Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72
Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama
अतिथिर्यस्य भग्नाशो गृहात्प्रतिनिवर्तिते । स तस्मै दुष्कृतं दत्त्वा पुण्यमादाय गच्छति ॥ ७२ ॥
atithiryasya bhagnāśo gṛhātpratinivartite | sa tasmai duṣkṛtaṃ dattvā puṇyamādāya gacchati || 72 ||
Se um hóspede, com a esperança frustrada, volta-se da casa de alguém, ele parte após entregar seu demérito ao dono da casa e levar consigo o mérito deste.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)
Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)
FAQs
It teaches that honoring an atithi is not mere social etiquette but a karmic obligation: refusing or neglecting a guest causes one’s merit to diminish while attracting the guest’s demerit, showing the subtle moral economy governing grihastha-dharma.
Bhakti is expressed through reverence in action—seeing sacredness in service. By treating the guest as worthy of honor (atithi-devo-bhava in spirit), a devotee protects and increases punya, aligning daily conduct with devotion-based dharma.
It primarily reinforces Kalpa (ritual conduct) within dharma: the rule of atithi-satkara—offering respectful reception and sustenance—so that household rites and daily duties do not become sources of pratyavaya (negative karmic consequence).