Shloka 9
Āloka-dāna (Dīpa-dāna), Sumanas–Dhūpa–Dīpa Phala: Manu–Suvarṇa and Śukra–Bali Exempla
सुमनोभिर्यदिज्यन्ते दैवतानि प्रजेश्वर । किमेतत् कथमुत्पन्नं फलं योगं च शंस मे
sumano-bhir yad ijyante daivatāni prajeśvara | kim etat katham utpannaṁ phalaṁ yogaṁ ca śaṁsa me ||
Bhishma dit : « Ô Seigneur des créatures, lorsque les divinités sont honorées par des fleurs parfumées, quelle est la véritable nature de cette pratique ? Comment a-t-elle pris naissance ? Quel fruit donne-t-elle, et quel en est l’usage juste ? Dis-le-moi clairement. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic inquiry into devotional ritual: it asks for the origin, correct method, and ethical-spiritual results (phala) of worshipping deities with flowers, emphasizing that ritual acts should be understood in purpose and proper application, not performed mechanically.
Bhishma addresses a ‘Lord of creatures’ (prajeśvara) and requests an explanation about the established custom of offering flowers in deity-worship—how it began, what benefits it yields, and how it should be rightly practiced.