Shloka 23
काले तत्रातिथिं प्राप्तम् अन्नकामं नृपाध्वगम् ब्राह्मणैर् अभ्यनुज्ञातः कामं तम् अपि भोजयेत्
kāle tatrātithiṃ prāptam annakāmaṃ nṛpādhvagam brāhmaṇair abhyanujñātaḥ kāmaṃ tam api bhojayet
ಓ ರಾಜನೇ! ಯೋಗ್ಯ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಆಹಾರ ಬಯಸುವ, ರಾಜಮಾರ್ಗದ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕನಾದ ಅತಿಥಿ ಬಂದರೆ, ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರ ಅನುಮತಿಯಿಂದ ಅವನಿಗೂ ಅವನ ಇಚ್ಛೆಯಂತೆ ಭೋಜನ ಮಾಡಿಸಬೇಕು.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Conduct during rites when an atithi arrives: feeding a traveler with brāhmaṇa consent as part of gṛhastha-dharma
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: compassionate and socially directive
Concept: Hospitality to the unexpected guest—especially a hungry traveler—is a direct obligation of dharma and must be integrated into ritual life, not postponed by it.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Treat the needy interrupting your plans as a priority; offer food, time, and respect, coordinating responsibly with community/elders when appropriate.
Vishishtadvaita: The atithi is to be served as Nārāyaṇa’s presence (antaryāmin): God is honored through compassionate service to embodied beings.
Vishnu Form: Narayana
Bhakti Type: Dasya
Antaryamin: Yes
FAQs
This verse frames hospitality as a core household obligation: even an unplanned traveler seeking food should be fed, making service (anna-dāna) a visible act of maintaining dharma.
Parāśara teaches that feeding is to be done at the proper time and in right order, and that a guest-traveler may be fed as well—especially when sanctioned by the Brahmins—showing discipline joined to compassion.
Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the ethic reflects a Vaishnava Purana’s view that dharma and social order are upheld under the Supreme’s sovereignty; feeding the needy becomes an offering that aligns life with that sustaining Reality.