Manava Dharmashastra 3.89

3.89

samprāptāya svayamupasthitāya, na tu nimantritāya | na hi nimantrito'tithirbhavati | prāptideśaṃ ca vakṣyati ( agre 103 ślo0 ) “bhāryā yatrāgnayo'pi vā” iti | āsanodake dadyāt | pādadhāvanopayogi prathamamudakaṃ tata āsanam bhojanaṃ ca | yathāśakti saṃskṛlyetyannaviśeṣaṇam | saviśeṣamannaṃ saṃskṛtya dadyādbhojayet | vidhipūrvakam vidhiḥ pūrvo yasmindāne tadevamucyate | vidhiḥ śāstraṃ tatpūrvaṃ nimittaṃ pramāṇamityarthaḥ |

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
‘That has happened to come’—i.e., who has come of his own accord, and has not been invited; one who has been invited is not a ‘guest.’ The proper place where the guest is to arrive shall be described later on—‘where the wife and the Fires are, &c., &c.’ (103).

‘Water and seat he should offer;’—first of all he should offer water for the washing of his feet, and then the seat; ‘and also food.’

‘Prepared to the best of his ability;’—this qualifies ‘food.’ The meaning is that he should prepare the food with special care and then offer it—feed him with it.

‘According to rule’—i.e., that offering which is preceded—supported—by injunction; i.e., that which is sanctioned by scripture.—(99)