Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.23.19
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesJeweled Art Gives Walls Living Beauty
“With the choicest rubies set in its diamond walls, it appeared as though possessed of eyes. It was furnished with wonderful canopies and greatly valuable gates of gold.”
What the purport teaches
- Choice rubies set into the diamond walls made the palace appear to possess eyes. Wonderful canopies and valuable golden gates completed the description.
- The purport explains that jeweled decorations resembling eyes are not imaginary. It points to similar workmanship in palaces built by the Mogul emperors.
- Rare stones resembling eyes reflected light at night. The purport describes royal palaces where such jewels removed the need for lamps.
Try this today
Reread the verse and identify which materials create its eye-like appearance.
Ask yourself
How does the purport’s concrete example help me engage with this unusual description?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.