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 ||
灯の炎は上へと昇るがゆえに、闇を癒やす薬ともなる。ゆえにここに確定する――灯明を施す者は「上昇の歩み」を授ける者となり、より高き境地と吉祥なる高揚を得るのである。
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.