Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 17
तमृषिं स च संप्रेक्ष्य पदानि दश पंच च । आगच्छन्त्वत्र पूजार्हा भवतो मम मन्दिरम्
tamṛṣiṃ sa ca saṃprekṣya padāni daśa paṃca ca | āgacchantvatra pūjārhā bhavato mama mandiram
Melihat sang ṛṣi itu, ia maju lima belas langkah dan berkata: “Wahai para mulia yang patut dipuja, datanglah kemari—berkenanlah memasuki kediamanku.”
King Gaja
Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: null
Scene: King Gaja steps forward deliberately—fifteen measured steps—hands in añjali, addressing the sages with reverence, inviting them to his residence; attendants stand back respectfully.
FAQs
Honoring guests and sages is a core dharma; humble reception itself becomes worship and generates great merit.
The episode unfolds in Vastrāpathakṣetra’s māhātmya setting, portraying it as a place where saintly guests are received and honored.
Atithi-satkāra: inviting and honoring the pūjārha sages (hospitality as a dharmic observance).