Shloka 48
Āloka-dāna (Dīpa-dāna), Sumanas–Dhūpa–Dīpa Phala: Manu–Suvarṇa and Śukra–Bali Exempla
यस्मादूर्ध्वगमेतत् तु तमसश्वैव भेषजम् । तस्मादूर्ध्वगतेर्दाता भवेदत्रेति निश्चय:
yasmād ūrdhvagam etat tu tamasaś caiva bheṣajam | tasmād ūrdhvagater dātā bhaved atreti niścayaḥ ||
Parce que la flamme de la lampe s’élève vers le haut, elle est aussi un remède contre les ténèbres. Ainsi, il est ici conclu avec certitude que celui qui offre une lampe devient le dispensateur de la « progression ascendante » — atteignant des états plus élevés et une élévation de bon augure.
शुक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Giving a lamp is praised because light dispels darkness; symbolically it removes ignorance and brings auspicious elevation. Hence lamp-giving is said to bestow ‘ūrdhvagati’—higher progress and favorable destiny.
Śukra is explaining the merit of dāna (charitable giving), specifically dīpa-dāna. He reasons from the lamp’s upward-rising flame and its power to remove darkness to conclude that the donor gains upward spiritual/otherworldly progress.