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 ||
“ಪ್ರಜೇಶ್ವರಾ! ಸುಗಂಧ ಹೂಗಳಿಂದ ದೇವತೆಗಳನ್ನು ಪೂಜಿಸುವಾಗ, ಈ ಆಚರಣೆಯ ನಿಜ ಸ್ವರೂಪವೇನು? ಇದು ಹೇಗೆ ಹುಟ್ಟಿತು? ಇದರ ಫಲವೇನು, ಇದರ ಯೋಗ್ಯ ಅನ್ವಯವೇನು? ನನಗೆ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಿರಿ.”
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.