Opening the text
An Exposition on the Causes of Happiness and Suffering
यश्चात्मा वै समश्नाति ततः सौख्यतरं नु किम् ॥ प्रविष्टस्त्वतिथिर्यस्य निराशो यन्न गच्छति ॥
yaś cātmā vai samaśnāti tataḥ saukhyataraṃ nu kim || praviṣṭas tv atithir yasya nirāśo yan na gacchati ||
A ten, kto sam spożywa pokarm w odpowiedniej mierze, cóż może być szczęśliwszego niż to? Jeszcze szczęśliwszy jest ten, z którego domu gość, po wejściu, nie odchodzi rozczarowany.
Varāha (default speaker for this nīti sequence)
It preserves the classical South Asian ideal of atithi-satkāra (guest-care) and moderation in consumption—values central to household ethics across Purāṇic and Dharmaśāstra traditions.
No geographic location is specified; the verse is normative and household-centered.
Practice moderation in personal consumption and ensure that guests leave satisfied—hospitality is presented as a high ethical good.
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