Lord Krishna's Entrance into Dvaraka

Verse 1 (bhagavata.1.11.1)

सूत उवाच आनर्तान् स उपव्रज्य स्वृद्धाञ्जनपदान्स्वकान् । दध्मौ दरवरं तेषां विषादं शमयन्निव ॥ १ ॥

sūta uvāca ānartān sa upavrajya svṛddhāñ jana-padān svakān dadhmau daravaraṁ teṣāṁ viṣādaṁ śamayann iva

Suta said: Approaching the Anarta country, his own flourishing land, he blew the finest of conches, as if to still their sorrow.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.1.11.2)

स उच्चकाशे धवलोदरो दरो- ऽप्युरुक्रमस्याधरशोणशोणिमा । दाध्मायमानः करकञ्जसम्पुटे यथाब्जखण्डे कलहंस उत्स्वनः ॥ २ ॥

sa uccakāśe dhavalodaro daro ’py urukramasyādharaśoṇa-śoṇimā dādhmāyamānaḥ kara-kañja-sampuṭe yathābja-khaṇḍe kala-haṁsa utsvanaḥ

That white-bellied conch, reddened by the touch of the wide-strider's lower lip as he blew it, shone cradled in the lotus of his hand — like a swan calling sweetly amid a cluster of lotus blooms.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.1.11.3)

तमुपश्रुत्य निनदं जगद्भयभयावहम् । प्रत्युद्ययुः प्रजाः सर्वा भर्तृदर्शनलालसाः ॥ ३ ॥

tam upaśrutya ninadaṁ jagad-bhaya-bhayāvaham pratyudyayuḥ prajāḥ sarvā bhartṛ-darśana-lālasāḥ

Hearing that sound — which strikes fear into fear itself throughout the world — all the citizens hurried forward, eager for a sight of their lord.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.1.11.4)

तत्रोपनीतबलयो रवेर्दीपमिवादृताः । आत्मारामं पूर्णकामं निजलाभेन नित्यदा ॥ ४ ॥

tatropanīta-balayo raver dīpam ivādṛtāḥ ātmārāmaṁ pūrṇa-kāmaṁ nija-lābhena nityadā

There, bearing their tributes as one offers a lamp to the sun, they came before him who delights in himself, whose every desire is already fulfilled and who forever gives of his own abundance —

Verse 5 (bhagavata.1.11.5)

प्रीत्युत्फुल्लमुखाः प्रोचुर्हर्षगद्गदया गिरा । पितरं सर्वसुहृदमवितारमिवार्भकाः ॥ ५ ॥

prīty-utphulla-mukhāḥ procur harṣa-gadgadayā girā pitaraṁ sarva-suhṛdam avitāram ivārbhakāḥ

— their faces blossoming with love, they cried out in voices broken with joy, as children cry out to the father who is the well-wisher of all, their sole protector.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.1.11.6)

नताः स्म ते नाथ सदाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजं विरिञ्चवैरिञ्च्यसुरेन्द्रवन्दितम् । परायणं क्षेममिहेच्छतां परं न यत्र कालः प्रभवेत् परः प्रभुः ॥ ६ ॥

natāḥ sma te nātha sadāṅghri-paṅkajaṁ viriñca-vairiñcya-surendra-vanditam parāyaṇaṁ kṣemam ihecchatāṁ paraṁ na yatra kālaḥ prabhavet paraḥ prabhuḥ

We bow always, O Lord, to your lotus feet — worshiped by Brahma, by the sons of Brahma, and by the king of the gods — the final refuge of those who truly seek well-being, the one place where even time, master of all else, holds no power, for you are the Lord beyond the highest.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.1.11.7)

भवाय नस्त्वं भव विश्वभावन त्वमेव माताथ सुहृत्पतिः पिता । त्वं सद्गुरुर्नः परमं च दैवतं यस्यानुवृत्त्या कृतिनो बभूविम ॥ ७ ॥

bhavāya nas tvaṁ bhava viśva-bhāvana tvam eva mātātha suhṛt-patiḥ pitā tvaṁ sad-gurur naḥ paramaṁ ca daivataṁ yasyānuvṛttyā kṛtino babhūvima

Be present for our well-being, O creator of the universe — you alone are our mother, our loving lord and father; you are our true teacher and highest deity, and by following you we have found our fulfillment.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.1.11.8)

अहो सनाथा भवता स्म यद्वयं त्रैविष्टपानामपि दूरदर्शनम् । प्रेमस्मितस्निग्धनिरीक्षणाननं पश्येम रूपं तव सर्वसौभगम् ॥ ८ ॥

aho sanāthā bhavatā sma yad vayaṁ traiviṣṭapānām api dūra-darśanam prema-smita-snigdha-nirīkṣaṇānanaṁ paśyema rūpaṁ tava sarva-saubhagam

Ah, how fortunate we are, that we may now behold — a sight rare even to the dwellers of heaven — your face graced by loving, smiling, tender glances, your form filled with every auspiciousness.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.1.11.9)

यर्ह्यम्बुजाक्षापससार भो भवान् कुरून् मधून् वाथ सुहृद्दिदृक्षया । तत्राब्दकोटिप्रतिमः क्षणो भवेद् रविं विनाक्ष्णोरिव नस्तवाच्युत ॥ ९ ॥

yarhy ambujākṣāpasasāra bho bhavān kurūn madhūn vātha suhṛd-didṛkṣayā tatrābda-koṭi-pratimaḥ kṣaṇo bhaved raviṁ vinākṣṇor iva nas tavācyuta

O lotus-eyed one, whenever you go off to the Kurus, or to Mathura, or elsewhere, longing to see your friends, then, O infallible one, even a single moment of your absence feels to us like ten million years — as if our eyes were left without the sun.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.1.11.10)

कथं वयं नाथ चिरोषिते त्वयि प्रसन्नदृष्टयाखिलतापशोषणम । जीवेम ते सुन्दरहासशोभितमपश्यमाना वदनं मनोहरम । इति चोदीरिता वाचः प्रजानां भक्तवत्सल । शृण्वानोऽनुग्रहं दृष्टया वितन्वन् प्राविशत् पुरम् ॥ १० ॥

kathaṁ vayaṁ nātha ciroṣite tvayi prasanna-dṛṣṭyākhila-tāpa-śoṣaṇam jīvema te sundara-hāsa-śobhitam apaśyamānā vadanaṁ manoharam iti codīritā vācaḥ prajānāṁ bhakta-vatsalaḥ śṛṇvāno ’nugrahaṁ dṛṣṭyā vitanvan prāviśat puram

"How, O master, shall we live while you remain so long away, unable to behold your face — that face, lovely with its smile, which dries up all our suffering with a single gracious glance?" So the people cried out; and he, ever tender to his devotees, hearing their affection and bestowing his grace with a glance, entered the city.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.1.11.11)

मधुभोजदशार्हार्हकुकुरान्धकवृष्णिभिः । आत्मतुल्यबलैर्गुप्तां नागैर्भोगवतीमिव ॥ ११ ॥

madhu-bhoja-daśārhārha- kukurāndhaka-vṛṣṇibhiḥ ātma-tulya-balair guptāṁ nāgair bhogavatīm iva

The city was guarded by the Madhu, Bhoja, Dasharha, Arha, Kukura, Andhaka and Vrishni clans, men whose strength matched his own — as the serpent-city Bhogavati is guarded by its Nagas.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.1.11.12)

सर्वर्तुसर्वविभवपुण्यवृक्षलताश्रमैः । उद्यानोपवनारामैर्वृतपद्माकरश्रियम् ॥ १२ ॥

sarvartu-sarva-vibhava- puṇya-vṛkṣa-latāśramaiḥ udyānopavanārāmair vṛta-padmākara-śriyam

It was adorned with the beauty of lotus-filled lakes, ringed about by gardens, groves and pleasure-parks, and by hermitage-like plantations of sacred trees and creepers bearing the abundance of every season.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.1.11.13)

गोपुरद्वारमार्गेषु कृतकौतुकतोरणाम् । चित्रध्वजपताकाग्रैरन्तः प्रतिहतातपाम् ॥ १३ ॥

gopura-dvāra-mārgeṣu kṛta-kautuka-toraṇām citra-dhvaja-patākāgrair antaḥ pratihatātapām

Festive archways had been raised along the roads to the city gates, and within, the sun's heat was kept off by the fluttering tips of bright flags and banners.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.1.11.14)

सम्मार्जितमहामार्गरथ्यापणकचत्वराम् । सिक्तां गन्धजलैरुप्तां फलपुष्पाक्षताङ्कुरैः ॥ १४ ॥

sammārjita-mahā-mārga- rathyāpaṇaka-catvarām siktāṁ gandha-jalair uptāṁ phala-puṣpākṣatāṅkuraiḥ

The great highways, streets, marketplaces and squares had all been swept clean, sprinkled with scented water, and strewn with fruits, flowers, unbroken grain and fresh shoots.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.1.11.15)

द्वारि द्वारि गृहाणां च दध्यक्षतफलेक्षुभिः । अलङ्कृतां पूर्णकुम्भैर्बलिभिर्धूपदीपकैः ॥ १५ ॥

dvāri dvāri gṛhāṇāṁ ca dadhy-akṣata-phalekṣubhiḥ alaṅkṛtāṁ pūrṇa-kumbhair balibhir dhūpa-dīpakaiḥ

At every doorway of every house stood offerings of curd, unbroken rice, fruit and sugarcane, together with brimming waterpots, ritual gifts, incense and lamps.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.1.11.16)

निशम्य प्रेष्ठमायान्तं वसुदेवो महामनाः । अक्रूरश्चोग्रसेनश्च रामश्चाद्भुतविक्रमः ॥ १६ ॥

niśamya preṣṭham āyāntaṁ vasudevo mahā-manāḥ akrūraś cograsenaś ca rāmaś cādbhuta-vikramaḥ

Hearing that their most beloved was drawing near, great-hearted Vasudeva, along with Akrura and Ugrasena, and Balarama of astonishing might —

Verse 17 (bhagavata.1.11.17)

प्रद्युम्नश्चारुदेष्णश्च साम्बो जाम्बवतीसुतः । प्रहर्षवेगोच्छशितशयनासनभोजनाः ॥ १७ ॥

pradyumnaś cārudeṣṇaś ca sāmbo jāmbavatī-sutaḥ praharṣa-vegocchaśita- śayanāsana-bhojanāḥ

— and Pradyumna, and Charudeshna, and Samba, the son of Jambavati — swept up in the force of their joy, gave up their resting, sitting and dining.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.1.11.18)

वारणेन्द्रं पुरस्कृत्य ब्राह्मणैः ससुमङ्गलैः । शङ्खतूर्यनिनादेन ब्रह्मघोषेण चादृताः । प्रत्युज्जग्मू रथैर्हृष्टाः प्रणयागतसाध्वसाः ॥ १८ ॥

vāraṇendraṁ puraskṛtya brāhmaṇaiḥ sasumaṅgalaiḥ śaṅkha-tūrya-ninādena brahma-ghoṣeṇa cādṛtāḥ pratyujjagmū rathair hṛṣṭāḥ praṇayāgata-sādhvasāḥ

With the noblest of elephants leading the way, and brahmins pronouncing auspicious blessings, honored by the sound of conches and trumpets and by the chanting of sacred hymns, they set out joyfully on their chariots, their eagerness touched with the anxious flutter of love.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.1.11.19)

वारमुख्याश्च शतशो यानैस्तद्दर्शनोत्सुकाः । लसत्कुण्डलनिर्भातकपोलवदनश्रियः ॥ १९ ॥

vāramukhyāś ca śataśo yānais tad-darśanotsukāḥ lasat-kuṇḍala-nirbhāta- kapola-vadana-śriyaḥ

And hundreds of the city's leading courtesans, eager for a glimpse of him, came in their carriages, the beauty of their cheeks and faces gleaming beneath swaying earrings.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.1.11.20)

नटनर्तकगन्धर्वाः सूतमागधवन्दिनः । गायन्ति चोत्तमश्लोकचरितान्यद्भुतानि च ॥ २० ॥

naṭa-nartaka-gandharvāḥ sūta-māgadha-vandinaḥ gāyanti cottamaśloka- caritāny adbhutāni ca

Actors, dancers and celestial musicians, along with bards, chroniclers and court eulogists, sang the wondrous deeds of him who is glorified in the finest verse.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.1.11.21)

भगवांस्तत्र बन्धूनां पौराणामनुवर्तिनाम् । यथाविध्युपसङ्गम्य सर्वेषां मानमादधे ॥ २१ ॥

bhagavāṁs tatra bandhūnāṁ paurāṇām anuvartinām yathā-vidhy upasaṅgamya sarveṣāṁ mānam ādadhe

The Lord, going up to all his kinsmen and to the citizens who had come out to follow him, honored each of them there according to due custom.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.1.11.22)

प्रह्वाभिवादनाश्लेषकरस्पर्शस्मितेक्षणैः । आश्वास्य चाश्वपाकेभ्यो वरैश्चाभिमतैर्विभुः ॥ २२ ॥

prahvābhivādanāśleṣa- kara-sparśa-smitekṣaṇaiḥ āśvāsya cāśvapākebhyo varaiś cābhimatair vibhuḥ

With respectful bows, embraces, handshakes, smiles and glances, the almighty Lord reassured them all, and even the lowliest among them he honored with the boons they desired.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.1.11.23)

स्वयं च गुरुभिर्विप्रैः सदारैः स्थविरैरपि । आशीर्भिर्युज्यमानोऽन्यैर्वन्दिभिश्चाविशत्पुरम् ॥ २३ ॥

svayaṁ ca gurubhir vipraiḥ sadāraiḥ sthavirair api āśīrbhir yujyamāno ’nyair vandibhiś cāviśat puram

He himself then entered the city, receiving blessings from his elders, from learned brahmins together with their wives, from the aged, and from bards and others besides.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.1.11.24)

राजमार्गं गते कृष्णे द्वारकायाः कुलस्त्रियः । हर्म्याण्यारुरुहुर्विप्र तदीक्षणमहोत्सवाः ॥ २४ ॥

rāja-mārgaṁ gate kṛṣṇe dvārakāyāḥ kula-striyaḥ harmyāṇy āruruhur vipra tad-īkṣaṇa-mahotsavāḥ

O brahmin, as Krishna passed along the royal road, the noble women of Dvaraka climbed to the rooftops of their mansions — for the mere sight of him was, to them, the greatest of festivals.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.1.11.25)

नित्यं निरीक्षमाणानां यदपि द्वारकौकसाम् । न वितृप्यन्ति हि दृशः श्रियो धामाङ्गमच्युतम् ॥ २५ ॥

nityaṁ nirīkṣamāṇānāṁ yad api dvārakaukasām na vitṛpyanti hi dṛśaḥ śriyo dhāmāṅgam acyutam

Even for the people of Dvaraka, who beheld him daily without fail, their eyes were never satisfied — for he, the infallible one, is beauty's own dwelling place and form.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.1.11.26)

श्रियो निवासो यस्योरः पानपात्रं मुखं दृशाम् । बाहवो लोकपालानां सारङ्गाणां पदाम्बुजम् ॥ २६ ॥

śriyo nivāso yasyoraḥ pāna-pātraṁ mukhaṁ dṛśām bāhavo loka-pālānāṁ sāraṅgāṇāṁ padāmbujam

His chest is the dwelling of the goddess of fortune; his face the cup from which all eyes drink their fill; his arms the shelter of the guardians of the world's four quarters; and his lotus feet, the refuge of those devoted souls who seek nothing else.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.1.11.27)

सितातपत्रव्यजनैरुपस्कृतः प्रसूनवर्षैरभिवर्षितः पथि । पिशङ्गवासा वनमालया बभौ घनो यथार्कोडुपचापवैद्युतैः ॥ २७ ॥

sitātapatra-vyajanair upaskṛtaḥ prasūna-varṣair abhivarṣitaḥ pathi piśaṅga-vāsā vana-mālayā babhau ghano yathārkoḍupa-cāpa-vaidyutaiḥ

Shaded by white parasols and cooled by fans, showered with falling flowers along the road, clad in radiant yellow silk and a garland of forest blossoms, he shone like a dark rain-cloud ringed all at once by sun, moon, rainbow and lightning.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.1.11.28)

प्रविष्टस्तु गृहं पित्रोः परिष्वक्तः स्वमातृभिः । ववन्दे शिरसा सप्त देवकीप्रमुखा मुदा ॥ २८ ॥

praviṣṭas tu gṛhaṁ pitroḥ pariṣvaktaḥ sva-mātṛbhiḥ vavande śirasā sapta devakī-pramukhā mudā

Entering the house of his parents, embraced by his mothers, he bowed his head with joy to the seven of them, Devaki foremost among them.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.1.11.29)

ताः पुत्रमङ्कमारोप्य स्नेहस्नुतपयोधराः । हर्षविह्वलितात्मानः सिषिचुर्नेत्रजैर्जलैः ॥ २९ ॥

tāḥ putram aṅkam āropya sneha-snuta-payodharāḥ harṣa-vihvalitātmānaḥ siṣicur netrajair jalaiḥ

Setting their son upon their laps, their breasts moist with the milk of pure love, overwhelmed with joy, they bathed him in the tears of their eyes.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.1.11.30)

अथाविशत् स्वभवनं सर्वकाममनुत्तमम् । प्रासादा यत्र पत्नीनां सहस्राणि च षोडश ॥ ३० ॥

athāviśat sva-bhavanaṁ sarva-kāmam anuttamam prāsādā yatra patnīnāṁ sahasrāṇi ca ṣoḍaśa

Then he entered his own residence, unsurpassed and furnished with everything one could wish for, where stood the palaces of his sixteen thousand wives.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.1.11.31)

पत्न्यः पतिं प्रोष्य गृहानुपागतं विलोक्य सञ्जातमनोमहोत्सवाः । उत्तस्थुरारात् सहसासनाशयात् साकं व्रतैर्व्रीडितलोचनाननाः ॥ ३१ ॥

patnyaḥ patiṁ proṣya gṛhānupāgataṁ vilokya sañjāta-mano-mahotsavāḥ uttasthur ārāt sahasāsanāśayāt sākaṁ vratair vrīḍita-locanānanāḥ

His wives, seeing their husband — long gone abroad — now home again, felt a great festival awaken in their hearts. They rose at once, swiftly, from their seats and resting-places, their eyes and faces bashful as on the day of their wedding vows.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.1.11.32)

तमात्मजैर्दृष्टिभिरन्तरात्मना दुरन्तभावाः परिरेभिरे पतिम् । निरुद्धमप्यास्रवदम्बु नेत्रयो- र्विलज्जतीनां भृगुवर्य वैक्लवात् ॥ ३२ ॥

tam ātmajair dṛṣṭibhir antarātmanā duranta-bhāvāḥ parirebhire patim niruddham apy āsravad ambu netrayor vilajjatīnāṁ bhṛgu-varya vaiklavāt

With their inmost hearts, with their eyes, and through their own sons, those queens of boundless feeling embraced their lord; and though they held themselves back, tears still flowed from the eyes of those bashful women, O best of the Bhrigus, overcome by pure emotion.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.1.11.33)

यद्यप्यसौ पार्श्वगतो रहोगत- स्तथापि तस्याङ्घ्रियुगं नवं नवम् । पदे पदे का विरमेत तत्पदा- च्चलापि यच्छ्रीर्न जहाति कर्हिचित् ॥ ३३ ॥

yadyapy asau pārśva-gato raho-gatas tathāpi tasyāṅghri-yugaṁ navaṁ navam pade pade kā virameta tat-padāc calāpi yac chrīr na jahāti karhicit

Even though he was always at their side, or alone with each of them in private, still his two feet seemed new to them at every moment — for who could ever turn away from those feet, from which even the restless goddess of fortune herself never departs?

Verse 34 (bhagavata.1.11.34)

एवं नृपाणां क्षितिभारजन्मना- मक्षौहिणीभिः परिवृत्ततेजसाम् । विधाय वैरं श्वसनो यथानलं मिथो वधेनोपरतो निरायुधः ॥ ३४ ॥

evaṁ nṛpāṇāṁ kṣiti-bhāra-janmanām akṣauhiṇībhiḥ parivṛtta-tejasām vidhāya vairaṁ śvasano yathānalaṁ mitho vadhenoparato nirāyudhaḥ

Thus, having set the earth's burdensome kings — swollen with the might of their vast armies — at war among themselves, he, like the wind that kindles fire through mere friction, stood apart, weaponless, letting their mutual slaughter bring them to rest.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.1.11.35)

स एष नरलोकेऽस्मिन्नवतीर्णः स्वमायया । रेमे स्त्रीरत्नकूटस्थो भगवान् प्राकृतो यथा ॥ ३५ ॥

sa eṣa nara-loke ’sminn avatīrṇaḥ sva-māyayā reme strī-ratna-kūṭastho bhagavān prākṛto yathā

This same one, having descended into this world of men through his own divine power, took his pleasure surrounded by the finest of women — the Supreme Lord, playing as though he were an ordinary man.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.1.11.36)

उद्दामभावपिशुनामलवल्गुहास- व्रीडावलोकनिहतो मदनोऽपि यासाम् । सम्मुह्य चापमजहात्प्रमदोत्तमास्ता यस्येन्द्रियं विमथितुं कुहकैर्न शेकुः ॥ ३६ ॥

uddāma-bhāva-piśunāmala-valgu-hāsa- vrīḍāvaloka-nihato madano ’pi yāsām sammuhya cāpam ajahāt pramadottamās tā yasyendriyaṁ vimathituṁ kuhakair na śekuḥ

Even Cupid himself, struck by the bold, spotless sweetness of their laughter that betrayed their hidden passion, and by their bashful sidelong glances, was left bewildered and let his bow fall from his hands — yet these finest of women, for all their arts of enchantment, could never stir the senses of the Lord.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.1.11.37)

तमयं मन्यते लोको ह्यसङ्गमपि सङ्गिनम् । आत्मौपम्येन मनुजं व्यापृण्वानं यतोऽबुधः ॥ ३७ ॥

tam ayaṁ manyate loko hy asaṅgam api saṅginam ātmaupamyena manujaṁ vyāpṛṇvānaṁ yato ’budhaḥ

This world, in its own ignorance, judges him — though he is wholly unattached — to be attached and engaged like any other man, measuring him against itself.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.1.11.38)

एतदीशनमीशस्य प्रकृतिस्थोऽपि तद्गुणैः । न युज्यते सदात्मस्थैर्यथा बुद्धिस्तदाश्रया ॥ ३८ ॥

etad īśanam īśasya prakṛti-stho ’pi tad-guṇaiḥ na yujyate sadātma-sthair yathā buddhis tad-āśrayā

This is the very lordship of the Lord — that though seemingly present within material nature, he is never bound by its qualities, just as the understanding that rests always upon the true self is not bound by them either.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.1.11.39)

तं मेनिरेऽबला मूढाः स्त्रैणं चानुव्रतं रहः । अप्रमाणविदो भर्तुरीश्वरं मतयो यथा ॥ ३९ ॥

taṁ menire ’balā mūḍhāḥ straiṇaṁ cānuvrataṁ rahaḥ apramāṇa-vido bhartur īśvaraṁ matayo yathā

Yet, in the privacy of their hearts, these guileless women thought of him as devoted to women, as one who followed their lead — not knowing the true measure of their husband's greatness, just as ordinary understanding fails to know the Lord as he truly is.