Changes

It refers to respectful reception of guests - ब्राह्म्यं हुतं द्विजाग्र्यार्चा | brāhmyaṁ hutaṁ dvijāgryārcāis | Hence, it is also called Brahmya-huta (Manu 3.74)<ref name=":0">Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 3]</ref><ref name=":1">The Laws of Manu, Translated by G.Buhler, [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/manu/manu03.htm Chapter 3]</ref>

It refers to respectful reception of guests - ब्राह्म्यं हुतं द्विजाग्र्यार्चा | brāhmyaṁ hutaṁ dvijāgryārcāis | Hence, it is also called Brahmya-huta (Manu 3.74)<ref name=":0">Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 3]</ref><ref name=":1">The Laws of Manu, Translated by G.Buhler, [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/manu/manu03.htm Chapter 3]</ref>

'''8.3 Brahmanya-huta − giving alms & feeding guests'''

are the two most important components of Nru Yajna. Even there, अतिथिसत्कारः takes precedence.<blockquote>कृत्वैतद्बलिकर्मैवं अतिथिं पूर्वं आशयेत् । भिक्षां च भिक्षवे दद्याद्विधिवद्ब्रह्मचारिणे । । ३.९४ । ।<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>kr̥tvaitadbalikarmaivaṁ atithiṁ pūrvaṁ āśayet । bhikṣāṁ ca bhikṣave dadyādvidhivadbrahmacāriṇe । । 3.94 । ।</blockquote>Meaning: Having performed this Bali offering (Bhuta Yajna), he shall first feed his guest and, according to the rule, give alms to an ascetic (and) to a student.<ref name=":1" />

Having performed this Bali offering, he shall first feed his guest and, according to the rule, give alms to an ascetic (and) to a student. [v.3.94.]

=== अतिथिसत्कारः ॥ Offering hospitality to guests ===

It is said that,<blockquote>विद्यातपःसमृद्धेषु हुतं विप्रमुखाग्निषु । निस्तारयति दुर्गाच्च महतश्चैव किल्बिषात् । । ३.९८ । ।<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>vidyātapaḥsamr̥ddheṣu hutaṁ vipramukhāgniṣu । nistārayati durgācca mahataścaiva kilbiṣāt । । 3.98 । ।</blockquote>Meaning: An offering made in the mouth-fire of Brahmanas rich in sacred learning and austerities, saves from misfortune and from great guilt.<ref name=":1" />

8.3.1 Alms

Hence, there is high regard for अन्नदानम् (offering of food to the hungry) in the Indian culture.

A twice-born householder gains, by giving alms, the same reward for his meritorious act which (a student) obtains for presenting, in accordance with the rule, a cow to his teacher. [v.3.95.]

* A Brahmana who stays one night only is declared to be a guest (atithi); for because he stays (sthita) not long (anityam), he is called atithi (a guest). (Manu 3.102)<ref name=":1" />

* But a Kshatriya (who comes) to the house of a Brahmana is not called a guest (atithi), nor a Vaisya, nor a Sudra, nor a personal friend, nor a relative, nor the teacher. But if a Kshatriya comes to the house of a Brahmana in the manner of a guest, (the house-holder) may feed him according to his desire, after the above-mentioned Brahmanas have eaten. Even to others, personal friends and so forth, who have come to his house out of affection, he may give food, garnished (with seasoning) according to his ability, (at the same time) with his wife. (Manu 3.110, 111, 113)<ref name=":1" />

<blockquote>न ब्राह्मणस्य त्वतिथिर्गृहे राजन्य उच्यते । वैश्यशूद्रौ सखा चैव ज्ञातयो गुरुरेव च । । ३.११० । ।</blockquote><blockquote>यदि त्वतिथिधर्मेण क्षत्रियो गृहं आव्रजेत् । भुक्तवत्सु च विप्रेषु कामं तं अपि भोजयेत् । । ३.१११ । ।</blockquote><blockquote>इतरानपि सख्यादीन्सम्प्रीत्या गृहं आगतान् । प्रकृत्यान्नं यथाशक्ति भोजयेत्सह भार्यया । । ३.११३ । ।<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>na brāhmaṇasya tvatithirgr̥he rājanya ucyate । vaiśyaśūdrau sakhā caiva jñātayo gurureva ca । । 3.110 । ।</blockquote><blockquote>yadi tvatithidharmeṇa kṣatriyo gr̥haṁ āvrajet । bhuktavatsu ca vipreṣu kāmaṁ taṁ api bhojayet । । 3.111 । ।</blockquote><blockquote>itarānapi sakhyādīnsamprītyā gr̥haṁ āgatān । prakr̥tyānnaṁ yathāśakti bhojayetsaha bhāryayā । । 3.113 । ।</blockquote>

Let him give, in accordance with the rule, to a Brahmana who knows the true meaning of the Veda, even (a small portion of food as) alms, or a pot full of water, having garnished (the food with seasoning, or the pot with flowers and fruit). [v.3.96.]

It says,<blockquote>संप्राप्ताय त्वतिथये प्रदद्यादासनोदके । अन्नं चैव यथाशक्ति सत्कृत्य विधिपूर्वकम् । । ३.९९ । ।</blockquote><blockquote>तृणानि भूमिरुदकं वाक्चतुर्थी च सूनृता । एतान्यपि सतां गेहे नोच्छिद्यन्ते कदा चन । । ३.१०१ । । <ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>saṁprāptāya tvatithaye pradadyādāsanodake । annaṁ caiva yathāśakti satkr̥tya vidhipūrvakam । । 3.99 । ।</blockquote><blockquote>tr̥ṇāni bhūmirudakaṁ vākcaturthī ca sūnr̥tā । etānyapi satāṁ gehe nocchidyante kadā cana । । 3.101 । ।</blockquote>Meaning: Let him offer, in accordance with the rule, to a guest who has come (of his own accord) a seat and water, as well as food, garnished (with seasoning), according to his ability.Grass[asana], room (for resting), water, and fourthly a kind word; these (things) never fail in the houses of good men.<ref name=":1" />

8.3.2 Care of guests

<blockquote>भुक्तवत्स्वथ विप्रेषु स्वेषु भृत्येषु चैव हि । भुञ्जीयातां ततः पश्चादवशिष्टं तु दम्पती । । ३.११६ । ।<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>bhuktavatsvatha vipreṣu sveṣu bhr̥tyeṣu caiva hi । bhuñjīyātāṁ tataḥ paścādavaśiṣṭaṁ tu dampatī । । 3.116 । ।</blockquote>

* Let him honour with the honey-mixture a king, an officiating priest, a Snataka, the teacher, a son-in-law, a father-in-law, and a maternal uncle, (if they come) again after a full year (has elapsed since their last visit). A king and a Srotriya, who come on the performance of a sacrifice, must be honoured with the honey-mixture, but not if no sacrifice is being performed; that is a settled rule.<ref name=":1" />

An offering made in the mouth-fire of Brahmanas rich in sacred learning and austerities, saves from misfortune and from great guilt. [v.3.98.]

<blockquote>न वै स्वयं तदश्नीयादतिथिं यन्न भोजयेत् । धन्यं यशस्यं आयुष्यं स्वर्ग्यं वातिथिपूजनम् । । ३.१०६ । ।<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>na vai svayaṁ tadaśnīyādatithiṁ yanna bhojayet । dhanyaṁ yaśasyaṁ āyuṣyaṁ svargyaṁ vātithipūjanam । । 3.106 । ।</blockquote>Meaning: Let him not eat any (dainty) food which he does not offer to his guest; the hospitable reception of guests procures wealth, fame, long life, and heavenly bliss.<ref name=":1" />

But let him offer, in accordance with the rule, to a guest who has come (of his own accord) a seat and water, as well as food, garnished (with seasoning), according to his ability. [v.3.99.]

==== अतिथिनिरादरफलम् ॥ Fruit of disrespecting a guest ====

Manusmrti says,<blockquote>अदत्त्वा तु य एतेभ्यः पूर्वं भुङ्क्तेऽविचक्षणः । स भुञ्जानो न जानाति श्वगृध्रैर्जग्धिं आत्मनः । । ३.११५ । ।</blockquote><blockquote>शिलानप्युञ्छतो नित्यं पञ्चाग्नीनपि जुह्वतः । सर्वं सुकृतं आदत्ते ब्राह्मणोऽनर्चितो वसन् । । ३.१०० । ।<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>śilānapyuñchato nityaṁ pañcāgnīnapi juhvataḥ । sarvaṁ sukr̥taṁ ādatte brāhmaṇo'narcito vasan । । 3.100 । ।</blockquote><blockquote>adattvā tu ya etebhyaḥ pūrvaṁ bhuṅkte'vicakṣaṇaḥ । sa bhuñjāno na jānāti śvagr̥dhrairjagdhiṁ ātmanaḥ । । 3.115 । ।</blockquote>Meaning: The foolish man who eats first without having given food to these (persons) does, while he crams, not know that (after death) he himself will be devoured by dogs and vultures. A Brahmana who stays unhonoured (in the house), takes away (with him) all the spiritual merit even of a man who subsists by gleaning ears of corn, or offers oblations in five fires.<ref name=":1" />

Grass[asana], room (for resting), water, and fourthly a kind word; these (things) never fail in the houses of good men. [v.3.101.]

A twice-born householder gains, by giving alms, the same reward for his meritorious act which (a student) obtains for presenting, in accordance with the rule, a cow to his teacher. [v.3.95.]

Let him give, in accordance with the rule, to a Brahmana who knows the true meaning of the Veda, even (a small portion of food as) alms, or a pot full of water, having garnished (the food with seasoning, or the pot with flowers and fruit). [v.3.96.]

 

 

Let him not eat any (dainty) food which he does not offer to his guest; the hospitable reception of guests procures wealth, fame, long life, and heavenly bliss. [v.3.106.]

 

Let him offer (to his guests) seats, rooms, beds, attendance on departure and honour (while they stay), to the most distinguished in the best form, to the lower ones in a lower form, to equals in an equal manner. [v.3.107.]

 

But if another guest comes after the Vaisvadeva offering has been finished, (the householder) must give him food according to his ability, (but) not repeat the Bali offering. [v.3.108.]

 

But a Kshatriya (who comes) to the house of a Brahmana is not called a guest (atithi), nor a Vaisya, nor a Sudra, nor a personal friend, nor a relative, nor the teacher. [v.3.110.]

 

But if a Kshatriya comes to the house of a Brahmana in the manner of a guest, (the house-holder) may feed him according to his desire, after the above-mentioned Brahmanas have eaten. [v.3.111.]

 

Even to others, personal friends and so forth, who have come to his house out of affection, he may give food, garnished (with seasoning) according to his ability, (at the same time) with his wife. [v.3.113.]

 

Without hesitation he may give food, even before his guests, to the following persons, (viz.) to newly-married women, to infants, to the sick, and to pregnant women. [v.3.114.]

 

 

 

Let him honour with the honey-mixture a king, an officiating priest, a Snataka, the teacher, a son-in-law, a father-in-law, and a maternal uncle, (if they come) again after a full year (has elapsed since their last visit). [v.3.119.]