very agreeable when pressed, and as are of beautiful
form, have been said, O lord, to be worthy of being
offered to human beings. Such flowers as grow
on cemeteries and crematoria, or in places dedicated
to the deities, should not be brought and used for
marriage and other rites having growth and prosperity
for their object, or for acts of dalliance and pleasure
in secrecy. Such flowers as are born on mountains
and in vales, and as are agreeable in scent and aspect,
should be offered unto the deities. Sprinkling
them with sandal-paste, such agreeable flowers should
be duly offered according to the ordinances of the
scriptures. The deities become gratified with
the scent of flowers; the Yakshas and Rakshasas with
their sight, the Nagas with their touch; and human
beings with all three, viz., scent, sight, and
touch. Flowers, when offered to the deities gratify
them immediately. They are capable of accomplishing
every object by merely wishing its accomplishment.
As such, when gratified with devotees offering them
flowers, they cause all the objects cherished by their
worshippers to be immediately accomplished. Gratified,
they gratify their worshippers. Honoured, they
cause their worshippers to enjoy all honours.
Disregarded and insulted, they cause those vilest
of men to be ruined and consumed. I shall, after
this, speak to thee of the merits that attach to the
ordinances about the gift of incense. Know, O
prince of Asuras, that incenses are of diverse kinds.
Some of them are auspicious and some in-auspicious.
Some incenses consist of exudations. Some are
made of fragrant wood set on fire. And some are
artificial, being made by the hand, of diverse articles
mixed together. Their scent is of two kinds,
viz., agreeable and disagreeable. Listen
to me as I discourse on the subject in detail.[440]
All exudations except that of the Boswellia serrata
are agreeable to the deities. It is, however,
certain that the best of all exudations is that of
the Balsamodendron Mukul. Of all Dhupas of the
Sari class, the Aquilaria Agallocha is the best.
It is very agreeable to the Yakshas, the Rakshasas,
and Nagas. The exudation of the Boswellia serrata,
and others of the same class, are much desired by
the Daityas. Dhupas made of the exudation of
the Shorea robusta and the Pinus deodara, mixed with
various spirits of strong scent, are, O king, ordained
for human beings. Such Dhupas are said to immediately
gratify the deities, the Danavas, and spirits.
Besides these, there are many other kinds of Dhupas
used by men of purposes of pleasure or enjoyment.
All the merits that have been spoken of as attaching
to the offer of flowers should be known equally to
attach to the gift of such Dhupas as are productive
of gratification. I shall now speak of the merits
that attach to the gift of lights, and who may give
them at what time and in what manner, and what should
be the kind of lights that should be offered.
Light is said to be energy and fame and has an upward