Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 16
Phala of Vrata, Niyama, Svādhyāya, Dama, Satya, Brahmacarya, and Service (व्रत-नियम-स्वाध्याय-दम-सत्य-ब्रह्मचर्य-शुश्रूषा-फलप्रश्नः)
दृष्टवैव मामभिमुखमापततन्तं देहीति स ह्वासनमादिदेश । वैवस्वतोडर्घ्यादिभिरह णैश्ष भवत्कृते पूजयामास मां सः:
dṛṣṭvaiva mām abhimukham āpatantaṁ dehīti sa hvāsanam ādi-deśa | vaivasvato 'rghyādibhir aham eṣa bhavat-kṛte pūjayāmāsa māṁ saḥ ||
भीष्म बोले— “मुझे सामने से आते देख विवस्वान-पुत्र वैवस्वत यम ने सेवकों से कहा—‘इन्हें आसन दो।’ फिर आपके नाते उन्होंने स्वयं अर्घ्य आदि अतिथि-सत्कार के विधानों से मेरा पूजन किया।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic hospitality and reverence: even a powerful authority like Yama follows proper etiquette—offering a seat and arghya—showing that honoring worthy guests and elders is an ethical obligation.
Bhishma recounts that when he approached Yama, Yama recognized him and instructed his attendants to provide a seat, then personally performed the formal welcome rites (arghya and related honors), explicitly doing so out of regard for the listener (‘for your sake’).