Shloka 15
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 101: Bhogavatī-varṇana, Nāga-vaṃśa-kathana, and Sumukha-vivāha-prastāva
न नागलोके न स्वर्गे न विमाने त्रिविष्टपे । परिवास: सुखस्तादृगू रसातलतले यथा
na nāgaloke na svarge na vimāne triviṣṭape | parivāsaḥ sukhastādṛg rasātalatale yathā ||
Nārada berkata: “Tidak di alam Nāga, tidak pula di surga, bahkan tidak di istana-istana udara surgawi di tiga lapis surga; tempat tinggal yang sungguh menyenangkan tidaklah sebanding dengan tinggal di Rasātala.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Happiness is not inherently tied to prestigious realms like heaven; true comfort depends on one’s state and satisfaction, so even a ‘lower’ place can feel happier than exalted abodes.
Nārada cites a proverbial gāthā contrasting Nāgaloka, heaven, and celestial vimānas with Rasātala, using the comparison to make a moral point about the nature of happiness and residence.