Shloka 9
स तस्मै सत्क्रियां चक्रे क्रियायुक्तेन हेतुना । विश्रान्तं सुसमासीनमिदं वचनमत्रवीत्,ब्राह्मणने उस अतिथिका क्रियायुक्त हेतु (शास्त्रोक्त विधि) से आदर-सत्कार किया और जब वह सुखपूर्वक बैठकर विश्राम करने लगा, तब उससे इस प्रकार कहा
sa tasmai satkriyāṃ cakre kriyāyuktena hetunā | viśrāntaṃ susamāsīnam idaṃ vacanam abravīt |
He then offered that guest due honour and hospitality, following the proper ritual and ethical procedure. When the visitor had rested and was seated comfortably, he addressed him with these words—showing that reverence to a guest, performed in accordance with dharma, comes before any serious counsel or inquiry.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights atithi-dharma: one should first honour a guest through proper, dharma-aligned hospitality and ritual propriety; only after the guest is rested and comfortably seated should one begin important conversation or instruction.
A host receives a guest, performs respectful hospitality according to prescribed custom, waits until the guest has rested and is seated at ease, and then begins to speak to him.