Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.11.31-34
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Splendor of Lord Rāmacandra’s Palace
“Thereafter, Lord Rāmacandra entered the palace of His forefathers. Within the palace were various treasures and valuable wardrobes. The sitting places on the two sides of the entrance door were made of coral, the yards were surrounded by pillars of vaidūrya-maṇi, the floor was made of highly polished marakata-maṇi, and the foundation was made of marble. The entire palace was decorated with flags and garlands and bedecked with valuable stones, shining with a celestial effulgence. The palace was fully decorated with pearls and surrounded by lamps and incense. The men and women within the palace all resembled demigods and were decorated with various ornaments, which seemed beautiful because of being placed on their bodies.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Rāmacandra entered the palace of His forefathers, which contained many treasures and valuable wardrobes.
- The palace had coral sitting places, pillars of vaidūrya-maṇi, highly polished marakata-maṇi floors and a marble foundation. Flags, garlands and valuable stones gave it a celestial brilliance.
- Pearls, lamps and incense further adorned the palace. The men and women there resembled demigods, and their ornaments became beautiful by being placed on their bodies.
Try this today
Reread the description slowly and spend a moment picturing Lord Rāmacandra entering His beautifully decorated palace.
Ask yourself
Which detail helps me most clearly picture the palace Lord Rāmacandra entered?
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.