Chapter summary
द्वारकामाहात्म्यम् Dvārakā Māhātmyam
The Glory of Dvārakā
**The revered Sadguru said:**
O virtuous souls, listen now to the profound glory of Dvārakā, that sacred city where Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself resided and unfolded His myriad divine plays (v.1).
It was in those times that the foolish and mighty Jarāsandha, king of Magadha and father-in-law to Kaṃsa, dwelled in Girivraja, relentlessly tormenting the populace. Upon hearing of Kaṃsa's demise, the king was consumed by an immense rage towards Keśava and marched upon Mathurā with a formidable army. Instigated by Jarāsandha, Kālayavana also arrived, adding to the peril. To safeguard all His kinsmen, the Yādavas, Mādhava began to contemplate a divine solution (v.2-4).
Suddenly, the Lord Hari summoned Viśvakarmā, the divine architect, and commanded him to construct the city of Dvārakā. By His own wondrous divine power (māyā), the Lord then had all His relatives, the Yādavas, miraculously transported to this newly built city (v.5-6). Luring Kālayavana away, Kṛṣṇa led him to his doom, where he was consumed by the fiery gaze of Mucukunda. With this accomplished, the Lord effortlessly entered Dvārakā (v.7). There, Kṛṣṇa, the foremost among the Yādavas, lived in joyous splendor. This very Dvāravatī is a holy city, perpetually bestowing bliss upon its devotees (v.8).
Residing in this city, Mukunda famously abducted the princess of Vidarbha [Rukmiṇī] from her svayaṃvara [a ceremony for a princess to choose her husband], vanquished His adversaries in battle, and, embracing the life of a householder, rejoiced with her (v.9). It was also in Dvārakā that Lord Murāri, through the episode of the Syamantaka gem, defeated Jāmbavān, the king of the bears, and thus obtained Jāmbavatī, as well as the virtuous and beautiful Satyabhāmā (v.10). In due course, Vāsudeva Kṛṣṇa, while dwelling in this city, married and found joy with Satyā, Bhadrā, Kālindī (the daughter of Kalinda), Mitravindā, and Lakṣmaṇā, each a queen in her own right (v.11).
Bound by His deep affection for Bhāmā (Satyabhāmā), the incomparable Lord established the celestial Pārijāta tree in this city, having brought it from the heavens after conquering the gods. He also graciously entered the weighing scale during the sacred Tulābhāra ceremony (v.12). In this very Dvārakā, the unconquered Murāri, after slaying the demon Naraka in battle, brought back a host of sixteen thousand women, with whom He sported in divine delight (v.13).
Within this city, the divine sage Nārada, beholding Kṛṣṇa simultaneously in every single household, was utterly bewildered. He attained profound devotion unto that Lord of Yogīs, who possesses infinite forms and whose every desire is eternally fulfilled (v.14).
It was in Dvārakā that Bhīṣmaka’s daughter, Rukmiṇī, gave birth to Pradyumna. A demon named Śambara carried him away, but Pradyumna later slew Śambara and brought back his beloved Māyāvatī (v.15). Here too, the devout Jāmbavatī gave birth to Sāmba, an incarnation of Skanda. When Sāmba was captured at a svayaṃvara, the Primeval Lord Himself freed him and brought him back along with Lakṣmaṇā (v.16). Likewise, in this city, Aniruddha was carried away by a group of maidens in the night. Kṛṣṇa liberated him after he had been bound by Bāṇa and returned him to Dvārakā with his daughter-in-law, Uṣā (v.17).
From this city, Hari freed King Nṛga, who had fallen into a well in the form of a lizard, from his curse, thereby proclaiming the grave sin associated with the misappropriation of a brahmin's wealth (v.18).
Residing in Dvārakā, Mukunda journeyed to the royal assembly for Draupadī's svayaṃvara. By His mere glance, He enabled Pārtha (Arjuna) to win her hand and then arranged their marriage (v.19). In this same city, He respectfully welcomed the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna), who had arrived disguised as a mendicant. Kṛṣṇa brought him into His home, housed him for a time, and then sent him away with Subhadrā (v.20).
While dwelling in Dvārakā, Kṛṣṇa once went to the holy land of Kurukṣetra during a solar eclipse and delighted all His relatives with a magnificent festival (v.21). In this city, seeing a brahmin whose sons had died, He supported Pārtha, who had made a vow, and journeying to the supreme abode, He brought back the brahmin's sons (v.22).
In this city, Mukunda, out of deep compassion for a brahmin named Kuchela who had arrived, personally took his offering of flattened rice and joyfully bestowed upon him supreme wealth in return (v.23).
Residing in Dvārakā, the compassionate Mukunda arranged for the king of Magadha (Jarāsandha) to be killed by Bhīma, thereby freeing the wretched sons of kings from their prison in a cave (v.24). From this city, He initiated the Rājasūya sacrifice for King Yudhiṣṭhira and, with His discus, severed the head of the king of Cedi (Śiśupāla), who had previously been cursed by Sanaka and other sages (v.25).
In this city, the ocean of compassion slew Dantavakra, who had come to fight, as well as the owner of the Saubha fortress, thus bringing immense joy to the Yadus (v.26). Residing in this city, the ultimate refuge, in the assembly of kings, instantly protected Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) when she was distressed, frightened, and had sought His shelter, her robes being seized by the wicked (v.27).
While staying in Dvārakā, He went to the Pāṇḍavas, who were distressed by fear of Durvāsā's curse. By eating a single leaf of a vegetable, He protected them, having swiftly satisfied the sage and his disciples (v.28).
Residing in this city, Kṛṣṇa arranged the marriage of His nephew (Abhimanyu) after His kinsmen's (the Pāṇḍavas') period of living incognito in Virāṭa's kingdom had concluded (v.29). From this city, Mukunda, observing the war preparations of the kings and showing His regard, journeyed to the city of Gajapura (Hastināpura) as an envoy for the Pāṇḍavas (v.30). Residing in this city, He joyfully went to Kurukṣetra for His dear friend (Arjuna), and while performing the sacred duty of a charioteer, the Guru of the worlds delivered the profound teachings of the Bhagavad Gītā (v.31).
Returning to Dvārakā with joy, having slain the kings who were a burden to the earth and having thus consecrated Dharma in His own kingdom, He lived contentedly with all the Yādavas (v.32).
This is that holy Dvāravatī, which destroys sins merely by being remembered. It is the glorious capital of Mukunda, protected by His two mighty arms (v.33). Holy Dvāravatī is revered as Vaikuṇṭha itself on this earthly plane, where Hari is eternally served by sixteen thousand goddesses (v.34). If a man resides in Dvāravatī with devotion for even half a moment, who in the three worlds can possibly enumerate his boundless good fortunes? (v.35). Even a wretched man, having gone to Dvāravatī by chance, will surely become a lord of wealth, just as the brahmin Kuchela did (v.36).
By taking refuge in Śrīnātha, the Lord of Dvārakā, the King of auspiciousness, one is instantly freed from all troubles, just as the Pāṇḍavas were (v.37). The friend in times of distress, the boundless ocean of mercy, Śrīnātha of auspicious form, who bestows welfare on all who take refuge in Him, shines brightly in Dvārakā (v.38). One need not worship Kāmadhenu, the Kalpa tree, or the Cintāmaṇi gem; by taking refuge in Kalyāṇa Kṛṣṇa, one attains all forms of welfare (v.39). In vain do you wander about, miserable, after leaving Dvāravatī. Take refuge in Kalyāṇa Kṛṣṇa and destroy your wretchedness yourself (v.40). The pilgrimage to Dvārakā is fruitful, the vision of Kṛṣṇa is fruitful, this human birth is fruitful; it is never in vain (v.41).
Here ends the twenty-second chapter, titled "The Glory of Dvārakā," in the First Part of the "Divyadeśavaibhavam," composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
Thus ends Chapter 22, named "Dvārakā Māhātmyam", in Prathama Bhāge, in the Divya Deśa Vaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
