Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

बलिकर्मसु वक्ष्यामि गुणान्‌ कर्मफलोदयान्‌ | देवयक्षोरगनृणां भूतानामथ रक्षसाम्‌

Transliteration

balikarmasu vakṣyāmi guṇān karmaphalodayān | devayakṣoraganṝṇāṃ bhūtānām atha rakṣasām ||

Translation

ଶୁକ୍ର କହିଲେ—ଏବେ ମୁଁ ବଲିକର୍ମର ଗୁଣ ଓ କର୍ମଫଳର ଉଦୟ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କରିବି—ଦେବ, ଯକ୍ଷ, ନାଗ, ମନୁଷ୍ୟ, ଭୂତ ଏବଂ ରାକ୍ଷସମାନଙ୍କୁ ବଲି ଅର୍ପଣ କରିବାରୁ ଯେ ଲାଭ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• बलिकर्मसु: in acts of offering (bali-rites)
• बलिकर्मसु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलिकर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• वक्ष्यामि: I shall speak / I will describe
• वक्ष्यामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• गुणान्: qualities, merits
• गुणान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• कर्मफलोदयान्: the arising of results of actions
• कर्मफलोदयान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मफलोदय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• देव: of the gods
• देव: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• यक्ष: of the yakṣas
• यक्ष: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• उरग: of the serpents (nāgas)
• उरग: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरग
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• नृणाम्: of men
• नृणाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• भूतानाम्: of beings / spirits
• भूतानाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• अथ: and then / also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• रक्षसाम्: of the rākṣasas
• रक्षसाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

शुक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śukra
• Devas
• Yakṣas
• Uragas (Nāgas/serpents)
• Humans (nara)
• Bhūtas
• Rākṣasas
• Bali (ritual offering)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Śukra introduces a dharmic principle: offerings (bali) made with proper intent and method generate specific merits and tangible results (karma-phala). The teaching frames ritual giving as ethically consequential—an ordered way of relating to diverse classes of beings and sustaining harmony.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śukra begins a new explanatory section, announcing that he will enumerate the qualities and resulting benefits of bali-offerings directed to different recipients—divine beings, semi-divine spirits, serpents, humans, bhūtas, and rākṣasas—setting up a systematic discussion of ritual practice and its outcomes.