राम

Viṣṇu-parva

Harivaṃśa · Adhyāya 93

68 versesDvārakā Seen from the Sky

Synopsis

Kṛṣṇa beholds the city Dvārakā from Garuḍa: resembling the abodes of the gods, resounding on every side. A small flashback in the middle: while Kṛṣṇa was on the Maṇi-Parvata journey, the king of the gods had summoned Viśvakarman. The chapter dwells on the architecture, pavilions gleaming like kindled fire, bright as the moon and the sun, painted by Viśvakarman as if inscribed on the sky. The chapter closes: the great hills, rivers, lakes, forests, and parks were laid out by the divine Bhauma.

First-pass synopsis; pending review by a Sanskritist.

Verse 1

ददर्शाथ पुरीं कृष्णो द्वारकां गरुडे स्थितः देवसद्मप्रतीकाशां समन्तात् प्रतिनादिताम्

dadarśātha purīṃ kṛṣṇo dvārakāṃ garuḍe sthitaḥ devasadmapratīkāśāṃ samantāt pratināditām

Then Kṛṣṇa, seated on Garuḍa, saw the city Dvārakā, like the dwellings of the gods, resonating on every side.

Verse 2

मणिपर्वतयात्रां हि गते देवकिनन्दने तथा क्रीडागृहाणि च उद्यानवनमुख्यानि वलभीचत्वराणि च संप्राप्ते तु तदा कृष्णे विश्वकर्माणम् आहूय देवराजो ऽब्रवीद् इदम्

maṇiparvatayātrāṃ hi gate devakinandane tathā krīḍāgṛhāṇi ca udyānavanamukhyāni valabhīcatvarāṇi ca saṃprāpte tu tadā kṛṣṇe viśvakarmāṇam āhūya devarājo 'bravīd idam

Verse 3

प्रियम् इच्छसि चेत् कर्तुं मह्यं शिल्पवतां वर कृष्णप्रियार्थं भूयस् त्वं करिष्यसि मनोहराम्

priyam icchasi cet kartuṃ mahyaṃ śilpavatāṃ vara kṛṣṇapriyārthaṃ bhūyas tvaṃ kariṣyasi manoharām

Verse 4

उद्यानवनसंबाधां द्वारकां स्वर्गसंनिभाम् कुरुष्व विबुधश्रेष्ठ यथा मम पुरी तथा

udyānavanasaṃbādhāṃ dvārakāṃ svargasaṃnibhām kuruṣva vibudhaśreṣṭha yathā mama purī tathā

Verse 5

यत् किं चित् त्रिषु लोकेषु रत्नभूतं प्रपश्यसि तेन संयुज्यतां क्षिप्रं पुरी द्वारवती त्वया

yat kiṃ cit triṣu lokeṣu ratnabhūtaṃ prapaśyasi tena saṃyujyatāṃ kṣipraṃ purī dvāravatī tvayā

Verse 6

कृष्णो हि सुरकार्येषु सर्वेषु सततोत्थितः संग्रामान् घोररूपांश् च विगाहति महाबलः

kṛṣṇo hi surakāryeṣu sarveṣu satatotthitaḥ saṃgrāmān ghorarūpāṃś ca vigāhati mahābalaḥ

Verse 7

ताम् इन्द्रवचनाद् गत्वा विश्वकर्मा पुरीं ततः अलंचक्रे समन्ताद् वै यथेन्द्रस्यामरावती

tām indravacanād gatvā viśvakarmā purīṃ tataḥ alaṃcakre samantād vai yathendrasyāmarāvatī

Verse 8

तां ददर्श दशार्हाणाम् ईश्वरः पक्षिवाहनः विश्वकर्मकृतैर् दिव्यैर् अभिप्रायैर् अलंकृताम्

tāṃ dadarśa daśārhāṇām īśvaraḥ pakṣivāhanaḥ viśvakarmakṛtair divyair abhiprāyair alaṃkṛtām

Verse 9

तां पुरीं द्वारकां दृष्ट्वा विभुनारायणो हरिः हृष्टः सर्वार्थसंपन्नः प्रवेष्टुम् उपचक्रमे

tāṃ purīṃ dvārakāṃ dṛṣṭvā vibhunārāyaṇo hariḥ hṛṣṭaḥ sarvārthasaṃpannaḥ praveṣṭum upacakrame

Verse 10

सो ऽपश्यद् वृक्षषण्डांश् च रम्यान् दृष्टिमनोहरान् द्वारकां प्रति दाशार्हश् चित्रितां विश्वकर्मणा

so 'paśyad vṛkṣaṣaṇḍāṃś ca ramyān dṛṣṭimanoharān dvārakāṃ prati dāśārhaś citritāṃ viśvakarmaṇā

Verse 11

पद्मषण्डाकुलाभिश् च हंससेवितवारिभिः गङ्गासिन्धुप्रकाशाभिः परिखाभिर् वृतां पुरीम्

padmaṣaṇḍākulābhiś ca haṃsasevitavāribhiḥ gaṅgāsindhuprakāśābhiḥ parikhābhir vṛtāṃ purīm

Verse 12

प्राकारेणार्कवर्णेन शातकौम्भेन राजता चयमूर्ध्नि निविष्टेन द्यां यथैवाभ्रमालया

prākāreṇārkavarṇena śātakaumbhena rājatā cayamūrdhni niviṣṭena dyāṃ yathaivābhramālayā

Verse 13

काननैर् नन्दनप्रख्यैस् तथा चैत्ररथोपमैः बभौ चारुपरिक्षिप्ता द्वारका द्यौर् इवाम्बुभिः

kānanair nandanaprakhyais tathā caitrarathopamaiḥ babhau cāruparikṣiptā dvārakā dyaur ivāmbubhiḥ

Verse 14

भाति रैवतकः शैलो रम्यसानुगुहाजिरः पूर्वस्यां दिशि लक्ष्मीवान् मणिकाञ्चनतोरणः

bhāti raivatakaḥ śailo ramyasānuguhājiraḥ pūrvasyāṃ diśi lakṣmīvān maṇikāñcanatoraṇaḥ

Verse 15

दक्षिणस्यां लतावेष्टः पञ्चवर्णो विराजते इन्द्रकेतुप्रतीकाशः पश्चिमस्यां तथाक्षयः

dakṣiṇasyāṃ latāveṣṭaḥ pañcavarṇo virājate indraketupratīkāśaḥ paścimasyāṃ tathākṣayaḥ

Verse 16

चित्रकाननरम्यश् च पञ्चानननिषेवितः उत्तरां दिशम् अत्यर्थं विभूषयति वेणुमान् मन्दराद्रिप्रतीकाशः पाण्डुरः पार्थिवर्षभ

citrakānanaramyaś ca pañcānananiṣevitaḥ uttarāṃ diśam atyarthaṃ vibhūṣayati veṇumān mandarādripratīkāśaḥ pāṇḍuraḥ pārthivarṣabha

Verse 17

चित्रकम्बलवर्णं च पाञ्चजन्यवनं महत् सर्वर्तुकवनं चैव भाति रैवतकं प्रति

citrakambalavarṇaṃ ca pāñcajanyavanaṃ mahat sarvartukavanaṃ caiva bhāti raivatakaṃ prati

Verse 18

लतावेष्टं समन्तात् तु मेरुप्रभवनं महत् भाति भार्गवनं चैव पुष्पकं च महद् वनम्

latāveṣṭaṃ samantāt tu meruprabhavanaṃ mahat bhāti bhārgavanaṃ caiva puṣpakaṃ ca mahad vanam

Verse 19

अक्षकैर् बीजकैश् चैव मन्दारैश् चोपशोभितम् शतावर्तवनं चैव करवीरकरम्भि च

akṣakair bījakaiś caiva mandāraiś copaśobhitam śatāvartavanaṃ caiva karavīrakarambhi ca

Verse 20

भाति चैत्ररथं चैव नन्दनं च महद् वनम् रमणं भावनं चैव वेणुमद् वै समन्ततः

bhāti caitrarathaṃ caiva nandanaṃ ca mahad vanam ramaṇaṃ bhāvanaṃ caiva veṇumad vai samantataḥ

Verse 21

वैदूर्यपत्रैर् जलजैस् तथा मन्दाकिनी नदी भाति पुष्करिणी रम्या पूर्वस्यां दिशि भारत

vaidūryapatrair jalajais tathā mandākinī nadī bhāti puṣkariṇī ramyā pūrvasyāṃ diśi bhārata

Verse 22

सानवो भूषितास् तत्र केशवस्य प्रियैषिभिः बहुभिर् देवगन्धर्वैश् चोदितैर् विश्वकर्मणा

sānavo bhūṣitās tatra keśavasya priyaiṣibhiḥ bahubhir devagandharvaiś coditair viśvakarmaṇā

Verse 23

महानदी द्वारवतीं पञ्चाशद्भिर् महामुखैः प्रविष्टा पुण्यसलिला भावयन्ती समन्ततः

mahānadī dvāravatīṃ pañcāśadbhir mahāmukhaiḥ praviṣṭā puṇyasalilā bhāvayantī samantataḥ

Verse 24

अप्रमेयां महोत्सेधाम् अगाधपरिखायुताम् प्राकारवरसंपन्नां सुधापाण्डुरलेपनाम्

aprameyāṃ mahotsedhām agādhaparikhāyutām prākāravarasaṃpannāṃ sudhāpāṇḍuralepanām

Verse 25

तीक्ष्णयन्त्रशतघ्नीभिर् यन्त्रजालैश् च भूषिताम् आयसैश् च महाचक्रैर् ददृशे द्वारकां पुरीम्

tīkṣṇayantraśataghnībhir yantrajālaiś ca bhūṣitām āyasaiś ca mahācakrair dadṛśe dvārakāṃ purīm

Verse 26

अष्टौ रथसहस्राणि नगरे किंकिणीकिनाम् समुच्छ्रितपताकानि यथा देवपुरे तथा

aṣṭau rathasahasrāṇi nagare kiṃkiṇīkinām samucchritapatākāni yathā devapure tathā

Verse 27

अष्टयोजनविस्तीर्णाम् अचलां द्वादशायताम् द्विगुणोपनिवेशां च ददृशे द्वारकां पुरीम्

aṣṭayojanavistīrṇām acalāṃ dvādaśāyatām dviguṇopaniveśāṃ ca dadṛśe dvārakāṃ purīm

Verse 28

अष्टमार्गमहाकक्ष्यां महाषोडशचत्वराम् एकमार्गपरिक्षिप्तां साक्षाद् उशनसा कृताम् स्त्रियो ऽपि यस्यां युध्येरन् किम् उ वृष्णिमहारथाः

aṣṭamārgamahākakṣyāṃ mahāṣoḍaśacatvarām ekamārgaparikṣiptāṃ sākṣād uśanasā kṛtām striyo 'pi yasyāṃ yudhyeran kim u vṛṣṇimahārathāḥ

Verse 29

व्यूहानाम् उत्तमा मार्गाः सप्त चैव महापथाः तत्र वै विहिताः साक्षाद् विविधा विश्वकर्मणा तस्मिन् पुरवरश्रेष्ठे दाशार्हाणां यशस्विनाम्

vyūhānām uttamā mārgāḥ sapta caiva mahāpathāḥ tatra vai vihitāḥ sākṣād vividhā viśvakarmaṇā tasmin puravaraśreṣṭhe dāśārhāṇāṃ yaśasvinām

Verse 30

वेश्मानि जहृषे दृष्ट्वा ततो देवकिनन्दनः काञ्चनैर् मणिसोपानैर् उपेतानि नृहर्षणैः

veśmāni jahṛṣe dṛṣṭvā tato devakinandanaḥ kāñcanair maṇisopānair upetāni nṛharṣaṇaiḥ

Verse 31

भीमघोषमहाघोषैः प्रासादवरचत्वरैः समुच्छ्रितपताकानि पारिप्लवनिभानि च

bhīmaghoṣamahāghoṣaiḥ prāsādavaracatvaraiḥ samucchritapatākāni pāriplavanibhāni ca

Verse 32

काञ्चनाग्राणि भास्वन्ति मेरुकूटनिभानि च पाण्डुपाण्डुरशृङ्गैश् च शातकुम्भपरिच्छदैः रम्यसानुगुहाशृङ्गैर् विचित्रैर् इव पर्वतैः

kāñcanāgrāṇi bhāsvanti merukūṭanibhāni ca pāṇḍupāṇḍuraśṛṅgaiś ca śātakumbhaparicchadaiḥ ramyasānuguhāśṛṅgair vicitrair iva parvataiḥ

Verse 33

प्रासादशिखराणि च गृहाणि रमणीयानि पञ्चवर्णसवर्णैश् च पुष्पवृष्टिसमप्रभैः पर्जन्यतुल्यनिर्घोषैर् नानारूपैर् इवाद्रिभिः

prāsādaśikharāṇi ca gṛhāṇi ramaṇīyāni pañcavarṇasavarṇaiś ca puṣpavṛṣṭisamaprabhaiḥ parjanyatulyanirghoṣair nānārūpair ivādribhiḥ

Verse 34

दावाग्निज्वलितप्रख्यैर् निर्मितैर् विश्वकर्मणा आलिखद्भिर् इवाकाशम् अतिचन्द्रार्कभास्वरैः

dāvāgnijvalitaprakhyair nirmitair viśvakarmaṇā ālikhadbhir ivākāśam aticandrārkabhāsvaraiḥ

Made to resemble blazing forest-fires by Viśvakarman, shining brighter than moon and sun, as if traced upon the sky.

Verse 35

तैर् दाशार्हैर् महाभागैर् बभासे भवनह्रदैः वासुदेवेन्द्रपर्जन्यैर् गृहमेघैर् अलंकृता

tair dāśārhair mahābhāgair babhāse bhavanahradaiḥ vāsudevendraparjanyair gṛhameghair alaṃkṛtā

Verse 36

ददृशे द्वारका चारु मेघैर् द्यौर् इव संवृता साक्षाद् भगवतो वेश्म विहितं विश्वकर्मणा

dadṛśe dvārakā cāru meghair dyaur iva saṃvṛtā sākṣād bhagavato veśma vihitaṃ viśvakarmaṇā

Verse 37

ददृशे वासुदेवस्य चतुर्योजनम् आयतम् तावद् एव च विस्तीर्णम् अप्रमेयं महाधनैः

dadṛśe vāsudevasya caturyojanam āyatam tāvad eva ca vistīrṇam aprameyaṃ mahādhanaiḥ

Verse 38

प्रासादवरसंपन्नैर् युक्तं जगति पर्वतैः यश् चकार महाभागस् त्वष्टा वासवचोदितः

prāsādavarasaṃpannair yuktaṃ jagati parvataiḥ yaś cakāra mahābhāgas tvaṣṭā vāsavacoditaḥ

Verse 39

प्रासादं चैव हेमाभं सर्वभूतमनोहरम् मेरोर् इव गिरेः शृङ्गम् उच्छ्रितं काञ्चनं महत् रुक्मिण्याः प्रवरं वासं विहितं विश्वकर्मणा

prāsādaṃ caiva hemābhaṃ sarvabhūtamanoharam meror iva gireḥ śṛṅgam ucchritaṃ kāñcanaṃ mahat rukmiṇyāḥ pravaraṃ vāsaṃ vihitaṃ viśvakarmaṇā

Verse 40

सत्यभामा पुनर् वेश्म यदावसत पाण्डुरम् विचित्रमणिसोपानं तद् विदुर् भोगवान् इति विमलादित्यवर्णाभिः पताकाभिर् अलंकृतम्

satyabhāmā punar veśma yadāvasata pāṇḍuram vicitramaṇisopānaṃ tad vidur bhogavān iti vimalādityavarṇābhiḥ patākābhir alaṃkṛtam

Verse 41

व्यक्तसंजवनोद्देशो यश् चतुर्दिङ्महाध्वजः स च प्रासादमुख्यो यो जाम्बवत्या विभूषितः प्रभयाभ्यभवत् सर्वांस् तान् अन्यान् भास्करो यथा

vyaktasaṃjavanoddeśo yaś caturdiṅmahādhvajaḥ sa ca prāsādamukhyo yo jāmbavatyā vibhūṣitaḥ prabhayābhyabhavat sarvāṃs tān anyān bhāskaro yathā

Verse 42

उद्यद्भास्करवर्णाभस् तयोर् अन्तरमाश्रितः विश्वकर्मकृतो दिव्यः कैलासशिखरोपमः

udyadbhāskaravarṇābhas tayor antaramāśritaḥ viśvakarmakṛto divyaḥ kailāsaśikharopamaḥ

Verse 43

जाम्बूनद इवादीप्तः प्रदीप्तज्वलनोपमः सागरप्रतिमस् तिष्ठन् मेरुर् इत्य् अभिविश्रुतः

jāmbūnada ivādīptaḥ pradīptajvalanopamaḥ sāgarapratimas tiṣṭhan merur ity abhiviśrutaḥ

Verse 44

तस्मिन् गान्धारराजस्य दुहिता कुलशालिनी गान्धारी भरतश्रेष्ठ केशवेन निवेशिता

tasmin gāndhārarājasya duhitā kulaśālinī gāndhārī bharataśreṣṭha keśavena niveśitā

Verse 45

पद्मकूटम् इति ख्यातं पद्म्वर्णं महाप्रभम् सुभीमाया महाकूटं वासं सुपरमार्चितम्

padmakūṭam iti khyātaṃ padmvarṇaṃ mahāprabham subhīmāyā mahākūṭaṃ vāsaṃ suparamārcitam

Verse 46

सूर्यप्रभस् तु प्रासादः सर्वकामगुणैर् युतः लक्ष्मणायाः कुरुश्रेष्ठ निर्दिष्टः शार्ङ्गधन्वना

sūryaprabhas tu prāsādaḥ sarvakāmaguṇair yutaḥ lakṣmaṇāyāḥ kuruśreṣṭha nirdiṣṭaḥ śārṅgadhanvanā

Verse 47

वैदूर्यमणिवर्णाभः प्रासादो हरितप्रभः यं विदुः सर्वभूतानि परम् इत्य् एव भारत

vaidūryamaṇivarṇābhaḥ prāsādo haritaprabhaḥ yaṃ viduḥ sarvabhūtāni param ity eva bhārata

Verse 48

वासं तं मित्रविन्दाया देवर्षिगणपूजितम् महिष्या वासुदेवस्य भूषणं तेषु वेश्मसु

vāsaṃ taṃ mitravindāyā devarṣigaṇapūjitam mahiṣyā vāsudevasya bhūṣaṇaṃ teṣu veśmasu

Verse 49

यस् तु प्रासादमुख्यो ऽत्र विहितो विश्वकर्मणा अतीव सौम्यः सो ऽप्य् आसीद् विष्ठितः पर्वतो यथा

yas tu prāsādamukhyo 'tra vihito viśvakarmaṇā atīva saumyaḥ so 'py āsīd viṣṭhitaḥ parvato yathā

Verse 50

सुदत्ताया निवासं तं प्रशस्तं सर्वदैवतैः महिष्या वासुदेवस्य केतुमान् इति विश्रुतः

sudattāyā nivāsaṃ taṃ praśastaṃ sarvadaivataiḥ mahiṣyā vāsudevasya ketumān iti viśrutaḥ

Verse 51

तत्र प्रासादमुख्यो वै यं त्वष्टा विदधे स्वयम् योजनायतविष्कम्भः सर्वरत्नमयः शुभः

tatra prāsādamukhyo vai yaṃ tvaṣṭā vidadhe svayam yojanāyataviṣkambhaḥ sarvaratnamayaḥ śubhaḥ

Verse 52

स श्रीमान् विरजो नाम व्यराजत् तत्र सुप्रभः उपस्थानगृहं यत्र केशवस्य महात्मनः

sa śrīmān virajo nāma vyarājat tatra suprabhaḥ upasthānagṛhaṃ yatra keśavasya mahātmanaḥ

Verse 53

तस्मिन् सुविहिताः सर्वे रुक्मदण्डाः पताकिनः सदने वासुदेवस्य मार्गसंजवनध्वजाः रत्नजालानि तत्रैव तत्र तत्र निवेशिताः

tasmin suvihitāḥ sarve rukmadaṇḍāḥ patākinaḥ sadane vāsudevasya mārgasaṃjavanadhvajāḥ ratnajālāni tatraiva tatra tatra niveśitāḥ

Verse 54

आहृत्य यदुसिंहेन वैजयन्तो ऽचलो महान् हंसकूटस्य यच्छृङ्गम् इन्द्रद्युम्नसरः प्रति षष्टितालसमुत्सेधम् अर्धयोजनम् आयतम्

āhṛtya yadusiṃhena vaijayanto 'calo mahān haṃsakūṭasya yacchṛṅgam indradyumnasaraḥ prati ṣaṣṭitālasamutsedham ardhayojanam āyatam

Verse 55

सकिंनरमहानागं तद् अप्य् अमिततेजसा पश्यतां सर्वभूतानाम् आनीतं लोकविश्रुतम्

sakiṃnaramahānāgaṃ tad apy amitatejasā paśyatāṃ sarvabhūtānām ānītaṃ lokaviśrutam

Verse 56

आदित्यपथगं यत् तु मेरोः शिखरम् उत्तमम् जाम्बूनदमयं दिव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् तद् अप्य् उत्पाट्य कृष्णार्थम् आनीतं विश्वकर्मणा

ādityapathagaṃ yat tu meroḥ śikharam uttamam jāmbūnadamayaṃ divyaṃ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam tad apy utpāṭya kṛṣṇārtham ānītaṃ viśvakarmaṇā

Verse 57

भ्राजमानम् अतीवोग्रं सर्वौषधिविभूषितम् तद् इन्द्रवचनात् त्वष्टा आनयत् कार्यहेतुना पारिजातस् तु तत्रैव केशवेनाहृतः स्वयम्

bhrājamānam atīvograṃ sarvauṣadhivibhūṣitam tad indravacanāt tvaṣṭā ānayat kāryahetunā pārijātas tu tatraiva keśavenāhṛtaḥ svayam

Verse 58

नीयमाने हि तत्रासीद् युद्धम् अद्भुतकर्मणः कृष्णस्य यो ऽभ्यरक्षंस् तं देवाः पादपम् उत्तमम् पुण्डरीकशतैर् जुष्टं विमानैश् च हिरण्मयैः

nīyamāne hi tatrāsīd yuddham adbhutakarmaṇaḥ kṛṣṇasya yo 'bhyarakṣaṃs taṃ devāḥ pādapam uttamam puṇḍarīkaśatair juṣṭaṃ vimānaiś ca hiraṇmayaiḥ

Verse 59

विहिता वासुदेवार्थं ब्रह्मस्थलमहाद्रुमाः पद्माकुलजलोपेता रत्नसौगन्धिकोत्पलाः मणिहेमप्लवाकीर्णाः पुष्करिण्यः सरांसि च

vihitā vāsudevārthaṃ brahmasthalamahādrumāḥ padmākulajalopetā ratnasaugandhikotpalāḥ maṇihemaplavākīrṇāḥ puṣkariṇyaḥ sarāṃsi ca

Verse 60

तासां परमकूलानि शोभयन्ति महाद्रुमाः सालास् तालाः कदम्बाश् च शतशाखाश् च रोहिणाः

tāsāṃ paramakūlāni śobhayanti mahādrumāḥ sālās tālāḥ kadambāś ca śataśākhāś ca rohiṇāḥ

Verse 61

ये च हैमवता वृक्षा ये च मेरुरुहास् तथा आहृत्य यदुसिंहार्थं विहिता विश्वकर्मणा

ye ca haimavatā vṛkṣā ye ca meruruhās tathā āhṛtya yadusiṃhārthaṃ vihitā viśvakarmaṇā

Verse 62

रक्तपीतारुणप्रख्याः श्वेतपुष्पाश् च पादपाः सर्वर्तुफलसंपन्नास् तेषु काननसंधिषु

raktapītāruṇaprakhyāḥ śvetapuṣpāś ca pādapāḥ sarvartuphalasaṃpannās teṣu kānanasaṃdhiṣu

Verse 63

समाकुलजलोपेताः पीतशर्करवालुकाः तस्मिन् पुरवरे नद्यः प्रसन्नसलिला ह्रदाः

samākulajalopetāḥ pītaśarkaravālukāḥ tasmin puravare nadyaḥ prasannasalilā hradāḥ

Verse 64

पुष्पाकुलजलोपेता नानाद्रुमलताकुलाः अपराश् चाभवन् नद्यो हेमशर्करवालुकाः

puṣpākulajalopetā nānādrumalatākulāḥ aparāś cābhavan nadyo hemaśarkaravālukāḥ

Verse 65

... नीलोत्पलविभूषिताः नद्यः पद्मचयोद्भासः ... मत्तबर्हिणसंघैश् च कोकिलैश् च सदामदैः बहूवुः परमोपेतास् तस्यां पुर्यां तु पादपाः

... nīlotpalavibhūṣitāḥ nadyaḥ padmacayodbhāsaḥ ... mattabarhiṇasaṃghaiś ca kokilaiś ca sadāmadaiḥ bahūvuḥ paramopetās tasyāṃ puryāṃ tu pādapāḥ

Verse 66

तत्रैव गजयूथानि पुरे गोमहिषास् तथा निवासश् च कृतस् तत्र वराहमृगपक्षिणाम्

tatraiva gajayūthāni pure gomahiṣās tathā nivāsaś ca kṛtas tatra varāhamṛgapakṣiṇām

Verse 67

पुर्यां तस्यां तु रम्यायां प्राकारो वै हिरण्मयः व्यक्तं किष्कुशतोत्सेधो विहितो विश्वकर्मणा

puryāṃ tasyāṃ tu ramyāyāṃ prākāro vai hiraṇmayaḥ vyaktaṃ kiṣkuśatotsedho vihito viśvakarmaṇā

Verse 68

तेन ते च महाशैलाः सरितश् च सरांसि च परिक्षिप्तानि भौमेन वनान्य् उपवनानि च

tena te ca mahāśailāḥ saritaś ca sarāṃsi ca parikṣiptāni bhaumena vanāny upavanāni ca

By the earth-son were arranged those great mountains, streams and lakes, and forests and pleasure-gardens.

Verse commentary

Kṛṣṇa Sees Dvārakā from Garuḍa's Back; Indra's Gift Through Viśvakarmā

कृष्णः गरुडस्थः द्वारकां पश्यति विश्वकर्मणा सज्जितम्

Verses 1, 4, 6, 8, 30, 40, 60: Kṛṣṇa returning on Garuḍa and seeing Dvārakā like the deva-abode, Indra's instruction to Viśvakarmā to make Kṛṣṇa's city like Amarāvatī, the reason given ('Kṛṣṇa labors in all the gods' causes'), the Lord of the Dāśārhas seeing Dvārakā adorned with divine intention, the palaces with golden and jewel-studded stairs, Satyabhāmā's white bhogavān palace with jewel stairs and sun-bright flags, and the forests along the river-banks thick with sāla, tāla, kadamba, and rohiṇa trees. Template commentary, pending Editorial Council review.

HV 93 is the Harivaṃśa's great set-piece of Dvārakā's beauty. Returning from the killing of Narakāsura and the release of the sixteen thousand women, Kṛṣṇa approaches the sea-fortressed city on Garuḍa's back. In his absence, something extraordinary had happened: Indra, wishing to honor Kṛṣṇa's relentless labor 'in all the gods' causes' (*sura-kāryeṣu sarveṣu satatotthitaḥ*), had summoned Viśvakarmā and commanded him to rebuild Dvārakā in Amarāvatī's image. The chapter is a long lingering description — palaces with jewel-stairs for each queen, gardens thick with sāla and kadamba, rivers along whose banks the trees bear lotuses and cuckoos. The Harivaṃśa wants the reader to see what the Lord sees as he comes home.

HV 93.1

ददर्शाथ पुरीं कृष्णो द्वारकां गरुडे स्थितः । देवसद्मप्रतीकाशां समन्तात् प्रतिनादिताम् ॥

dadarśātha purīṃ kṛṣṇo dvārakāṃ garuḍe sthitaḥ | deva-sadma-pratīkāśāṃ samantāt pratināditām

Then Kṛṣṇa, seated on Garuḍa, saw the city Dvārakā — like the abode of gods, resounding on all sides.

The Living Words

*Dadarśa purīṃ*, 'saw the city'. *Garuḍe sthitaḥ*, 'seated on Garuḍa'. *Deva-sadma-pratīkāśām*, 'like the deva-abode'. *Samantāt pratināditām*, 'resounding on all sides'.

The Heart of It

The verse is the Lord's homecoming-gaze. *Garuḍe sthitaḥ... dadarśa purīṃ dvārakām* — Kṛṣṇa sees his own city from the air. The Varkari tradition's reading: the bhakta too, at the end of some long labor, must see the bhakti-city from above — look down on what has been built while he was fighting, and see it as *deva-sadma-pratīkāśā*. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh's image of the bhakta beholding his own interior Paṇḍharpūr at moments of recollection is this verse made devotional. The homecoming begins in the high seeing.

HV 93.4

उद्यानवनसंबाधां द्वारकां स्वर्गसंनिभाम् । कुरुष्व विबुधश्रेष्ठ यथा मम पुरी तथा ॥

udyāna-vana-saṃbādhāṃ dvārakāṃ svarga-saṃnibhām | kuruṣva vibudha-śreṣṭha yathā mama purī tathā

'Make Dvārakā — thronged with gardens and forests, like svarga — O best of the wise, as my [own] city is.'

The Living Words

*Udyāna-vana-saṃbādhām*, 'thronged with gardens and forests'. *Svarga-saṃnibhām*, 'like svarga'. *Kuruṣva*, 'make'. *Vibudha-śreṣṭha*, 'best of the wise' — Viśvakarmā. *Yathā mama purī tathā*, 'as my [own] city'.

The Heart of It

The verse is Indra's command. *Yathā mama purī tathā* — 'as my own city'. Indra instructs Viśvakarmā to make Dvārakā like Amarāvatī. The Varkari tradition's reading: grace is extended in the form of *equality-to-what-the-giver-has*. The divine does not offer Kṛṣṇa a lesser city; he offers him Indra's own city in duplicate. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh teaches that the Name, when received, brings the bhakta into parity with the Lord's own dwelling — not a lesser shelter, but *yathā mama purī tathā*.

HV 93.6

कृष्णो हि सुरकार्येषु सर्वेषु सततोत्थितः । संग्रामान् घोररूपांश् च विगाहति महाबलः ॥

kṛṣṇo hi sura-kāryeṣu sarveṣu satatotthitaḥ | saṃgrāmān ghora-rūpāṃś ca vigāhati mahā-balaḥ

'Kṛṣṇa, indeed, is ever-risen in all the gods' causes; the mighty one wades into the most fearsome combats.'

The Living Words

*Sura-kāryeṣu sarveṣu*, 'in all the gods' causes'. *Satata-utthitaḥ*, 'ever-risen, always getting up'. *Saṃgrāmān ghora-rūpān*, 'combats of fearsome forms'. *Vigāhati*, 'wades into'.

The Heart of It

The verse names the reason for the gift. *Satata-utthitaḥ* — 'always-risen', 'never-ceasing-to-get-up'. Indra observes that Kṛṣṇa never stops rising for the gods' work. The Varkari tradition's deep teaching that true bhakti-work is *satata-utthita* — that the Name's servant is always-rising, never allowing the tāmasa of fatigue to overtake his labor — is in this verse. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh is sung as exactly this *satata-utthiti*: every abhaṅga is a rising-again, every morning a renewed getting-up for the Name.

HV 93.8

तां ददर्श दशार्हाणाम् ईश्वरः पक्षिवाहनः । विश्वकर्मकृतैर् दिव्यैर् अभिप्रायैर् अलंकृताम् ॥

tāṃ dadarśa daśārhāṇām īśvaraḥ pakṣi-vāhanaḥ | viśvakarma-kṛtair divyair abhiprāyair alaṃkṛtām

The Lord of the Dāśārhas — the bird-vehicled — saw her, adorned with the divine designs made by Viśvakarmā.

The Living Words

*Dāśārhāṇām īśvaraḥ*, 'lord of the Dāśārhas'. *Pakṣi-vāhanaḥ*, 'bird-vehicled'. *Viśvakarma-kṛtair divyair abhiprāyaiḥ*, 'with divine designs made by Viśvakarmā'. *Alaṃkṛtām*, 'adorned'.

The Heart of It

The verse names a theological detail: *Viśvakarma-kṛtaiḥ divyaiḥ abhiprāyaiḥ alaṃkṛtām*. The city is 'adorned with divine *abhiprāyas*' — where *abhiprāya* means 'intention, design, deep purpose'. The Varkari tradition's reading: the bhakti-city is not merely decorated; it is built *abhiprāya*-by-*abhiprāya*, each ornament an intention of grace. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh's image of the bhakta's heart as a dwelling adorned not with objects but with *abhiprāyas* — intentions, purposes, divine designs — has HV 93.8 as its Sanskrit model.

HV 93.30

वेश्मानि जहृषे दृष्ट्वा ततो देवकिनन्दनः । काञ्चनैर् मणिसोपानैर् उपेतानि नृहर्षणैः ॥

veśmāni jahṛṣe dṛṣṭvā tato devakinandanaḥ | kāñcanair maṇi-sopānair upetāni nṛ-harṣaṇaiḥ

Seeing the palaces, then, the son of Devakī rejoiced — those with golden jewel-stairs, delighting people.

The Living Words

*Veśmāni*, 'palaces'. *Jahṛṣe*, 'rejoiced'. *Kāñcanair maṇi-sopānaiḥ*, 'with golden jewel-stairs'. *Nṛ-harṣaṇaiḥ*, 'delighting people'.

The Heart of It

The verse names the Lord's own pleasure. *Jahṛṣe dṛṣṭvā* — 'rejoiced, seeing'. The Varkari tradition's tenderness toward this verse: even the Lord rejoices at beautiful buildings. The spiritual is not indifferent to the aesthetic; *nṛ-harṣaṇaiḥ*, 'delighting people', is itself a category of spiritual work. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh's insistence that *saundarya*, beauty, is an aid to the Name — that beautiful temples, well-made idols, carefully-kept gardens serve the Name — has HV 93.30 as its Sanskrit warrant.

HV 93.40

सत्यभामा पुनर् वेश्म यदावसत पाण्डुरम् । विचित्रमणिसोपानं तद् विदुर् भोगवान् इति । विमलादित्यवर्णाभिः पताकाभिर् अलंकृतम् ॥

satyabhāmā punar veśma yadāvasata pāṇḍuram | vicitra-maṇi-sopānaṃ tad vidur bhogavān iti | vimalāditya-varṇābhiḥ patākābhir alaṃkṛtam

The white palace Satyabhāmā inhabited — with varied jewel-stairs — they know as 'Bhogavān' — adorned with flags the color of the stainless sun.

The Living Words

*Satyabhāmā punar veśma pāṇḍuram*, 'Satyabhāmā's white palace'. *Vicitra-maṇi-sopānam*, 'with varied jewel-stairs'. *Bhogavān iti*, 'called Bhogavān'. *Vimalāditya-varṇābhiḥ patākābhiḥ*, 'with flags of stainless-sun color'.

The Heart of It

The verse gives each queen her palace, here Satyabhāmā's. *Pāṇḍuram*, 'white'; *vicitra-maṇi-sopānam*, 'varied jewel-stairs'. The Varkari tradition's observation: the Lord's household has specific spaces for each beloved; grace is not undifferentiated. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh's recognition that each bhakta has his or her specific 'palace' in the Lord's interior Dvārakā — that the Name makes room for individual *svabhāva* — is in HV 93.40 and the surrounding verses. The city is one; the palaces are many.

HV 93.60

तासां परमकूलानि शोभयन्ति महाद्रुमाः । सालास् तालाः कदम्बाश् च शतशाखाश् च रोहिणाः ॥

tāsāṃ parama-kūlāni śobhayanti mahā-drumāḥ | sālās tālāḥ kadambāś ca śata-śākhāś ca rohiṇāḥ

The exquisite banks of those [rivers] are adorned by great trees: sāla, tāla, kadamba, and the hundred-branched rohiṇa.

The Living Words

*Parama-kūlāni*, 'exquisite banks'. *Śobhayanti mahā-drumāḥ*, 'great trees adorn'. *Sāla, tāla, kadamba, rohiṇa* — four tree-species named.

The Heart of It

The verse catalogues the specific trees. *Sāla, tāla, kadamba, rohiṇa* — the same *kadamba* under which Kṛṣṇa played in Vṛndāvana, now along Dvārakā's rivers. The Varkari tradition's delight in this: the Lord brings his forest-species with him. The trees of the childhood line the rivers of the later city. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh's sense that the bhakta carries his early sacred geography forward — that every new sacred place rings with the tree-shade of the earlier ones — has HV 93.60 as its Sanskrit warrant. Kṛṣṇa's new city has Vṛndāvana's kadamba on its river-banks.

Thread

The seven verses trace Kṛṣṇa's homecoming: the Lord on Garuḍa seeing Dvārakā like the deva-abode (93.1), Indra's instruction to Viśvakarmā to make it 'as my own city' (93.4), the reason given — Kṛṣṇa always-rising for the gods' causes (93.6), the city adorned with Viśvakarmā's divine abhiprāyas (93.8), the Lord rejoicing at golden jewel-stairs (93.30), Satyabhāmā's white palace named Bhogavān (93.40), and the river-banks lined with sāla, tāla, kadamba, and rohiṇa trees (93.60). The Harivaṃśa's most luxurious city-description, grounded throughout in the theology that Dvārakā is Amarāvatī given in duplicate.

Echo in the saints

HV 93 has been read by Warkari commentators as one of the Harivaṃśa's most important chapters on *aiśvarya* — divine opulence — without *abhimāna*, without pride of possession. The Lord rejoices at the palaces (*jahṛṣe*) but does not claim them; they are Viśvakarmā's work, Indra's gift. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh's teaching that the bhakta who finds himself in a beautiful dwelling — literal or interior — must rejoice without claiming, and must see the *abhiprāya* (design) behind the ornament — is HV 93's ethical sound. And the tree-list of 93.60 is the Harivaṃśa's reminder that the new dwelling carries the old forests in its very botany.

Scripture references

EchoesBhagavad Gītā 9.22

For the ever-yoked, I bring the attainment.

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते । तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥

ananyāś cintayanto māṃ ye janāḥ paryupāsate | teṣāṃ nityābhiyuktānāṃ yoga-kṣemaṃ vahām y aham

Those who, thinking of none other, worship me — for them, the ever-yoked, I bring both their attainment and their security.

HV 93.6's satata-utthitaḥ and the gods' response of rebuilding Dvārakā together narrate the Gītā 9.22 reciprocity. Kṛṣṇa is nitya-abhiyukta in the gods' cause; the gods, in turn, bring his yoga-kṣema by way of Viśvakarmā's hands. The two verses teach reciprocity at cosmic scale.

BORI critical edition, ed. P. L. Vaidya (1969). Digital text from the GRETIL Zurich constituted text. Distributed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.