Virtue

Poem : 81

All household cares and course of daily life have this in view.
Guests to receive with courtesy, and kindly acts to do.

Explanation :
The whole design of living in the domestic state and laying up (property) is (to be able) to exercise the benevolence of hospitality.

Poem : 82

Though food of immortality should crown the board,
Feasting alone, the guests without unfed, is thing abhorred.

Explanation :
It is not fit that one should wish his guests to be outside (his house) even though he were eating the food of immortality.

Poem : 83

Each day he tends the coming guest with kindly care;
Painless, unfailing plenty shall his household share.

Explanation :
The domestic life of the man that daily entertains the guests who come to him shall not be laid waste by poverty.

Poem : 84

With smiling face he entertains each virtuous guest,
'Fortune' with gladsome mind shall in his dwelling rest.

Explanation :
Lakshmi with joyous mind shall dwell in the house of that man who, with cheerful countenance, entertains the good as guests.

Poem : 85

Who first regales his guest, and then himself supplies,
O'er all his fields, unsown, shall plenteous harvests rise.

Explanation :
Is it necessary to sow the field of the man who, having feasted his guests, eats what may remain ?

Poem : 86

The guest arrived he tends, the coming guest expects to see;
To those in heavenly homes that dwell a welcome guest is he.

Explanation :
He who, having entertained the guests that have come, looks out for others who may yet come, will be a welcome guest to the inhabitants of heaven.

Poem : 87

To reckon up the fruit of kindly deeds were all in vain;
Their worth is as the worth of guests you entertain.

Explanation :
The advantages of benevolence cannot be measured; the measure (of the virtue) of the guests (entertained) is the only measure.

Poem : 88

With pain they guard their stores, yet 'All forlorn are we,' they'll cry,
Who cherish not their guests, nor kindly help supply.

Explanation :
Those who have taken no part in the benevolence of hospitality shall (at length lament) saying, "we have laboured and laid up wealth and are now without support."

Poem : 89

To turn from guests is penury, though worldly goods abound;
'Tis senseless folly, only with the senseless found.

Explanation :
That stupidity which excercises no hospitality is poverty in the midst of wealth. It is the property of the stupid.

Poem : 90

The flower of 'Anicha' withers away, If you do but its fragrance inhale;
If the face of the host cold welcome convey, The guest's heart within him will fail.

Explanation :
As the Anicham flower fades in smelling, so fades the guest when the face is turned away.