Shloka 28
Āloka-dāna (Dīpa-dāna), Sumanas–Dhūpa–Dīpa Phala: Manu–Suvarṇa and Śukra–Bali Exempla
अकण्टकानां वृक्षाणां श्वेतप्रायाश्व॒ वर्णत: । तेषां पुष्पाणि देवानामिष्टानि सततं प्रभो
akāṇṭakānāṁ vṛkṣāṇāṁ śvetaprāyāś ca varṇataḥ | teṣāṁ puṣpāṇi devānām iṣṭāni satataṁ prabho || (padmaṁ ca tulasī-jātir api sarveṣu pūjitā |) ||
Śukra disse: “Ó senhor, entre as árvores sem espinhos, aquelas de cor predominantemente branca dão flores sempre queridas aos deuses. O lótus e a planta tulasī são venerados entre todas as oferendas (e, do mesmo modo, o jasmim é especialmente louvado entre as flores).”
शुक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights principles of auspiciousness and ritual suitability: offerings that are pure, gentle (thornless), and symbolically sattvic (often associated with whiteness) are considered especially pleasing to the gods; lotus and tulasī are singled out as universally revered in worship.
Śukra is instructing his listener on which kinds of flowers are most appropriate and pleasing for divine worship, giving criteria (thornless, predominantly white) and naming exemplary sacred offerings such as lotus and tulasī.