History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c39.2.3

v3.c39.2.3

1) "let him never turn away a stranger from his house, that is the rule. Therefore a man should by all means acquire much food, for people say (to the guest) 'there is food ready for him.' If he gives food amply, food is given to him amply". In the Kaṭhopaniṣad¹⁷⁹³ (I. 7-9) it is said 'a brāhmaṇa entering a house as a guest is (like) fire. People offer this (well-known) appeasement to him. Oh, son of Vivasvat, offer him water (to wash his feet). If a brāhmaṇa guest stays in a man's house without food, he cuts off (destroys) the hopes and expectations, (fruits of) the friendship (of the good), the rewards of sacrifices and charitable acts, sons and cattle.' Then Yama offered to bestow three boons on Naciketas as some penance for allowing Naciketas to remain without food in his house for three days. The Nirukta¹⁷⁹⁴ IV. 5 in explaining Ṛg. V. 4. 5 (juṣṭo damūnā atithirduroṇa) derives the word 'atithi' from the root 'at' to go and also from 'tithi' (day) and 'a' meaning 'comes' (from 'i' with 'abhi'). Vide Manu III. 102 for another derivation; also Parāśara I. 42 and Mārk. 29. 2-9. Manu and others say that an *atithi* is so called because he does not stay for a whole *tithi* (i. e. day) and 'an atithi is a brāhmaṇa who stays for one night only as a guest.'