Shloka 50
Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy
अतिथि: पूजनीयस्त्वमिदं च भवतो गृहम् । सर्वमाज्ञाप्पतामाशु परवन्तो वयं त्वयि
atithiḥ pūjanīyas tvam idaṁ ca bhavato gṛham | sarvam ājñāpayatām āśu paravanto vayaṁ tvayi
ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—“ਤੁਸੀਂ ਪੂਜਣਯੋਗ ਅਤਿਥੀ ਹੋ ਅਤੇ ਇਹ ਘਰ ਵੀ ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਹੀ ਹੈ। ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਆਦੇਸ਼ ਹੋਵੇ ਤੁਰੰਤ ਦੱਸੋ; ਅਸੀਂ ਸਭ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਅਧੀਨ ਹਾਂ।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The core teaching is atithi-dharma: a guest should be honored as worthy of reverence, and the host should offer prompt, wholehearted service, placing the guest’s needs above personal ownership and convenience.
Bhishma addresses a guest with formal respect, declaring the guest to be worthy of honor and offering the entire household’s resources and obedience, inviting the guest to give instructions freely.