Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

देवदानवभूतानां सद्यस्तुष्टिकर: स्मृत: । येडन्ये वैहारिकास्तत्र मानुषाणामिति स्मृता:

Transliteration

devadānavabhūtānāṁ sadyas-tuṣṭikaraḥ smṛtaḥ | ye ’nye vaihārikās tatra mānuṣāṇām iti smṛtāḥ ||

Translation

Śukra said: “This incense is remembered as one that brings immediate satisfaction to gods, asuras, and spirits alike. Besides it, there are other kinds of incense used for enjoyment and recreation; those are regarded as belonging to human usage.”

Word by Word

• {'deva': 'god, deity', 'dānava': 'demon

• descendant of Danu', 'bhūta': 'spirit, ghostly being

• elemental being', 'devadānavabhūtānām': 'of gods, demons, and spirits (genitive plural compound)', 'sadyaḥ': 'immediately, at once', 'tuṣṭi': 'satisfaction, contentment, appeasement', 'karaḥ': 'making, causing

• producing', 'sadyas-tuṣṭikaraḥ': 'causing immediate satisfaction', 'smṛtaḥ': 'is remembered/considered

• is taught in tradition', 'anye': 'others', 'vaihārika': 'connected with vihāra—recreation, pleasure, enjoyment', 'tatra': 'there

• in that context/topic', 'mānuṣāṇām': 'of humans

• pertaining to human beings', 'iti': 'thus

Speaker

शुक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śukra
• Devas
• Dānavas
• Bhūtas
• Dhūpa (incense)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse distinguishes between incense used as a sacred offering that quickly appeases a wide range of beings (devas, dānavas, bhūtas) and other fragrances used primarily for human pleasure. It implies an ethical hierarchy: ritual substances are valued for their dharmic purpose (propitiation and harmony), not merely for enjoyment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śukra is instructing about kinds of dhūpa (incense). He notes one type that is traditionally said to give immediate satisfaction to divine and spirit beings, and then mentions additional ‘vaihārika’ incenses meant for human recreational use.