Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 21
ब्राह्मणं प्राहुरतिथिं संपूज्य शक्तितो बुधैः । न पृछेत्तत्राचरणं स्वाध्यायं चापि पंडितः
brāhmaṇaṃ prāhuratithiṃ saṃpūjya śaktito budhaiḥ | na pṛchettatrācaraṇaṃ svādhyāyaṃ cāpi paṃḍitaḥ
Die Weisen erklären, ein Brāhmaṇa werde «atithi» genannt. Ehrt man ihn nach eigenem Vermögen, so soll der gelehrte Hausherr ihn dort weder nach seinem Wandel noch nach seinem vedischen Studium befragen.
Unspecified (Dharmāraṇya Khaṇḍa instructional discourse)
Scene: A brāhmaṇa guest stands at the entrance; the householder offers a seat, water, and respectful gestures; the host’s face shows restraint and reverence, not curiosity or suspicion.
FAQs
True hospitality protects the guest’s dignity; service comes first, and judgment or interrogation is withheld.
No tīrtha is specified; the verse glorifies atithi-sevā as a portable ‘tīrtha’ of the home.
Honor the brāhmaṇa-guest according to one’s means, without questioning his conduct or svādhyāya at the time of reception.