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
3.23.493.23.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.23.50

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

लिखन्त्यधोमुखी भूमिं पदा नखमणिश्रिया ।

उवाच ललितां वाचं निरुध्याश्रुकलां शनै: ॥ ५० ॥

likhanty adho-mukhī bhūmiṁ

padā nakha-maṇi-śriyā

uvāca lalitāṁ vācaṁ

nirudhyāśru-kalāṁ śanaiḥ

Translation

She stood and scratched the ground with her foot, which was radiant with the luster of her gemlike nails. Her head bent down, she spoke in slow yet charming accents, suppressing her tears.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devahūti’s Gestures Revealed Her Distress

  1. 1

    Devahūti lowered her head and scratched the ground with her foot. The purport explains this gesture as a sign of her disturbed mind.

  2. 2

    Her toenails shone like pearls. As she scratched the ground, it appeared as though pearls had been scattered there.

  3. 3

    Suppressing her tears, she spoke slowly in charming accents. The purport recalls that the gopīs also scratched the ground in distress when Kṛṣṇa asked them to return home.

Key points from the purport
  • Devahūti was so beautiful that her toenails appeared just like pearls, and as she scratched the ground it appeared as if pearls had been thrown on the ground.
  • When a woman scratches the ground with her foot, it is a sign that her mind is very disturbed.
  • When the gopīs came in the dead of night and Kṛṣṇa asked them to return to their homes, the gopīs also scratched the ground like this because their minds were very disturbed.

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. likhantīscratching
  2. adhaḥ-mukhīher head bent down
  3. bhūmimthe ground
  4. padāwith her foot
  5. nakhanails
  6. maṇigemlike
  7. śriyāwith radiant
  8. uvācashe spoke
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “luster”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “distress”

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 noticing Devahūti’s gestures deepen my understanding of her distress?

Practice

Reread the verse and identify two outward signs of Devahūti’s inner pain.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.23's connections

Live this todayDevahūti’s Gestures Revealed Her DistressThis 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 3.23.50? 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