दारुवनलीला—नीललोहितपरीक्षा, ब्रह्मोपदेशः, अतिथिधर्मः, संन्यासक्रमः
अहो ऽस्य तपसो वीर्यम् इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ च सः तस्मात्तथा पूजनीयाः सर्वे ह्यतिथयः सदा
aho 'sya tapaso vīryam ityuktvā prayayau ca saḥ tasmāttathā pūjanīyāḥ sarve hyatithayaḥ sadā
“Ah, betapa dahsyat daya yang lahir dari tapa beliau!” demikian berkata ia lalu berangkat. Karena itu semua tamu suci (atithi) senantiasa patut dihormati demikian; melayani atithi berarti melayani Pati, Tuhan yang menguji dan mengangkat jiwa (paśu) melalui dharma.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana; verse as a concluding injunction drawn from the episode)
It links daily dharma to Shiva-bhakti: honoring the atithi is treated as a form of worship, reinforcing that devotion to Mahadeva is expressed through right conduct and reverence.
Shiva-tattva is implied as the hidden Pati who can be approached through dharma; the atithi becomes a sacred occasion where the paśu’s bonds (pāśa) loosen through humility, service, and purity.
Atithi-pūjā as a dharmic observance allied to Pāśupata discipline: tapas (austerity) generates vīrya, and honoring guests preserves sattva and supports Shiva-oriented sādhanā.