Shloka 47

Āloka-dāna (Dīpa-dāna), Sumanas–Dhūpa–Dīpa Phala: Manu–Suvarṇa and Śukra–Bali Exempla

Devanagari script

अन्धन्तमस्तमिस्रं च दक्षिणायनमेव च । उत्तरायणमेतस्माज्ज्योतिर्दानं प्रशस्थते

Transliteration

andhantamastamisraṃ ca dakṣiṇāyanam eva ca | uttarāyaṇam etasmāj jyotirdānaṃ praśasyate ||

Translation

শুক্ৰ ক’লে—‘অন্ধতামিস্ৰ’ নামৰ নৰক আৰু দক্ষিণায়ন—দুয়োটাই অন্ধকাৰৰ সৈতে সম্পৰ্কিত বুলি কোৱা হয়। ইয়াৰ বিপৰীতে উত্তৰায়ণ আলোকময়; সেয়ে তাক শ্ৰেষ্ঠ বুলি গণ্য কৰা হয়। সেইহেতু অন্ধকাৰময়, নৰকসদৃশ অৱস্থাৰ নিবৃত্তিৰ বাবে জ্যোতি-দান (দীপদান) বিশেষভাৱে প্ৰশংসিত।

Word by Word

• {'andhatāmisram': 'Andhatāmisra

• a hell characterized by blinding darkness (a state of extreme obscuration and suffering)', 'tamisra': 'darkness

• also a name-element for hells associated with darkness', 'dakṣiṇāyanam': 'Dakṣiṇāyana

• the sun’s southern course (traditionally linked with decline/darkness in symbolic readings)', 'uttarāyaṇam': 'Uttarāyaṇa

• the sun’s northern course (traditionally linked with increase/light and auspiciousness)', 'jyotiḥ': 'light

• lamp-flame', 'dānam': 'gift

• charitable giving', 'jyotirdānam': 'gift of a lamp/light

• offering illumination as charity/ritual merit', 'praśasyate': 'is praised

• is commended as excellent', 'etasmāt': 'therefore

Speaker

शुक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śukra
• Andhatāmisra (hell)
• Dakṣiṇāyana
• Uttarāyaṇa
• Jyotirdāna (gift of a lamp/light)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Light is a moral and spiritual symbol: since darkness is linked with hellish suffering and decline, giving light (jyotirdāna) is praised as a dharmic act that counters ignorance, misery, and inauspicious conditions.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma and gifts, Śukra explains—using the contrast of Andhatāmisra and Dakṣiṇāyana (darkness) versus Uttarāyaṇa (light)—why the donation of a lamp is considered especially meritorious.