Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 32
आदित्योढोऽतिथिः सायं सत्कर्तव्यः प्रयत्नतः । असत्कृतोन्यतो गच्छन्दुष्कृतं भूरि यच्छति
ādityoḍho'tithiḥ sāyaṃ satkartavyaḥ prayatnataḥ | asatkṛtonyato gacchanduṣkṛtaṃ bhūri yacchati
A guest who arrives at evening, as though borne by the Sun’s setting, must be honored with special effort. If left unhonored and he goes elsewhere, he brings abundant demerit upon the house.
Skanda
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A twilight courtyard in Kāśī: the sun setting over the Gaṅgā; a weary traveler-guest arrives at the threshold; the householder hastens with a lamp, water-pot, and offering of food, aware that neglect brings sin.
FAQs
The evening guest is especially sacred; neglecting him turns hospitality-failure into heavy demerit.
The instruction belongs to the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s Kāśī dharma-setting, emphasizing righteous living in the holy city.
Satkāra of the sāyam-atithi—intentional, effortful honoring and feeding of a guest arriving at sunset.