Shloka 27
Umā–Maheśvara-saṃvāda: Varṇa-bhraṃśa, Ācāra (Vṛtta), and Karmic Ascent/Decline
पितरस्तस्य देवाक्ष॒ अग्नयश्ष तथैव हि । निराशा: प्रतिगच्छन्ति अतिथेरप्रतिग्रहात्
pitaras tasya devāś ca agnayaś ca tathaiva hi | nirāśāḥ pratigacchanti atither apratigrahāt ||
ダルマは言った。「客人が、迎えられず敬われぬために失意のまま去ってゆく家からは、同じくしてピトリ（祖霊）も、神々も、聖なる火（アグニ）も失意のうちに去ってゆく。もてなしを怠ることは私的な小さな過ちではなく、宗教的・社会的義務たるダルマへの背反であり、正しい歓待によってもたらされる目に見えぬ加護を断ち切るのである。」
धर्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Hospitality to an atithi is a direct dharmic obligation. If a guest is not properly received, the household loses the goodwill and ‘presence’ of the gods, ancestors, and sacred fires—signifying loss of religious merit and auspicious support.
Dharma is instructing on righteous conduct (ācāra) in the Anuśāsana Parva, emphasizing that neglecting a guest is not merely discourteous; it disrupts the household’s ritual-moral economy tied to devas, pitṛs, and agni.