Shloka 15

Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 101: Bhogavatī-varṇana, Nāga-vaṃśa-kathana, and Sumukha-vivāha-prastāva

Devanagari script

न नागलोके न स्वर्गे न विमाने त्रिविष्टपे । परिवास: सुखस्तादृगू रसातलतले यथा

Transliteration

na nāgaloke na svarge na vimāne triviṣṭape | parivāsaḥ sukhastādṛg rasātalatale yathā ||

Translation

那罗陀说道：“不在那伽之界（Nāgaloka），不在天界，甚至不在三重天（Triviṣṭapa）的空中宫阙之中，也没有哪一种居住能如罗刹多罗（Rasātala）那般真正安乐。”

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• नागलोके: in the Nāga-world
• नागलोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागलोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• न: nor
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• स्वर्गे: in heaven
• स्वर्गे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• न: nor
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• विमाने: in a celestial car/palace (vimāna)
• विमाने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• त्रिविष्टपे: in Triviṣṭapa (heaven)
• त्रिविष्टपे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिविष्टप
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• परिवासः: dwelling/residence
• परिवासः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिवास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुखस्तादृक्: so pleasant (of such happiness)
• सुखस्तादृक्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• रसातलतले: on/in the floor of Rasātala (netherworld)
• रसातलतले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसातलतल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• यथा: as/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Nāgaloka
• Svarga
• Vimāna
• Triviṣṭapa
• Rasātala

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.