Manava Dharmashastra 3.223

3.223

satyapi nimitte na svaṃ duḥkhaṃ kenacitprakāreṇa dīrgheṇocchvāsādinā prakaṭayedapitu hṛṣṭavat syāt | brāhmaṇān harṣayet | gītādinā paraprayuktena, aviruddhena vā prasaṅgāgatena parihāsena | svādhyāye paṭhyamāne ciraṃ kaścidudvijet | tadā tato viramya ākhyānakairgītādinā ca ramayet | śanairbhojayet | katicidgrāsān gṛhīta sādhvetatsamyak bhojanamityevamādibhiḥ priyavacanairbhojayet | śanairna saṃrambheṇa brūyāt | annādyena pāyasādinā | guṇaiśca vyañjanairdānārthamuddhṛtai rasabattayā yojayan bhojanārthamutsāhayet | 'svādvyaḥ imāḥ śaṣkulyaḥ, suraseyaṃ kṣoriṇīti' pātrasthamevamādihastagṛhītaṃ kṛtvā purasthitaḥ punaḥ punarbrūyādityeṣā 'paricodanā' |

Being happy himself, he shall bring delight to the Brāhmaṇas; he shall feed them, gently and slowly, with dishes, and urge them repeatedly by means of seasonings.—(233)

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
Even if he has cause for grief, he should not show it, by heaving a sigh, or in any other way; in fact, he should show himself quite happy.

‘He should bring delight to the Brāhmaṇas’—by means of songs and such things sung by other persons; or, by means of such jokes as may be not improper and be in keeping with the occasion. If the reciting of Vedic texts were continued unceasingly, the Brāhmaṇas might begin to feel bored; hence, now and again, he should cease and amuse the guests by means of music, etc.

‘He should feed them gently;’—he should make them eat by addressing to them such agreeable words as ‘Do take a few morsels, this dish is nice;’ and this should be done ‘gently’—not in a hurried or pressing tone;—‘with dishes’—such as milk-rice, and the like.

‘By means of seasonings,’—when the seasonings are taken up for being served, he should describe them as very tasty and thereby tempt the guests to eat; saying such words as—‘these cakes are delicious, this preparation of milk is highly flavoured;’ and taking the things in hand and standing before each guest, he shall say such words again and again. This is what constitutes ‘urging.’—(233)