तुलसीमृत्तिकापुण्ड्रं यो मृत्युसमये वहेत् । स मुक्तः सकलैः पापैः पुरं गच्छति चक्रिणः
Whoever bears the mark of tulasī clay at the time of death is freed from all sins and goes to the city of the wielder of the discus.
यस्य स्यात्तुलसीपत्रं मुखे शिरसि कर्णयोः । मृत्युकाले द्विजश्रेष्ठ तस्य स्वामी न भास्करिः
O best of Brahmins, at the time of death, whoever has tulasī leaves in his mouth, on his head, or on his ears, his master is not the sun.
पवित्रनामा सुमतिर्बभूव परमार्थवित् । बभूव ब्राह्मणी तस्य बहुला नाम धारिणी
A wise man named Pavitra, knower of the highest truth, was born; his wife was a Brahmin woman named Bahulā.
सद्वंशप्रभवा साध्वी पतिसेवापरायणा । अनपत्यपतिर्नाम तत्रैकोस्ति द्विजोत्तमः
She was a virtuous woman, descended from a noble lineage, devoted to serving her husband; among them was a Brahmin named Anapatyapati.
सख्यं तेन पवित्रोऽसौ चकार द्विजसेविना । ततोऽनपत्यपतिना कथालोभेन सत्तमः
He formed a friendship with him, who was pure and devoted to serving Brahmins; then, being childless and without a wife, the excellent one was drawn by the desire for stories.
उपविष्टः पवित्रोऽसौ स्नेहादेकवरासने । तत्रांतरे महातेजा लोमशो नाम स द्विजः
That pure one, out of affection, sat down on a single seat; in that moment, the great and radiant sage named Lomaśa, a Brahmin, was present.
कथयंतौ कथाश्चित्राः समागत्य ददर्श तौ । अथ तं लोमशं विप्रं विप्रावुत्थाय पीठतः
As the two were conversing and sharing wondrous tales, they saw him approach; then, rising from their seat, the two Brahmins greeted Lomaśa.
पाद्यार्घ्याचमनीयाद्यैः पूजयामासतुश्च तौ । सुप्रीतो लोमशस्ताभ्यां नारायणपरायणः
The two honored him with offerings of water for the feet, arghya, and for sipping, and other rites; Lomaśa, devoted to Nārāyaṇa, was greatly pleased with them.
उवास ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ आसने कीर्तयन्हरिम् । आसनस्थं महात्मानं लोमशं तं कृताञ्जलिम्
The foremost Brahmin remained seated, praising Hari; those two, with joined palms, approached the great-souled Lomaśa who was seated.
पवित्रानापत्यमुनी भक्त्या प्राहतुर्लोमशम् । भगवन्सर्वधर्मज्ञ त्वत्पादयुगलैर्नृभिः
The childless sage Pavitra, with devotion, addressed Lomaśa: 'O revered one, knower of all dharma, by the sight of your pair of feet—'
सद्भिर्ग्राह्यैराश्रमोऽयं पूतोऽभून्नूनमावयोः । कृतानि यानि पापानि आवाभ्यां मोहतः पुरा
'This hermitage has surely been purified for us by the presence of the noble, worthy ones; whatever sins we committed in ignorance before—'
तानि सर्वाणि नष्टानि त्वत्पादयुगदर्शनात् । भवान्नारायणः साक्षात्पूजनीयोऽमरैरपि
'All those have been destroyed by the sight of your pair of feet; you, Nārāyaṇa himself, are worthy of worship even by the immortals.'
सम्यक्ते पूजनं कर्तुं किमावां मानुषौ क्षमौ । अतिथेर्या कृता पूजा तेऽस्माभिर्निजशक्तितः
'How can we, mere mortals on earth, properly perform your worship? The hospitality we have offered you has been according to our own ability.'
अनया भव सुप्रीतः क्षमस्व दोषमावयोः । इत्युक्त्वा तौ महात्मानौ तस्यागंतोः पदद्वये । निपेततुर्द्विजश्रेष्ठ वयस्यौ गृहमेधिनौ
'By this, be greatly pleased and forgive our faults.' Having spoken thus, those two great souls, householders and friends, prostrated themselves at the feet of the best of Brahmins.
व्यास उवाच- ततो भक्त्या सुसंतुष्टो लोमशो विदुषांवरः । युवां विनयिनां श्रेष्ठौ द्विजाग्र्यौ धर्मतत्परौ
Vyāsa said: Then, Lomaśa, the best among the learned, was deeply satisfied by their devotion; you two are the foremost among the humble, eminent Brahmins, devoted to dharma.
आप्यायितोऽस्मि सुतरां युवयोर्विनयोक्तिभिः । साक्षाद्ब्रह्मा शिवो विष्णुरतिथिः प्रोच्यते बुधैः
'I have been greatly nourished by your humble words; the wise declare that Brahmā, Śiva, and Viṣṇu are present as guests.'
तस्मिन्नेतावतीभक्तिर्युवयोरस्तु मङ्गलम् । आराधितोऽस्म्यहंसम्यगतिथिर्भूरिभोजनैः
'May such devotion as yours always bring auspiciousness; I have been properly honored as a guest with abundant food.'
व्यास उवाच- तत उत्थाय तौ विप्रौ तत्पादकमलद्वये । भूयोऽपि तं नमस्कृत्य प्राहतुर्लोमशं मुनिम्
Vyāsa said: Then, rising, the two Brahmins again bowed at his lotus feet, and once more addressed the sage Lomaśa.
ब्राह्मणावूचतुः ब्रह्मन्नतिथिपूजाया माहात्म्यं वक्तुमर्हसि । यां कृत्वा प्राप्यते मुक्तिर्दुःखलभ्यापि मानवैः
The Brahmins said: 'O sage, you should speak on the greatness of hospitality, by which liberation is attained even by those who suffer.'
कोऽतिथिः प्रोच्यते लोके तस्य पूजा च कीदृशी । आतिथेयोऽतिथिश्चेमौ लभेते कामुभौ गतिम्
'Who is called a guest in the world, and what kind of worship is appropriate for him? Both the host and the guest attain their desired goal.'
लोमश उवाच- वानप्रस्थो ब्रह्मचारी भिक्षुश्चैषां प्रपूजनात् । निरुच्यते गृहं श्रेष्ठमाश्रमेषु चतुर्ष्वपि
Lomaśa said: 'A forest-dweller, a celibate, and a mendicant—by honoring them, the householder's dwelling is declared the best among the four stages of life.'
चतुराश्रममध्येषु प्रधाना गृहिणो मताः । तैश्चातिथीनां कर्तव्या पूजा भक्तिसमन्वितैः
'Among the four stages of life, householders are considered foremost; they should perform hospitality to guests with devotion.'
गृहिणां परमो धर्मः प्रोक्तश्चातिथिपूजनम् । आश्रमाचारतोऽभ्रष्टास्ततस्ते गृहिणो मताः
The highest duty of householders is declared to be the honoring of guests; those who neglect the conduct of their order are considered householders nonetheless.
वंहत्यतिथिपूजायां दक्षतां गृहिणो यदि । तदा प्रयोजनं तेषां किमन्यैः पुण्यकर्मभिः
If householders lack diligence in honoring guests, then what purpose do their other virtuous deeds serve?
यस्य न श्रूयते नाम न च गोत्रं न च स्थितिः । अकस्माद्गृहमागच्छेत्सोऽतिथिः प्रोच्यते बुधैः
One whose name, lineage, or residence is not known, who arrives unexpectedly at the house, is called a guest by the wise.
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वापि वैश्या वा वृषलास्तथा । गृहागताः पूजिताश्च विष्णुवत्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and even Shudras, when they come to the house and are honored, are regarded as Vishnu by those who perceive the truth.
चाण्डालप्रमुखा येऽन्ये हीनवर्णसमुद्भवाः । विष्णुवत्पूजितव्यास्ते पाद्यार्घ्यैर्भूरिभोजनैः
Others, beginning with the Chandala and those born of lower castes, must also be honored like Vishnu, with offerings of water for the feet, arghya, and abundant food.
समागतेष्वतिथिषु प्रयाणं कुरुते गृही । अपि स त्वरया दद्यात्पाद्यार्घ्यादीनि च द्विजः
When guests arrive, the householder may be about to depart; even then, he should quickly give water for the feet, arghya, and other offerings, O twice-born.
कुर्याच्च कुशलं प्रश्नं वचनैः कोमलाक्षरैः । कारयेद्भोजनं वापि दिव्यरत्नैर्मुदा गृही
He should inquire kindly about their well-being with gentle words, and arrange a meal or offer precious gifts with joy.
सुखदे मन्दिरे तस्य शयनं कारयेद्बुधः । प्रातर्जिगमिषुं दृष्ट्वा तमायांतं विवर्जयेत्
In a pleasant house, the wise should prepare a bed for the guest; seeing him wishing to depart in the morning, he should not hinder his leaving.