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,वह गाथा इस प्रकार है--“नागलोक, स्वर्गलोक तथा स्वर्गलोकके विमानमें निवास करना भी वैसा सुखदायक नहीं होता, जैसा रसातलमें रहनेसे सुख प्राप्त होता है”
na nāgaloke na svarge na vimāne triviṣṭape | parivāsaḥ sukhastādṛg rasātalatale yathā ||
Nārada disse: “Nem no reino dos Nāgas, nem no céu, nem mesmo nos palácios aéreos do tríplice céu há morada tão verdadeiramente agradável quanto a de 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.