History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c39.30

v3.c39.30

Āp. Dh. S. (II. 4. 9. 2-4) says¹⁸⁰⁷ that when the guest departs, the host should accompany him to the place where his conveyance is drawn up and if he has no conveyance, then till the guest gives him leave to go or if the guest forgets to give leave, the host should turn back from the boundary. Vas. Dh. S. XI. 15 and Yāj. I. 113 speak also of accompanying the guest till the boundary, and Aparārka explains that the boundary may be that of the host's house site, or of his field or of the village according to the eminence of the guest. Śaṅkha-Likhita¹⁸⁰⁸ prescribe that the host should accompany the guest till he reaches a public garden or public hall, a *prapā* (place where water is distributed gratis), a tank, a temple, a sacred (or big) tree (like the fig tree) or a river and then should go round the guest and say the words 'farewell till we see each other again.' It is in accordance with this that in the fourth Act of the Śākuntala Kaṇva's pupil reminds his teacher that one should accompany one's dear relative up to some reservoir of water.