Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

अन्धन्तमस्तमिस्रं च दक्षिणायनमेव च । उत्तरायणमेतस्माज्ज्योतिर्दानं प्रशस्थते,अंधकार अंधतामिस््र नामक नरक है। दक्षिणायन भी अंधकारसे ही आच्छन्न रहता है। इसके विपरीत उत्तरायण प्रकाशमय है। इसलिये वह श्रेष्ठ माना गया है। अत: अन्धकारमय नरककी निवृत्तिके लिये दीपदानकी प्रशंसा की गयी है

Transliteration

andhantamastamisraṃ ca dakṣiṇāyanam eva ca | uttarāyaṇam etasmāj jyotirdānaṃ praśasyate ||

Translation

శుక్రుడు పలికెను—‘అంధతామిస్ర’ అనే నరకమును గూర్చియు, దక్షిణాయనమును గూర్చియు—ఇవి రెండూ అంధకారసంబంధములని చెప్పబడినవి. దీనికి విరుద్ధంగా ఉత్తరాయణము ప్రకాశమయము; అందుచేత అది శ్రేష్ఠమని గణింపబడును. కాబట్టి అంధకారమయ నరకసదృశ స్థితుల నివృత్తికై జ్యోతిదానం (దీపదానం) విశేషంగా ప్రశంసింపబడింది.

Word by Word

• {'andhatāmisram': 'Andhatāmisra

• a hell characterized by blinding darkness (a state of extreme obscuration and suffering)', 'tamisra': 'darkness

• also a name-element for hells associated with darkness', 'dakṣiṇāyanam': 'Dakṣiṇāyana

• the sun’s southern course (traditionally linked with decline/darkness in symbolic readings)', 'uttarāyaṇam': 'Uttarāyaṇa

• the sun’s northern course (traditionally linked with increase/light and auspiciousness)', 'jyotiḥ': 'light

• lamp-flame', 'dānam': 'gift

• charitable giving', 'jyotirdānam': 'gift of a lamp/light

• offering illumination as charity/ritual merit', 'praśasyate': 'is praised

• is commended as excellent', 'etasmāt': 'therefore

Speaker

शुक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śukra
• Andhatāmisra (hell)
• Dakṣiṇāyana
• Uttarāyaṇa
• Jyotirdāna (gift of a lamp/light)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Light is a moral and spiritual symbol: since darkness is linked with hellish suffering and decline, giving light (jyotirdāna) is praised as a dharmic act that counters ignorance, misery, and inauspicious conditions.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma and gifts, Śukra explains—using the contrast of Andhatāmisra and Dakṣiṇāyana (darkness) versus Uttarāyaṇa (light)—why the donation of a lamp is considered especially meritorious.