1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 3 · Chapter 23: Devahūti’s Lamentation
3.23.14-153.23.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.23.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.23.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

उपर्युपरि विन्यस्तनिलयेषु पृथक्पृथक् ।

क्षिप्तै: कशिपुभि: कान्तं पर्यङ्कव्यजनासनै: ॥ १६ ॥

upary upari vinyasta-

nilayeṣu pṛthak pṛthak

kṣiptaiḥ kaśipubhiḥ kāntaṁ

paryaṅka-vyajanāsanaiḥ

Translation

The palace looked charming, with beds, couches, fans and seats, all separately arranged in seven stories.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Many-Storied Homes Are Not New

  1. 1

    The palace had seven stories, with beds, couches, fans and seats separately arranged.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that many-storied buildings were known even millions of years ago. It therefore challenges the idea that skyscrapers are a new invention.

  3. 3

    These buildings contained many different apartments, not merely one or two rooms. Each was fully furnished and decorated.

Key points from the purport
  • It is understood from this verse that the castle had many stories.
  • The words upary upari vinyasta indicate that skyscrapers are not newly invented.
  • They contained not merely one or two rooms, but many different apartments, and each was completely decorated with cushions, bedsteads, sitting places and carpets.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Longing and service → Preparedness. Family devotion turns toward higher spiritual fulfillment.

Chapters 20–24 of Canto 3: Kardama, Devahūti, family and renunciation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 23: Devahūti’s Lamentation

Devahūti serves Kardama, shares his extraordinary household life, and asks who will comfort her after his departure.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. upari uparione upon another
  2. vinyastaplaced
  3. nilayeṣuin stories
  4. pṛthak pṛthakseparately
  5. kṣiptaiḥarranged
  6. kaśipubhiḥwith beds
  7. kāntamcharming
  8. paryaṅkacouches
  9. vyajanafans
  10. āsanaiḥwith seats
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I too quickly assume that elaborate buildings belong only to modern times?

Practice

Sketch a simple seven-story outline and label it with the furnishings named in the translation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMany-Storied Homes Are Not NewThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.23.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories