History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c39.17

v3.c39.17

The guest is to be shown honour by going out to meet him, by offering him water to wash his feet, by giving him a seat, by lighting a lamp before him, by giving food and lodging, by personal attendance on him, by offering him a bed and by accompanying him some distance when he departs. Vide Gaut. V. 29-34, 37, Āp. Dh. S. II. 3. 6. 7-15, Manu III. 99, 107 and IV. 29, Dakṣa III. 5-8. Vanaparva 200. 22-25 and Anuśāsana 2 highly extol hospitality. Anuśāsana 7. 6 says 'the host should give his eye, mind and agreeable speech to the guest, he should personally attend on him and should accompany him when he (the guest) departs; this sacrifice demands these five fees'.¹⁷⁹⁸ Āp. Dh. S. (II. 2. 4. 16-21) says that if a brāhmaṇa that has not studied the Veda or a kṣatriya or a vaiśya comes as a guest to a brāhmaṇa, the latter should offer him a seat, water and food, but need not rise to receive him, that if a śūdra comes as a guest to a brāhmaṇa, the latter should ask him to do some work, then give him food, but if he has none, he should send his slaves to bring it from the royal palace (or store-house).¹⁷⁹⁹ Haradatta makes the interesting remark that for honouring śūdra visitors the king should set apart in each village some paddy or other corn. Gaut. V. 33, Manu III. 101 (= Vanaparva II. 54 and Udyoga 36. 34), Āp. Dh. S. II. 2. 4. 13-14, Yāj. I. 107, Baud. gṛ. II. 9. 21-23 say that¹⁸⁰⁰ if a man has not the means to give food to all visitors he should at least offer them water, room and grass to lie down upon, and agreeable speech. If the householder is absent, his wife is to look after honouring guests. Gaut. (V. 37-38) says that guests of the brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya and vaiśya castes should be respectively greeted with the words *kuśala*, *anāmaya* and *ārogya* and the śūdra also with *ārogya*. Vide Manu II. 127 also and note 831 above.