Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 15
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
गवां फलं तीर्थफलं यज्ञानां चैव यत् फलम् | एतत् फलमवाप्रोति यो नरोडतिथिपूजक:,जो मानव अतिथियोंकी पूजा करता है, वह गोदान, तीर्थस्थान और यज्ञानुष्ठानका फल पा लेता है
gavāṁ phalaṁ tīrthaphalaṁ yajñānāṁ caiva yat phalam | etat phalam avāpnoti yo naro ’tithipūjakaḥ ||
Dijo Bhīṣma: El mérito que nace de donar vacas, el mérito obtenido al visitar los tīrtha (vados sagrados) y el mérito que surge de realizar sacrificios—ese mismo fruto alcanza el hombre que honra y venera al huésped.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Honoring a guest (atithi-pūjā) is a powerful form of dharma whose spiritual merit equals that of major religious acts like cow-gifting, pilgrimage, and sacrifice.
In Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma teaches by comparing results (phala): he declares that the host who reverently receives guests gains the same merit as celebrated acts of charity, pilgrimage, and ritual.