Shloka 52
Āloka-dāna (Dīpa-dāna), Sumanas–Dhūpa–Dīpa Phala: Manu–Suvarṇa and Śukra–Bali Exempla
हविषा प्रथम: कल्पो द्वितीयश्नौषधीरसै: । वसामेदो<5स्थिनियर्सिर्न कार्य: पुष्टिमिच्छता
haviṣā prathamaḥ kalpo dvitīyaś cauṣadhīrasaiḥ | vasāmedo'sthiniryāsair na kāryaḥ puṣṭim icchatā ||
Dijo Śukra: “La manera suprema de ofrecer una lámpara es encenderla con ghee. La segunda es encenderla con los jugos extraídos de plantas medicinales: aceites prensados de sésamo, mostaza y similares. Pero quien busque el bienestar y el sustento de su propio cuerpo jamás debe encender una lámpara con aceites extraídos de grasa, médula o esencia de huesos.”
शुक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse ranks forms of lamp-offering by purity: ghee is best, plant oils are next, and using substances derived from bodily fat/marrow/bone is discouraged—especially for one seeking personal health—highlighting ritual propriety and ethical restraint in acts of charity.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma and gifts, Śukra gives a prescriptive guideline about dīpa-dāna (lamp-giving), specifying which fuels are commendable and which should be avoided.