Shloka 74
Rudra-Śiva: Names, Two Natures, and the Logic of Epithets (रुद्रनाम-बहुरूपत्व-प्रकरणम्)
गृहस्थ पुरुषको पंचमहायज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान करके अपने मनको शुद्ध बनाना चाहिये। जो गृहस्थ सदा सत्य बोलता
gṛhasthaḥ puruṣaḥ pañcamahāyajñān anuṣṭhāya svamanāṃsi śuddhīkartum arhati | yaḥ gṛhasthaḥ satyaṃ sadā vadati, paradoṣān na paśyati, dānaṃ dadāti, brāhmaṇān satkaroti, gṛhaṃ sammārjya śuciṃ karoti, abhimānaṃ tyajati, sadā saralabhāvena tiṣṭhati, snehayuktāni vacāṃsi bhāṣate, atithyabhyāgatasevāyāṃ manaḥ niveśayati, yajñaśiṣṭam annaṃ bhuṅkte, ca śāstrājñayā atithaye pādya-arghya-āsana-śayyā-dīpaṃ nivāsārthaṃ gṛhaṃ ca prayacchati—sa dhārmika iti vijñeyaḥ || prātar utthāya cācāmya bhojanenopamantrya ca | satkṛtyānuvrajed yas tu tasya dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ ||
Maheshvara said: “A householder should purify his mind by performing the five great daily sacrifices. A true householder speaks truth, does not hunt for others’ faults, gives in charity, honors Brahmins, keeps the home clean by sweeping and tidying, abandons pride, lives with straightforward simplicity, speaks affectionate words, and applies his mind to serving guests and newcomers. He eats only what remains after offerings (food sanctified by sacrifice), and—according to scriptural rule—provides a guest with water for washing the feet, an offering of respect, a seat, a bed, a lamp, and even lodging in his home. Such a person should be known as righteous. Further, one who rises early, performs ācamana, invites Brahmins for a meal, feeds them at the proper time with due honor, and then respectfully escorts them for some distance—he is said to be upholding the eternal dharma.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage defines gṛhastha-dharma as inner purification through the five great daily duties and outward righteousness through truthfulness, non-censure of others, charity, humility, cleanliness, and especially disciplined hospitality—welcoming guests and Brahmins with scripturally prescribed honors and sharing sanctified food.
Śrī Maheśvara is instructing on ethical and ritual norms for householders in the Anuśāsana Parva, listing concrete daily behaviors—inviting and feeding Brahmins, serving guests, and respectfully escorting them—that exemplify ‘sanātana’ (timeless) dharma.