# IX: Hospitality explained — The Kural

> Chapter companion for The Kural by Thiruvalluvar.

## What happens

This chapter emphasizes the virtue of hospitality, portraying it as a fundamental duty of householders. It extols the practice of honoring guests and pilgrims, suggesting that such acts bring divine favor and prosperity, while neglect leads to spiritual impoverishment.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family Life and Duty

Hospitality is presented as a core duty of the householder, essential for a virtuous life.

### Social Harmony and Ethics

The chapter underscores the ethical imperative to honor guests, fostering social cohesion and moral order.

## Character check-ins

### Thiruvalluvar

Author of the Kural verses on hospitality.

### Lakshmi

Goddess of prosperity who delights to abide in the home of the hospitable.

### the Kural

The text containing the teachings on hospitality.

## Key lines

> What for do the wise toil and set up homes? It is to feed the guest and help the pilgrim.

The purpose of building a home and working is to provide hospitality to guests and aid to travelers.

_Establishes hospitality as the primary purpose of domestic life._

> Behold the man who receiveth the worthy guest with his best smile: Lakshmi 12 delighteth to abide in his home.

The person who welcomes a deserving guest with a warm smile will have the goddess Lakshmi dwell in his house.

_Links hospitality to divine blessings and prosperity._

> Not to honour the pilgrim is veritable indigence in the midst of wealth: such a thing is found only with fools.

Failing to honor a traveler is true poverty even if one is rich, and only fools behave this way.

_Highlights the spiritual poverty of neglecting hospitality._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kural_se/chapters/ix-hospitality
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kural_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kural_se/chapters