Lomaśa spoke to the assembled twice-born, illuminating the sacred duties of householders. He explained that when a householder honors a forest-dweller, a celibate, and a mendicant, his home becomes the best among all four stages of life. Among these stages, householders are held foremost, and their highest duty is to welcome guests with devotion. He emphasized that the honoring of guests is the supreme conduct for householders. Even those who neglect other duties remain householders, but if they fail in hospitality, their other virtues lose meaning. When someone arrives unexpectedly—whose name, lineage, or residence is unknown—the wise recognize them as a guest to be honored. No matter their caste—Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, or even Shudra—when they come and are honored, they are regarded by the wise as Vishnu Himself. Those of lower origins, such as the Chandala and others, must also be received with reverence, offered water for their feet, arghya, and abundant food, as if honoring Vishnu. Even if the householder is about to depart, he must pause to offer water for the feet, arghya, and other gifts to the arriving guest. With gentle words, he should inquire about their well-being, arrange a meal, or present precious gifts with joy. In a pleasant home, a bed should be prepared for the guest; and in the morning, if the guest wishes to depart, he should not be hindered. If fate grants wealth to the householder, he must honor the guest accordingly. When guests arrive, even simple offerings like grass should be given with devotion; if nothing is available, he should respectfully invite the guest to sit on the ground. Excellent water should be provided for washing the feet, followed by sweet words and inquiries about their welfare. Afterward, fruits and other foods should be offered. If these are lacking, the wise householder should joyfully explain his situation, 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.” Even the destitute, honoring the guest sincerely, will attain the promised reward, though fallen from proper conduct. If a guest departs without being honored, the householder’s merit accumulated over millions of births is diminished. But if even one guest is honored with devotion, Hari removes the sins of countless lifetimes. Lomaśa declared firmly and truthfully: without guest service, householders have no path. Without honoring guests, there is absolutely no path for householders. To illustrate these teachings, Lomaśa recounted a story from the Dvāpara Yuga. There lived a renowned man named Jñātidharma, beloved and learned in sacred duties, with his wife Śrīvallabhā. Devoted to his kin and all duties, he established his home in Saurāṣṭra. In that region, malefic planetary influences caused Indra to withhold rain for twelve years, bringing a terrible famine. The people suffered greatly and abandoned their customary codes of conduct. Among them was Jñānabhadra, a great yogi, who lost his wealth to the famine and became deeply distressed. Seeing his wife and children tormented by hunger, Jñānabhadra went to the mountain slope in search of fruit and roots. There, he found a single gourd-fruit. Delighted, he quickly returned home with his precious find. Meanwhile, the sky suddenly darkened with clouds like blue lotuses, and a great rainfall began. Drenched by the downpour, the sage returned home, as did a certain forest-dweller, shivering from the cold. Seeing the guest afflicted, Jñānabhadra bowed in respect, offered him a seat of grass with devotion, and gave water for washing the feet and other customary offerings. With sweet words and wise conversation, he put the guest at ease. Together with his wife, skilled in serving her husband, and a cowherd, they carefully cooked the fresh gourd-fruit. The virtuous wife apportioned the fruit, and the weak cowherd—who had fasted for twenty days—received his share. The honored guest, joyful, gave the largest portion to the host. The devoted wife gladly gave her own portion to the guest. Thus, between the two noble spouses and the guest, the fruit was divided. After eating, the excellent brāhmaṇa guest was greatly pleased, worshipped by the couple with firm devotion as if he were Vishnu Himself. He rested there that night and, after bathing in the morning, departed. Thus, through fasting, twenty-one days passed. The two great-souled spouses then departed from this world. By the power of their merit, gained through sincere worship of guests, they attained union with Vishnu—a union difficult even for yogis to obtain. Such is the reward for the householder who honors guests with devotion.