दारुवनलीला—नीललोहितपरीक्षा, ब्रह्मोपदेशः, अतिथिधर्मः, संन्यासक्रमः
अहो ऽस्य तपसो वीर्यम् इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ च सः तस्मात्तथा पूजनीयाः सर्वे ह्यतिथयः सदा
aho 'sya tapaso vīryam ityuktvā prayayau ca saḥ tasmāttathā pūjanīyāḥ sarve hyatithayaḥ sadā
अहोऽस्य तपसो वीर्यमित्युक्त्वा स प्रययौ। तस्मात्तथा पूजनीयाः सर्वे ह्यतिथयः सदा॥
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana; verse as a concluding injunction drawn from the episode)
It links daily dharma to Shiva-bhakti: honoring the atithi is treated as a form of worship, reinforcing that devotion to Mahadeva is expressed through right conduct and reverence.
Shiva-tattva is implied as the hidden Pati who can be approached through dharma; the atithi becomes a sacred occasion where the paśu’s bonds (pāśa) loosen through humility, service, and purity.
Atithi-pūjā as a dharmic observance allied to Pāśupata discipline: tapas (austerity) generates vīrya, and honoring guests preserves sattva and supports Shiva-oriented sādhanā.