Shloka 6
Aditi’s Lament and Kaśyapa’s Instruction of the Payo-vrata (Milk Vow) to Please Keśava
अपि वातिथयोऽभ्येत्य कुटुम्बासक्तया त्वया । गृहादपूजिता याता: प्रत्युत्थानेन वा क्वचित् ॥ ६ ॥
api vātithayo ’bhyetya kuṭumbāsaktayā tvayā gṛhād apūjitā yātāḥ pratyutthānena vā kvacit
Have you, out of excessive attachment to the family, failed to properly receive uninvited guests, so that they departed without honor, or did you ever neglect to rise and welcome them?
It is the duty of a householder to receive guests, even if a guest be an enemy. When a guest comes to one’s home, one should properly receive him by standing up and offering him a seat. It is enjoined, gṛhe śatrum api prāptaṁ viśvastam akutobhayam: if even an enemy comes to one’s home, one should receive him in such a way that the guest will forget that his host is an enemy. According to one’s position, one should properly receive anyone who comes to one’s home. At least a seat and a glass of water should be offered, so that the guest will not be displeased. Kaśyapa Muni inquired from Aditi whether disrespect had been shown to such guests, or atithis. The word atithi refers to one who comes without an invitation.
FAQs
This verse stresses that neglecting guests due to household attachment is a fault; even rising to welcome them (pratyutthāna) is part of proper honor in dharma.
Kaśyapa is examining Aditi’s conduct and possible lapses in household duty and etiquette, since such neglect can disturb auspiciousness and spiritual progress before prescribing sacred observances.
Receive visitors respectfully—greet them, offer basic hospitality, and avoid letting busyness or family preoccupation make you dismissive or inattentive.