Shloka 58
Āloka-dāna (Dīpa-dāna), Sumanas–Dhūpa–Dīpa Phala: Manu–Suvarṇa and Śukra–Bali Exempla
गृह्नन्ति देवता नित्यमाशंसन्ति सदा गृहान् । बाह्याश्षागन्तवो येडन्ये यक्षराक्षसपन्नगा:
gṛhṇanti devatā nityam āśaṃsanti sadā gṛhān | bāhyāś cāgantavo ye 'nye yakṣa-rākṣasa-pannagāḥ ||
शुक्र उवाच—गृहस्थैर्दत्तान् बल्युपहारान् देवता नित्यं गृह्णन्ति, सदा च गृहान् आशंसन्ति। तथा बाह्यागताः येऽन्ये यक्षराक्षसपन्नगादयः, तेऽपि गृहस्थस्यैव अन्नेन जीविकाṃ कुर्वन्ति। ते तेन तुष्टाः गृहस्थं आयुषा यशसा च धनैश्च सन्तोषयन्ति।
शुक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
A householder’s duty of offering and hospitality sustains both divine and unseen beings as well as guests; such generosity returns as blessings—especially longevity, fame, and prosperity—showing dharma as reciprocal support between society, cosmos, and the home.
Śukra is instructing about the ethical power of the gṛhastha life: gods accept household offerings and bless the home, while other beings and outside guests also live by the householder’s food and, when pleased, confer benefits upon that householder.