Shloka 52

Āloka-dāna (Dīpa-dāna), Sumanas–Dhūpa–Dīpa Phala: Manu–Suvarṇa and Śukra–Bali Exempla

Devanagari script

हविषा प्रथम: कल्पो द्वितीयश्नौषधीरसै: । वसामेदो<5स्थिनियर्सिर्न कार्य: पुष्टिमिच्छता

Transliteration

haviṣā prathamaḥ kalpo dvitīyaś cauṣadhīrasaiḥ | vasāmedo'sthiniryāsair na kāryaḥ puṣṭim icchatā ||

Translation

ଶୁକ୍ର କହିଲେ—ଘିଅରେ ଦୀପ ଜଳାଇ ଦାନ କରିବା ଦୀପଦାନର ପ୍ରଥମ (ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ) ପ୍ରକାର। ଔଷଧିରସ—ଅର୍ଥାତ୍ ତିଳ, ସୋରିଷ ଆଦିର ତେଲରେ ଜଳାଇ କରାଯାଇଥିବା ଦୀପଦାନ ଦ୍ୱିତୀୟ। କିନ୍ତୁ ଯେ ନିଜ ଶରୀରର ପୁଷ୍ଟି ଚାହେ, ସେ ବସା, ମେଦ ଓ ଅସ୍ଥିନିର୍ୟାସରୁ ନିଷ୍କାଶିତ ତେଲରେ କେବେ ଦୀପ ଜଳାଇବା ଉଚିତ୍ ନୁହେଁ।

Word by Word

• हविषा: with oblation (ghee etc.)
• हविषा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रथमः: first
• प्रथमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कल्पः: method/grade (mode)
• कल्पः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्वितीयः: second
• द्वितीयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• औषधीरसैः: with the juices/extracts of herbs (i.e., plant oils)
• औषधीरसैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: औषधीरस
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वसा: fat
• वसा: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• मेदः: marrow/grease
• मेदः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अस्थिनिर्यसिः: bone-exudate (oil/essence extracted from bones)
• अस्थिनिर्यसिः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्थिनिर्यस
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• कार्यः: to be done/should be done
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुष्टिम्: nourishment/strength
• पुष्टिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्टि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• इच्छता: by (one) desiring
• इच्छता: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Present active participle, Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

शुक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śukra
• dīpa (lamp)
• havis (ghee)
• auṣadhī-rasa (herbal/plant extracts)
• tila (sesame)
• sarṣapa (mustard)
• vasā (fat)
• medas (marrow/fat)
• asthi (bone)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.