With reverence in their hearts, the two noble householders gazed at the hermitage, feeling its sanctity deep within them. They spoke humbly to their honored guest, saying, “This hermitage has surely been purified for us by the presence of such noble and worthy ones as yourself. Whatever sins we may have committed in ignorance before this moment—all those have now been destroyed by the mere sight of your sacred feet. You, Nārāyaṇa himself, are worthy of worship even by the immortals. How can we, mere mortals on this earth, properly perform your worship? The hospitality we have offered is only what we could manage, according to our ability. By this, be greatly pleased and forgive any faults we may have committed.” Having spoken thus, the two great-souled friends, both householders, prostrated themselves at the feet of the best of Brahmins. Seeing their devotion, Lomaśa, the most learned among sages, was deeply satisfied. He said, “You two are the foremost among the humble and eminent Brahmins, devoted to dharma. Your humble words have greatly nourished me. The wise declare that when a guest is received, it is as if Brahmā, Śiva, and Viṣṇu themselves are present. May such devotion as yours always bring you auspiciousness. I have been properly honored as a guest, with abundant food and respect.” Then, rising, the two Brahmins once more bowed at his lotus feet and addressed the sage Lomaśa again: “O sage, please speak to us about the greatness of hospitality, by which even those who suffer may attain liberation. Who is truly called a guest in this world, and what kind of worship is appropriate for him? We hear that both the host and the guest attain their desired goal through this.” Lomaśa replied, “A forest-dweller, a celibate, and a mendicant—by honoring such guests, the householder’s dwelling is declared the best among the four stages of life. Indeed, among the four āśramas, householders are considered foremost, for it is their duty to perform hospitality to guests with devotion. The highest duty of a householder is to honor guests; those who neglect this, even if they follow other virtuous deeds, are still called householders but miss the essence of their role. If householders are not diligent in honoring guests, then what purpose do their other virtuous deeds serve? “A guest, according to the wise, is one whose name, lineage, or residence is not known, who arrives unexpectedly at the house. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and even Shudras—when they come to the house and are honored—are regarded as Viṣṇu himself by those who perceive the truth. Even others, beginning with Chāṇḍālas and those born of lower castes, must be honored like Viṣṇu, with offerings of water for the feet, arghya, and abundant food. “When a guest arrives, even if the householder is about to depart, he should quickly offer water for the feet, arghya, and other offerings, O twice-born. He should inquire kindly about their well-being with gentle words, and arrange a meal or offer precious gifts with joy. In a pleasant house, the wise should prepare a bed for the guest; and when the guest wishes to leave in the morning, he should not be hindered. “If, by the results of past actions, the householder has become wealthy, then the guest must be honored as a guest; this I declare to the virtuous. When guests arrive, one should offer grass and the like with devotion; if there is no grass, one should respectfully say, ‘Sit on the ground.’ For washing the feet, one should give excellent water, and with sweet words inquire about their well-being and other matters. After that, one should offer fruits and the like with devotion for their meal; if these are lacking, the wise householder should joyfully explain the situation to the Brahmin, saying, ‘I am a great sinner, poor, and you are an eminent guest. I wish to serve you with devotion, though I am constrained by fate.’ “By this method, even the destitute, having sincerely honored the guest, though fallen from proper conduct, will attain the result as stated. But if a guest departs from a house without being honored, the merit accumulated over millions of births by the householder is diminished. If even one guest is honored with devotion, Hari immediately removes the sins accumulated over millions of births. I speak the truth, I speak what is beneficial, I speak firmly and with effort: without the service of guests, householders have no path. Truly, truly, again truly, without honoring arriving guests, there is absolutely no path, no path, no path for householders.” Lomaśa then recounted a story from the Dvāpara Yuga: “There was a renowned man named Jñātidharma, beloved and learned in all sacred duties, and his wife was Śrīvallabhā. He, devoted to serving his kin, performed all his duties and established his residence in Saurāṣṭra together with his wife. There, due to the movement of malefic planets, Indra did not send rain for twelve years, and thus a great famine befell the land, O twice-born ones. During that severe famine, all the people dwelling in that region became afflicted with suffering and even abandoned their customary codes of conduct. “In that Dvāpara age, there was a great yogi named Jñānabhadra. He lost his wealth to the famine and became extremely distressed. Seeing his children and wife, esteemed among the twice-born, tormented by hunger, he went to the slope of a mountain in search of fruit and roots. At the edge of the mountain’s slope, that long-lived and hungry one, together with the excellent brāhmaṇa, found a single gourd-fruit. Taking that fruit, delighted, the illustrious brāhmaṇa lord Jñānabhadra quickly returned to his own home. “Meanwhile, O brāhmaṇas, the sky became covered with clouds as if with blue lotuses, and a great downpour of rain occurred. And that sage, drenched by the rain, with all his limbs soaked, returned home, as did a certain forest-dweller, shivering from the cold.