Shloka 17
Āloka-dāna (Dīpa-dāna), Sumanas–Dhūpa–Dīpa Phala: Manu–Suvarṇa and Śukra–Bali Exempla
सोमस्यात्मा च बहुधा सम्भूत: पृथिवीतले । अमृतं च विषं चैव ये चान्ये तृतजातय:,इस भूतलपर अनेक प्रकारकी सोमलता प्रकट हुई। अमृत, विष तथा दूसरी-दूसरी जातिके वृणोंका प्रादुर्भाव हुआ
somasya ātmā ca bahudhā sambhūtaḥ pṛthivītale | amṛtaṃ ca viṣaṃ caiva ye cānye tṛtajātayaḥ ||
ศุกราจารย์กล่าวว่า “บนพื้นพิภพ แก่นแท้แห่งโสมได้ปรากฏเป็นนานารูป. จากนั้นเองได้เกิดทั้งอมฤตและพิษ ตลอดจนพืชจำพวกหญ้าอื่น ๆ อีกมาก.”
शुक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
A single potent source (Soma) can manifest as both beneficial (amṛta) and harmful (viṣa). Ethical discernment lies in recognizing that power and sacred potency are not automatically good; their value depends on manifestation, intention, and proper use.
Śukra explains a cosmological/etiological point: on earth, Soma’s essence appeared in multiple forms, giving rise to nectar, poison, and other varieties—accounting for the mixed, dual outcomes found in the world.