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

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Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

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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
3.23.183.23.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.23.19

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

चक्षुष्मत्पद्मरागाग्र्‍यैर्वज्रभित्तिषु निर्मितै: ।

जुष्टं विचित्रवैतानैर्महार्हैर्हेमतोरणै: ॥ १९ ॥

cakṣuṣmat padmarāgāgryair

vajra-bhittiṣu nirmitaiḥ

juṣṭaṁ vicitra-vaitānair

mahārhair hema-toraṇaiḥ

Translation

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.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Jeweled Art Gives Walls Living Beauty

  1. 1

    Choice rubies set into the diamond walls made the palace appear to possess eyes. Wonderful canopies and valuable golden gates completed the description.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that jeweled decorations resembling eyes are not imaginary. It points to similar workmanship in palaces built by the Mogul emperors.

  3. 3

    Rare stones resembling eyes reflected light at night. The purport describes royal palaces where such jewels removed the need for lamps.

Key points from the purport
  • Artistic jewelry and decorations giving the appearance of eyes are not imaginary.
  • Even in recent times the Mogul emperors constructed their palaces with decorations of jeweled birds with eyes made of valuable stones.
  • The royal palaces were built with jewels and rare stones resembling eyes, and thus at night they would give off reflective light without need of lamps.

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. cakṣuḥ-matas if possessed of eyes
  2. padma-rāgawith rubies
  3. agryaiḥchoicest
  4. vajraof diamond
  5. bhittiṣuon the walls
  6. nirmitaiḥset
  7. juṣṭamfurnished
  8. vicitravarious
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “emperors”

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

How does the purport’s concrete example help me engage with this unusual description?

Practice

Reread the verse and identify which materials create its eye-like appearance.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayJeweled Art Gives Walls Living BeautyThis 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 3.23.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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