Shloka 6
Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)
अहन्यहनि यो दद्यात् कपिलां द्वादशी: समा: । मासि मासि च सत्रेण यो यजेत सदा नर:
bhīṣma uvāca | ahany ahani yo dadyāt kapilāṁ dvādaśīḥ samāḥ | māsi māsi ca satreṇa yo yajeta sadā naraḥ |
Bhishma dijo: «Aunque un hombre diera, día tras día, una vaca leonada en caridad durante doce años completos, y aunque mes tras mes mantuviera sin interrupción una sesión sacrificial, aun así el mérito de tales actos religiosos no puede igualar el fruto que obtiene aquel por cuyo servicio un huésped queda verdaderamente satisfecho.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That sincere service and hospitality which truly satisfies a guest yields a higher ethical and spiritual fruit than even immense, long-term charity (like daily cow-gifts for twelve years) or continuous sacrificial performances.
Bhishma is instructing on dharma and comparing the merit of grand ritual acts and donations with the merit of atithi-seva, emphasizing that lived compassion and respectful care for guests is superior.