नहुषोपाख्यानम्—दीपदान-धूप-बलीकर्म-प्रशंसा
Nahūṣa Episode and the Commendation of Lamp-Gifting and Household Offerings
तथैव दीपदानानि सर्वोपकरणानि वै | बलिकर्म च यच्चान्यदुत्सेका श्व पृथग्विधा:
tathaiva dīpadānāni sarvopakaraṇāni vai | balikarma ca yac cānyad utsekāś ca pṛthagvidhāḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: “Likewise, gifts of lamps and all kinds of requisite offerings should be made; and the rites of bali (offerings presented as part of worship), along with other distinct forms of devotional observances, are to be performed in their proper variety.”
भीष्म उवाच
Bhīṣma emphasizes that dharmic life includes not only major vows but also concrete, varied acts of worship and charity—such as offering lamps, providing ritual requisites, and performing bali-offerings—each according to its proper form.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instructional setting, Bhīṣma continues his guidance on righteous conduct by listing meritorious religious acts and ritual observances, highlighting different categories of offerings and practices.