Shloka 71
Kṛṣṇādi-Śivabhaktoddhāraṇa & Śiva-māhātmya-varṇana
Deliverance of Krishna and other devotees; Description of Shiva’s Greatness
स तु वाच्यो भवत्या च न दृश्यंत इति प्रियः । अतिथेरागतस्यापि किं दास्यामि गृहे वसन्
sa tu vācyo bhavatyā ca na dṛśyaṃta iti priyaḥ | atitherāgatasyāpi kiṃ dāsyāmi gṛhe vasan
Beloved, you too should tell him: “He is not to be seen.” For even if a guest has arrived, if I remain in the house with nothing at hand, what can I give him?
A householder (gṛhastha) speaking to his beloved/wife within the narrative of the Umāsaṃhitā
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It highlights the dharma of truthful, responsible conduct in household life—one should not pretend spiritual or social capacity one does not have, and should act with integrity in matters like receiving guests.
In Shaiva Siddhanta, outer worship of Saguna Shiva is supported by inner purity and dharmic living; this verse reinforces that devotion is not separate from ethical responsibility in daily life, including atithi-sevā.
The practical takeaway is disciplined gṛhastha-dharma: prepare offerings and maintain a sattvic household so that hospitality and simple puja (naivedya, dīpa) can be done without deceit or anxiety.