Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5
अतिथिर्यस्य भग्नाशो गृहात्प्रतिनिवर्तते । स दत्त्वा दुष्कृतं तस्मै पुण्यमादाय गच्छति
atithiryasya bhagnāśo gṛhātpratinivartate | sa dattvā duṣkṛtaṃ tasmai puṇyamādāya gacchati
Si un hôte, l’espérance brisée, rebrousse chemin depuis la maison de quelqu’un, il s’en va après lui avoir donné son propre démérite et emporté le mérite du maître de maison.
Sūta
Scene: A weary guest turns back from a doorway, head lowered; inside, the negligent householder remains indifferent. A subtle, symbolic transfer of light (puṇya) leaving the house and shadow (pāpa) entering it.
FAQs
Neglecting a guest has immediate karmic consequences: merit is lost and demerit is gained.
No particular tīrtha is mentioned; the verse teaches universal dharma within a tīrtha-māhātmya setting.
The implied prescription is to satisfy and honor the atithi so he does not depart disappointed.