Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

ज्योतिस्तेज: प्रकाशं वाप्यूर्ध्वगं चापि वर्ण्यते । प्रदानं तेजसां तस्मात्‌ तेजो वर्धयते नृणाम्‌

Transliteration

jyotistejaḥ prakāśaṃ vāpy ūrdhvagaṃ cāpi varṇyate | pradānaṃ tejasāṃ tasmāt tejo vardhayate nṛṇām ||

Translation

Śukra said: “Light (tejas) is described as radiance and illumination, and also as that which rises upward. Therefore, the gifting of sources of light increases a person’s own tejas—enhancing one’s brilliance, reputation, and moral stature through the merit of giving illumination to others.”

Word by Word

• {'jyotis': 'light

• luminous principle', 'tejaḥ (tejas)': 'radiance, brilliance, spiritual/inner vigor

• also fiery energy', 'prakāśam': 'illumination

• making manifest', 'api': 'also

• even', 'ūrdhvagam': 'going upward

• rising', 'ca': 'and', 'varṇyate': 'is described

• is spoken of', 'pradānam': 'gift

• act of giving', 'tejasām': 'of lights / of luminous things (genitive plural of tejas/jyotis in sense of light-sources)', 'tasmāt': 'therefore

• from that reason', 'tejaḥ vardhayate': 'increases radiance/energy

• augments brilliance', 'nṛṇām': 'of men

Speaker

शुक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śukra
• jyotis/tejas (light, radiance)
• pradāna (gift/donation)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Giving light (such as a lamp or anything that illuminates) is praised because light is inherently radiant and upward-moving; donating it symbolically and ethically increases the donor’s own tejas—inner brilliance, dignity, and good repute—by benefiting others through illumination.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused setting, Śukra delivers a moral teaching on dāna: he explains the nature of light/tejas and draws a practical conclusion that donating sources of light is a meritorious act that strengthens the giver’s own radiance and standing.