Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 20
वसिष्ठ उवाच । मध्याह्न समयो रौद्रः सूर्योऽतीव सुतापदः । तत्कृत्वा भोजनं राजन्नपराह्णे व्यवस्थिते । गन्तासि निजमावासं भुक्त्वान्नं मम चाश्रमे
vasiṣṭha uvāca | madhyāhna samayo raudraḥ sūryo'tīva sutāpadaḥ | tatkṛtvā bhojanaṃ rājannaparāhṇe vyavasthite | gantāsi nijamāvāsaṃ bhuktvānnaṃ mama cāśrame
Vasiṣṭha sprach: „Die Mittagsstunde ist hart; die Sonne brennt überaus. Darum, o König, nimm deine Mahlzeit ein. Wenn der Nachmittag sich beruhigt hat, wirst du in deine eigene Wohnstatt gehen — nachdem du hier in meinem Āśrama gespeist hast.“
Vasiṣṭha
Type: kshetra
Scene: The sage advises the king to stay: blazing sun overhead, shimmering heat; inside the hermitage, cool shade, prepared simple meal, attendants waiting respectfully.
FAQs
Hospitality is not minimal courtesy but full care—feeding the guest at the proper time is dharma and a hallmark of sanctified places.
The āśrama of Vasiṣṭha is portrayed as a dharmic sanctuary where guests are protected and nourished.
Feeding the guest (anna-dāna as hospitality) and timing travel for the safer, cooler afternoon.