Suvarṇa Tapasvin

Suvarṇa, simply known as Suvarna, Sanskrit: सुवर्ण, Telugu: సువర్ణుడు, Hindi: सुवर्ण.

Suvarṇa was a tapasvin (one who practises austerity) of noble family and great learning in the Vedas. His name means “golden”, and he is described as golden-hued. He is said to have gone beyond even others of his own family in what he had achieved. He is the questioner in the line of teachers by which the teaching on the puṇya (merit) of flowers, incense and lamps (āloka-dāna) came down to Bhīshma. Suvarṇa asked Svāyaṃbhuva Manu on Mount Meru about the origin and fruit of pūjā with flowers. Manu answered with a still older saṃvāda (dialogue) between Śukrācārya and Bali.

Meeting with Manu on Meru

Suvarṇa once visited Svāyaṃbhuva Manu. He came to him with gentleness and humility. Both were men of true resolve (satya-saṅkalpa). They sat together on a great golden peak of Mount Meru, a peak of fine beauty. There they spoke of the many itihāsas about brahmarshis, devas, rākshasas and the great beings of earlier ages.

The question about flowers

Suvarṇa then spoke to Manu:

Prajāpati! You must answer my question, which is for the good of all beings. The devas are honoured with flowers. What is this practice? How did it begin? What is its fruit? What is the yoga (the proper method) in it? Tell me.

Manu answered by telling the old saṃvāda between Bali, the son of Virocana, who then ruled the three worlds, and his guru Śukrācārya. The very question Suvarṇa now asked had been asked long before by Bali himself.

His place in the line of teaching

Suvarṇa received the whole teaching from Manu. He then taught it to Nārada. Nārada taught it to Bhīshma. This is the line of teachers through which the teaching on flowers, incense and lamps came down to Yudhishṭhira.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 98