Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 6
Adhyāya 142: Cyavana, the Devas’ Arrogance, and Vāyu’s Counsel on Protecting Brāhmaṇas
रन्तिदेवश्व सांकृत्यो वसिष्ठाय महात्मने । अर्घ्य प्रदाय विधिवल्लेभे लोकाननुत्तमान्
Rantidevaś ca Sāṅkṛtyo Vasiṣṭhāya mahātmane | arghyaṃ pradāya vidhivāl lebhe lokān anuttamān ||
भीष्म ने कहा—सांकृत्य के पुत्र राजा रन्तिदेव ने महात्मा वसिष्ठ मुनि को विधिपूर्वक अर्घ्य अर्पित किया; इस सत्कार से उन्होंने उत्तम और अनुपम लोकों की प्राप्ति की।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That honoring a worthy guest—especially a sage—through proper, rule-based hospitality (arghya offered vidhivāt) is a powerful act of dharma that yields great spiritual merit and leads to exalted realms.
Bhishma cites Rantideva (of Saṅkṛti’s line) as an example: he ritually welcomed the sage Vasiṣṭha with arghya, and as a result of this correct and reverent act, he attained unsurpassed worlds.