अतिथिं तत्र सम्प्राप्तं पूजयेत् स्वागतादिना । तथासनप्रदानेन पादप्रक्षालनेन च
If a guest arrives there, he should be honored with words of welcome, the offering of a seat, and washing of the feet.
श्रद्धया चान्नदानेन प्रियप्रश्नोत्तरेण च । गच्छतश्चानुयानेन प्रीतिमुत्पादयेद्गृही
With faith, by giving food, by kind questions and answers, and by accompanying the departing guest, the householder should create delight.
अज्ञातकुलनामानमन्यदेशादुपागतम् । पूजयेदतिथिं सम्यङ्नैकग्रामनिवासिनम्
One should properly honor as a guest anyone who arrives from another region, whose family and name are unknown, and who does not reside in the same village.
अकिञ्चनमसम्बन्धमज्ञातकुलशालिनम् । असम्पूज्यातिथिं भुक्त्वा भोक्तुकामं व्रजत्यधः
If a person eats without honoring as a guest someone who is destitute, unrelated, and of unknown lineage, he falls downward, desiring to eat.
स्वाध्यायगोत्राचरणमपृष्ट्वा च तथा कुलम् । हिरण्यगर्भबुद्ध्या तं मन्येताभ्यागतं गृही
Without inquiring about his study, lineage, or conduct, and likewise his family, the householder should regard such a guest as if he were Brahmā himself.
पित्रर्थं चापरं विप्रमेकमप्याशयेन्नृप । तद्देश्यं विदिताचारसम्भूतिं पाञ्चयज्ञिकम्
For the sake of the ancestors, a householder should also wait for another Brāhmaṇa, at least one, who is local, whose conduct and origin are known, and who performs the five sacrifices.
अन्नाग्रं च समुद्धृत्य हन्तकारोपकल्पितम् । निर्वापभूतं भूपाल श्रोत्रियायोपपादयेत्
Having set aside the best portion of food, prepared without violence and suitable for offering, O king, he should present it to a learned Brāhmaṇa.
दद्याच्च भिक्षात्रितयं परिव्राड्ब्रह्मचारिणाम् । इच्छया च बुधो दद्याद्विभवे सत्यवारितम्
He should also give three portions as alms to wandering ascetics and students; and, if able, a wise man should give more according to his means and willingness.
इत्येतेऽतिथयः प्रोक्ता प्रागुक्ता भिक्षवश्च ये । चतुरः पूजयित्वैतान्नृप पापात् प्रमुच्यते
Thus, these are the guests described, along with the mendicants mentioned earlier; by honoring these four, O king, one is freed from sin.
अतिथिर्यस्य भग्नाशो गृहात् प्रतिनिवर्त्तते । स तस्मै दुष्कृतं दत्त्वा पुण्यमादाय गच्छति
If a guest, whose hopes are broken, turns back from a house, he takes away the host's merit and leaves his sin behind.
धाता प्रजापतिः शक्रो वह्निर्वसुगणोऽर्यमा । प्रविश्यातिथिमेते वै भुञ्जन्तेऽन्नं नरेश्वर
Dhātā, Prajāpati, Indra, Agni, the Vasus, and Aryaman—these deities, O king, enter the guest and partake of the food in a man's house.
तस्मादतिथिपूजायां यतेत सततं नरः । स केवलमघं भुङ्क्ते यो भुङ्क्ते ह्यतिथिं विना
Therefore, a man should always strive to honor guests; he who eats without a guest eats only sin.
ततः सुवासिनीदुःखिगर्भिणीवृद्धबालकान् । भोजयेत् संस्कृतान्नेन प्रथमं चरमं गृही
After that, the householder should first feed married women, the distressed, pregnant women, the elderly, and children with prepared food, and lastly himself.
अभुक्तवत्सु चैतेषु भुञ्जन् भुङ्क्ते स दुष्कृतम् । मृतश्च गत्वा नरकं श्लेष्मभुग्जायते नरः
If he eats while these have not eaten, he consumes sin; and dying thus, he goes to hell and is born as a worm-eater.
अस्नाताशी मलं भुङ्क्ते ह्यजपी पूयशोणितम् । असंस्कृतान्नभुङ्मूत्रं बालादिप्रथमं शकृत्
One who eats without bathing consumes filth; one who eats without reciting mantras consumes pus and blood; one who eats unprepared food consumes urine, and if he eats before children and others, he eats excrement first.
अहोमी च कृमीन् भुङ्क्ते अदत्त्वा विषमश्नुते
He also eats worms day and night, and partakes of what is improper, if he eats without giving (to others).
तस्माच्छृणुष्व राजेन्द्र यथा भुञ्जीत वै गृही । भुञ्जतश्च यथा पुंसः पापबन्धो न जायते
Therefore, O king of kings, listen to how a householder should eat, and how, while eating, a man does not become bound by sin.
इह चारोग्यविपुलं बलबुद्धिस्तथा नृप । भवत्यरिष्टशान्तिश्च वैरिपक्षाभिचारिणः
Here, O king, health, great strength, and intelligence arise, as well as freedom from calamity and protection from hostile sorcerers.
स्नातो यथावत् कृत्वा च देवर्षिपितृतर्पणम् । प्रशस्तरत्नपाणिस्तु भुञ्जीत प्रयतो गृही
Having bathed properly and performed offerings to the gods, sages, and ancestors, the householder, with auspicious gems in hand, should eat with devotion.
कृते जपे हुते वह्नौ शुद्धवस्त्रधरो नृप । दत्त्वाऽतिथिभ्यो विप्रेभ्यो गुरुभ्यस्संश्रिताय च । पुण्यगन्धधरः शस्तमाल्यधारी नरेश्वर
Having recited mantras and made offerings into the fire, wearing clean garments, O king, and having given to guests, Brāhmaṇas, teachers, and dependents, adorned with auspicious fragrance and good garlands, O king, he should eat.
नैकवस्त्रधरो नार्द्रपाणिपादो महीपते । विशुद्धवदनः प्रीतो भुञ्जीत न विदिङ्मुखः
One should not eat wearing multiple garments, nor with wet hands or feet, O King; with a purified face, cheerful, one may eat, but not facing an improper direction.
प्राङ्मुखोदङ्मुखो वापि न चैवान्यमना नरः । अन्नं प्रशस्तं पथ्यं च प्रोक्षितं प्रोक्षणोदकैः
Whether facing east or north, and not with the mind elsewhere, a person should eat food that is wholesome, suitable, and sprinkled with purifying water.
न कुत्सिताहृतं नैव जुगुप्सापदसंस्कृतम् । दत्त्वा तु भक्तं शिष्येभ्यः क्षुधितेभ्यस्तथा गृही
Not food brought with contempt, nor that prepared in a manner causing disgust; after giving a portion to disciples and to those who are hungry, the householder may eat.
प्रशस्तशुद्धपात्रे तु भुञ्जीताकुपितो द्विजः
In a suitable, clean vessel, a twice-born should eat, free from anger.
नासन्दिसंस्थिते पात्रे नादेशे च नरेश्वर । नाकाले नातिसङ्कीर्णे दत्त्वाग्रं च नरोऽग्नये
Not in a vessel placed on sand, nor in an improper place, O King; not at an unsuitable time, nor in a crowded spot; after offering the first portion to fire, a person may eat.
मन्त्राभिमन्त्रितं शस्तं न च पर्युषितं नृप । अन्यत्र फलमूलेभ्यः शुष्कशाखादिकात् तथा
Food that is consecrated with mantras and wholesome, not stale, O ruler; except for fruits, roots, and dried branches and the like.
तद्वद्धारीतकेभ्यश्च गुडभक्ष्येभ्य एव च । भुञ्जीतोद्धृतसाराणि न कदापि नरेश्वर
Similarly, except for haritaki fruits and sweet preparations made with jaggery; one should eat only the portions with essence, never otherwise, O King.
न शेषं पुरुषोऽश्नीयादन्यत्र जगतीपते । मध्वम्बुदधिसर्पिभ्यः सक्तुभ्यश्च विवेकवान्
A person should not eat leftovers, except for honey, water, ghee, and flour preparations, if discerning.
अश्नीयात् तन्मयो भूत्वा पूर्वं तु मधुरं रसम् । लवणाम्लौ तथा मध्ये कटुतिक्तादिकांस्ततः
One should eat, becoming absorbed in the food; first the sweet taste, then salty and sour in the middle, and finally the pungent, bitter, and similar flavors.
प्राग्द्रवं पुरुषोऽश्नीयान्मध्ये कठिनभोजनः । अन्ते पुनर्द्रवाशी तु बलारोग्ये न मुञ्चति
A person should eat liquid food first, solid food in the middle, and again liquid at the end; thus, strength and health are not lost.