Shloka 24
Ākiṃcanya–Tyāga Upadeśa
The Instruction on Non-ownership and Renunciation
मम त्वं निलयं प्राप्त: प्रियातिथिरनिन्दित: । पूजितो यास्यसि प्रातर्विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
mama tvaṁ nilayaṁ prāptaḥ priyātithir aninditaḥ | pūjito yāsyasi prātar vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā ||
Bhishma said: “You have come to my dwelling as a dear and blameless guest. In accordance with the rites enjoined by the sacred tradition, I shall honor you with due worship. Accept my hospitality for the night, and depart from here tomorrow morning.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds atithi-dharma: a guest who arrives at one’s home is to be treated as worthy of honor, and hospitality should be offered according to prescribed righteous conduct (vidhi), not merely personal preference.
Bhishma addresses a visitor who has come to his residence, acknowledges him as a welcome and blameless guest, promises to perform the proper rites of reception and worship, and asks him to stay the night and leave the next morning.