Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

तमर्ध्यादिभिरभ्यर्च्य भार्गव॑ं सोडसुराधिप: । निषसादासने पश्चाद्‌ विधिवद्‌ भूरिदक्षिण:

Transliteration

tam arghyādibhir abhyarcya bhārgavaṃ so 'surādhipaḥ | niṣasādāsane paścād vidhivad bhūridakṣiṇaḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma said: Having duly honored Bhārgava (Śukrācārya), the son of Bhṛgu, with offerings such as arghya and other rites of welcome, Bali—the lord of the Asuras, famed for giving abundant gifts—sat down according to proper procedure. After the preceptor had taken his seat, Bali too seated himself upon his own throne.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अर्घ्यादिभिः: with arghya and the like (offerings)
• अर्घ्यादिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य-आदि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+अर्च्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• भार्गवम्: Bhārgava (Śukra)
• भार्गवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्गव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• असुराधिपः: lord of the Asuras
• असुराधिपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुराधिप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निषसाद: sat down
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+सद्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• आसने: on the seat
• आसने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात्

• विधिवत्: according to rule/ritual
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत्

• भूरिदक्षिणः: one having abundant gifts (fees)
• भूरिदक्षिणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरि-दक्षिण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Bhārgava (Śukrācārya)
• Bhṛgu
• Bali
• Asuras
• arghya
• āsana (seat/throne)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma expressed as disciplined reverence to one’s teacher (guru) and the ethical virtue of generosity: honoring a worthy person with proper hospitality and giving abundant dakṣiṇā, while observing correct procedure and humility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bali, the Asura king, welcomes and worships Śukrācārya (Bhārgava) with arghya and related rites. After Śukra is seated, Bali then sits on his own throne, showing formal respect and adherence to ritual etiquette.