Kurukṣetra Pilgrimage: Sages Praise Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva Inquires on Karma; Viṣṇu-yajña Performed
तानानर्चुर्यथा सर्वे सहरामोऽच्युतोऽर्चयत् । स्वागतासनपाद्यार्घ्यमाल्यधूपानुलेपनै: ॥ ७ ॥
tān ānarcur yathā sarve saha-rāmo ’cyuto ’rcayat svāgatāsana-pādyārghya- mālya-dhūpānulepanaiḥ
Then everyone honored them properly; Acyuta Kṛṣṇa, together with Balarāma, worshiped the sages by offering greetings, seats, water for washing the feet, arghya, flower garlands, incense, and sandalwood paste.
This verse shows that proper dharmic hospitality—welcome, seating, foot-washing water, arghya, garlands, incense, and fragrant anointments—is itself a form of worship, exemplified by Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
In the narrative, the visitors are to be received with the highest respect; Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma model ideal conduct by honoring them according to sacred custom, treating service to worthy guests as worship.
Practice devotional hospitality: receive guests—especially devotees, elders, and teachers—with sincere welcome, a clean place to sit, water/refreshments, and respectful words, seeing service as an offering to God.