Shloka 69
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
सुरतं ते<स्तु विप्राग्रय प्रीतिर्हि परमा मम । गृहस्थस्य हि धर्मो5ग्रय: सम्प्राप्तातिथिपूजनम्,“विप्रवर! आपकी सुरत कामनापूर्ण हो। इससे मुझे बड़ी प्रसन्नता है; क्योंकि घरपर आये हुए अतिथिका पूजन करना गृहस्थके लिये सबसे बड़ा धर्म है
surataṁ te 'stu viprāgrya prītir hi paramā mama | gṛhasthasya hi dharmo 'gryaḥ samprāptātithi-pūjanam ||
Bhīṣma said: “O foremost of Brahmins, may your desire be fulfilled; it gives me the highest satisfaction. For the greatest duty of a householder is the honoring of a guest who has arrived at one’s home.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates atithi-pūjana—respectful reception and honoring of a guest—as the foremost dharma of a householder, presenting hospitality as a central ethical obligation.
Bhishma addresses a Brahmin respectfully, grants or affirms the fulfillment of his request, and explains that doing so pleases him because honoring an arrived guest is the highest duty for one living the householder stage of life.