Manava Dharmashastra 3.97

3.97

bahuṣvatithiṣu yugapadupasthiteṣvitaretaraṃ samahīnajyīyastvāsanādiprakalpanaṃ guṇāpekṣaṃ, nāviśeṣeṇa | āsanaṃ bṛsyādi | āvasathaṃ viśrāmabhūmiḥ | śayyā khaṭvādi | anuvrajyā gacchato'nugamanam | upāsanaṃ tatsamīpe kathāprastāvena saṃnidhānam | etaduttameṣūttamam | dūramanuvrajyeta ‘uttamaḥ,’ nātidūraṃ ‘madhyamaḥ,’ katicitpa dāni ‘hīnaḥ’ |

He should offer seat, room, bed, foliowing and attendance of the best kind to superiors, of the inferior kind to inferiors and of the equal (ordinary) kind to equals.—(107)

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
When several guests of several grades—superior, inferior and equal—arrive at the same time, then the seat, &c., that are offered to them should not all be of the same quality; they should be in accordance with their relative merits.

‘Seat’— the mat, and so forth.

‘Room’—place for resting.

‘Bed’—bedstead, &c.

‘Following’— going after him when he goes.

‘Attendance’— keeping near him and entertaining him with conversation.

All this should be ‘of the best kind, to superiors.’ &e.,—i.e., the superior guest should be followed to a great distance; the medium guest, not very far: and the inferior, only a few steps.—(107)