt, in der jenseitigen Welt wie ein falscher Zeuge sein eigenes Fleisch verzehren müssen.»
O scion of the Kakutstha dynasty, only after offering oblations to the Fire-god, a guest should be worshipped with water etc. Otherwise the host will have to eat his own flesh in the other world like a false witness.
FAQs
Guest-honoring (atithi-dharma) must be performed in the right order and with sincerity; the verse also condemns falsehood by comparing negligent conduct to the grave sin of false testimony, emphasizing Satya as a pillar of dharma.
Agastya instructs Rāma on the correct dhārmic procedure of receiving guests—oblations, arghya, and then worship—warning of karmic consequences if neglected.
Agastya’s moral clarity and commitment to disciplined righteousness; the ideal host is truthful, orderly, and reverent in duty.