Krishna Establishes the City of Dvaraka

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.50.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच अस्तिः प्राप्तिश्च कंसस्य महिष्यौ भरतर्षभ । मृते भर्तरि दुःखार्ते ईयतुः स्म पितुर्गृहान् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca astiḥ prāptiś ca kaṁsasya mahiṣyau bharatarṣabha mṛte bhartari duḥkhārte īyatuḥ sma pitur gṛhān

Shukadeva said: O best of the Bharatas, when Kamsa was slain, his two queens, Asti and Prapti, grief-stricken, went to their father's home.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.50.2)

पित्रे मगधराजाय जरासन्धाय दुःखिते । वेदयां चक्रतुः सर्वमात्मवैधव्यकारणम् ॥ २ ॥

pitre magadha-rājāya jarāsandhāya duḥkhite vedayāṁ cakratuḥ sarvam ātma-vaidhavya-kāraṇam

Those sorrowing queens told their father, King Jarasandha of Magadha, the full cause of their widowhood.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.50.3)

स तदप्रियमाकर्ण्य शोकामर्षयुतो नृप । अयादवीं महीं कर्तुं चक्रे परममुद्यमम् ॥ ३ ॥

sa tad apriyam ākarṇya śokāmarṣa-yuto nṛpa ayādavīṁ mahīṁ kartuṁ cakre paramam udyamam

O King, hearing this bitter news, Jarasandha, filled with grief and rage, undertook the greatest possible effort to rid the earth of the Yadus.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.50.4)

अक्षौहिणीभिर्विंशत्या तिसृभिश्चापि संवृतः । यदुराजधानीं मथुरां न्यरुधत् सर्वतोदिशम् ॥ ४ ॥

akṣauhiṇībhir viṁśatyā tisṛbhiś cāpi saṁvṛtaḥ yadu-rājadhānīṁ mathurāṁ nyarudhat sarvato diśam

Surrounded by twenty-three akshauhini divisions, he laid siege to Mathura, the Yadu capital, on every side.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.50.5)

निरीक्ष्य तद्बलं कृष्ण उद्वेलमिव सागरम् । स्वपुरं तेन संरुद्धं स्वजनं च भयाकुलम् ॥ ५ ॥

nirīkṣya tad-balaṁ kṛṣṇa udvelam iva sāgaram sva-puraṁ tena saṁruddhaṁ sva-janaṁ ca bhayākulam

Seeing that army, surging like an overflowing ocean, which had encircled His own city and left His own people trembling with fear —

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.50.6)

चिन्तयामास भगवान् हरिः कारणमानुषः । तद्देशकालानुगुणं स्वावतारप्रयोजनम् ॥ ६ ॥

cintayām āsa bhagavān hariḥ kāraṇa-mānuṣaḥ tad-deśa-kālānuguṇaṁ svāvatāra-prayojanam

Bhagavan Hari, though Himself the primal cause, moving now as a man among men, reflected on the very purpose of His descent, as fitting to that place and time.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.50.7)

हनिष्यामि बलं ह्येतद्भुवि भारं समाहितम् । मागधेन समानीतं वश्यानां सर्वभूभुजाम् ॥ ७ ॥

haniṣyāmi balaṁ hy etad bhuvi bhāraṁ samāhitam māgadhena samānītaṁ vaśyānāṁ sarva-bhūbhujām

[The Lord thought:] This army, gathered by the King of Magadha from all the kings subject to him, weighing upon the earth as a burden — this I shall destroy —

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.50.8)

अक्षौहिणीभिः सङ्ख्यातं भटाश्वरथकुञ्जरैः । मागधस्तु न हन्तव्यो भूयः कर्ता बलोद्यमम् ॥ ८ ॥

akṣauhiṇībhiḥ saṅkhyātaṁ bhaṭāśva-ratha-kuñjaraiḥ māgadhas tu na hantavyo bhūyaḥ kartā balodyamam

— that army counted in so many akshauhinis of infantry, horses, chariots and elephants. But the King of Magadha himself must not be killed, for he shall be the cause of yet another army being raised.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.50.9)

एतदर्थोऽवतारोऽयं भूभारहरणाय मे । संरक्षणाय साधूनां कृतोऽन्येषां वधाय च ॥ ९ ॥

etad-artho ’vatāro ’yaṁ bhū-bhāra-haraṇāya me saṁrakṣaṇāya sādhūnāṁ kṛto ’nyeṣāṁ vadhāya ca

This alone is the purpose of My present descent: to lift the burden from the earth, to protect the righteous, and to destroy the wicked.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.50.10)

अन्योऽपि धर्मरक्षायै देहः संभ्रियते मया । विरामायाप्यधर्मस्य काले प्रभवतः क्वचित् ॥ १० ॥

anyo ’pi dharma-rakṣāyai dehaḥ saṁbhriyate mayā virāmāyāpy adharmasya kāle prabhavataḥ kvacit

I take up other bodies too, whenever needed, to protect dharma and to check adharma when it rises to power in the course of time.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.50.11)

एवं ध्यायति गोविन्द आकाशात् सूर्यवर्चसौ । रथावुपस्थितौ सद्यः ससूतौ सपरिच्छदौ ॥ ११ ॥

evaṁ dhyāyati govinda ākāśāt sūrya-varcasau rathāv upasthitau sadyaḥ sa-sūtau sa-paricchadau

As Govinda pondered thus, two chariots, radiant as the sun, at once appeared from the sky, complete with charioteers and full equipment.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.50.12)

आयुधानि च दिव्यानि पुराणानि यदृच्छया । दृष्ट्वा तानि हृषीकेशः सङ्कर्षणमथाब्रवीत् ॥ १२ ॥

āyudhāni ca divyāni purāṇāni yadṛcchayā dṛṣṭvā tāni hṛṣīkeśaḥ saṅkarṣaṇam athābravīt

Along with them, His eternal divine weapons appeared of their own accord. Seeing all this, Hrishikesha spoke to Sankarshana.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.50.13)

पश्यार्य व्यसनं प्राप्तं यदूनां त्वावतां प्रभो । एष ते रथ आयातो दयितान्यायुधानि च ॥ १३ ॥

paśyārya vyasanaṁ prāptaṁ yadūnāṁ tvāvatāṁ prabho eṣa te ratha āyāto dayitāny āyudhāni ca

[Krishna said:] O noble one, behold this calamity that has come upon the Yadus, who live under Your protection. See, my lord — Your own chariot has arrived, and Your favorite weapons too.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.50.14)

एतदर्थं हि नौ जन्म साधूनामीश शर्मकृत् । त्रयोविंशत्यनीकाख्यं भूमेर्भारमपाकुरु ॥ १४ ॥

etad-arthaṁ hi nau janma sādhūnām īśa śarma-kṛt trayo-viṁśaty-anīkākhyaṁ bhūmer bhāram apākuru

O Lord, bringer of good fortune to the righteous — this very purpose is why We two were born. So now remove from the earth this burden known as its twenty-three armies.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.50.15)

एवं सम्मन्त्र्य दाशार्हौ दंशितौ रथिनौ पुरात् । निर्जग्मतुः स्वायुधाढ्यौ बलेनाल्पीयसा वृतौ ॥ १५ ॥

evaṁ sammantrya dāśārhau daṁśitau rathinau purāt nirjagmatuḥ svāyudhāḍhyau balenālpīyasā vṛtau

Having thus consulted together, the two Dashārhas, clad in armor and equipped with their own weapons, mounted their chariots and rode out of the city, accompanied by only a very small force.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.50.16)

शङ्खं दध्मौ विनिर्गत्य हरिर्दारुकसारथिः । ततोऽभूत् परसैन्यानां हृदि वित्रासवेपथुः ॥ १६ ॥

śaṅkhaṁ dadhmau vinirgatya harir dāruka-sārathiḥ tato ’bhūt para-sainyānāṁ hṛdi vitrāsa-vepathuḥ

As they came out of the city, Hari, with Daruka driving His chariot, blew His conch, and at that sound the hearts of the enemy soldiers began to shudder with fear.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.50.17)

तावाह मागधो वीक्ष्य हे कृष्ण पुरुषाधम । न त्वया योद्धुमिच्छामि बालेनैकेन लज्जया । गुप्तेन हि त्वया मन्द न योत्स्ये याहि बन्धुहन् ॥ १७ ॥

tāv āha māgadho vīkṣya he kṛṣṇa puruṣādhama na tvayā yoddhum icchāmi bālenaikena lajjayā guptena hi tvayā manda na yotsye yāhi bandhu-han

Seeing the two of Them, the King of Magadha said: Krishna, lowest of men! I have no wish to fight a lone boy like You — it would shame me. You fool, You who always fight from concealment — I will not fight You. Go away, murderer of Your own kinsmen!

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.50.18)

तव राम यदि श्रद्धा युध्यस्व धैर्यमुद्वह । हित्वा वा मच्छरैश्छिन्नं देहं स्वर्याहि मां जहि ॥ १८ ॥

tava rāma yadi śraddhā yudhyasva dhairyam udvaha hitvā vā mac-charaiś chinnaṁ dehaṁ svar yāhi māṁ jahi

As for you, Rama — if you have the will, then gather your courage and fight with me. Either give up your body, torn apart by my arrows, and go to heaven, or else kill me.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.50.19)

श्रीभगवानुवाच न वै शूरा विकत्थन्ते दर्शयन्त्येव पौरुषम् । न गृह्णीमो वचो राजन्नातुरस्य मुमूर्षतः ॥ १९ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca na vai śūrā vikatthante darśayanty eva pauruṣam na gṛhṇīmo vaco rājann āturasya mumūrṣataḥ

The Supreme Lord said: True heroes do not boast; they show their valor through action alone. O King, We pay no heed to the words of one so distraught, who only longs to die.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.50.20)

श्रीशुक उवाच जरासुतस्तावभिसृत्य माधवौ महाबलौघेन बलीयसावृणोत् । ससैन्ययानध्वजवाजिसारथी सूर्यानलौ वायुरिवाभ्ररेणुभिः ॥ २० ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca jarā-sutas tāv abhisṛtya mādhavau mahā-balaughena balīyasāvṛnot sa-sainya-yāna-dhvaja-vāji-sārathī sūryānalau vāyur ivābhra-reṇubhiḥ

Shukadeva said: The son of Jara charged upon the two descendants of Madhu and, with the massive weight of his army, surrounded Them — along with Their soldiers, chariots, banners, horses and charioteers — just as the wind veils the sun and fire with clouds and dust.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.50.21)

सुपर्णतालध्वजचिह्नितौ रथा- वलक्षयन्त्यो हरिरामयोर्मृधे । स्त्रियः पुराट्टालकहर्म्यगोपुरं समाश्रिताः सम्मुमुहुः शुचार्दिताः ॥ २१ ॥

suparṇa-tāla-dhvaja-cihitnau rathāv alakṣayantyo hari-rāmayor mṛdhe striyaḥ purāṭṭālaka-harmya-gopuraṁ samāśritāḥ sammumuhuḥ śucārditaḥ

Unable any longer to make out, amid the battle, the chariots of Hari and Rama marked with the emblems of Garuda and the palm tree, the women standing on the city's towers, palaces and gateways were overcome with grief and fainted.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.50.22)

हरिः परानीकपयोमुचां मुहुः शिलीमुखात्युल्बणवर्षपीडितम् । स्वसैन्यमालोक्य सुरासुरार्चितं व्यस्फूर्जयच्छार्ङ्गशरासनोत्तमम् ॥ २२ ॥

hariḥ parānīka-payomucāṁ muhuḥ śilīmukhāty-ulbaṇa-varṣa-pīḍitam sva-sainyam ālokya surāsurārcitaṁ vyasphūrjayac chārṅga-śarāsanottamam

Seeing His own army repeatedly battered by a fearsome downpour of arrows from the enemy hosts, massed like storm clouds, Hari twanged the string of His great bow Sharnga, worshiped alike by gods and demons.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.50.23)

गृह्णन् निशङ्गादथ सन्दधच्छरान् विकृष्य मुञ्चन् शितबाणपूगान् । निघ्नन् रथान् कुञ्जरवाजिपत्तीन् निरन्तरं यद्वदलातचक्रम् ॥ २३ ॥

gṛhṇan niśaṅgād atha sandadhac charān vikṛṣya muñcan śita-bāṇa-pūgān nighnan rathān kuñjara-vāji-pattīn nirantaraṁ yadvad alāta-cakram

Drawing arrows from His quiver, fitting them to the string, pulling back and releasing volley after volley of sharp shafts, He struck down chariots, elephants, horses and foot soldiers — moving so continuously that He seemed like a whirling circle of fire.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.50.24)

निर्भिन्नकुम्भाः करिणो निपेतु- रनेकशोऽश्वाः शरवृक्णकन्धराः । रथा हताश्वध्वजसूतनायकाः पदायतश्छिन्नभुजोरुकन्धराः ॥ २४ ॥

nirbhinna-kumbhāḥ kariṇo nipetur anekaśo ’śvāḥ śara-vṛkṇa-kandharāḥ rathā hatāśva-dhvaja-sūta-nāyakāḥ padāyataś chinna-bhujoru-kandharāḥ

Elephants fell, their foreheads split open; countless horses collapsed, their necks severed by arrows; chariots crashed down with their horses, banners, charioteers and lords all destroyed; and foot soldiers fell with arms, thighs and necks cut away.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.50.25)

सञ्छिद्यमानद्विपदेभवाजिना- मङ्गप्रसूताः शतशोऽसृगापगाः । भुजाहयः पूरुषशीर्षकच्छपा हतद्विपद्वीपहयग्रहाकुलाः ॥ २५ ॥

sañchidyamāna-dvipadebha-vājinām aṅga-prasūtāḥ śataśo ’sṛg-āpagāḥ bhujāhayaḥ pūruṣa-śīrṣa-kacchapā hata-dvipa-dvīpa-haya grahākulāḥ

From the severed limbs of men, elephants and horses flowed hundreds of rivers of blood, in which severed arms seemed like serpents, human heads like turtles, fallen elephants like islands, and fallen horses like crocodiles.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.50.26)

करोरुमीना नरकेशशैवला धनुस्तरङ्गायुधगुल्मसङ्कुलाः । अच्छूरिकावर्तभयानका महा- मणिप्रवेकाभरणाश्मशर्कराः ॥ २६ ॥

karoru-mīnā nara-keśa-śaivalā dhanus-taraṅgāyudha-gulma-saṅkulāḥ acchūrikāvarta-bhayānakā mahā- maṇi-pravekābharaṇāśma-śarkarāḥ

Hands and thighs looked like fish, human hair like clumps of waterweed, bows like waves, and scattered weapons like thickets of reeds; whirlpools formed by swords made them fearsome to behold, while scattered jewels and ornaments lay strewn like mere pebbles and gravel.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.50.27)

प्रवर्तिता भीरुभयावहा मृधे मनस्विनां हर्षकरीः परस्परम् । विनिघ्नतारीन् मुषलेन दुर्मदान् सङ्कर्षणेनापरिमेयतेजसा ॥ २७ ॥

pravartitā bhīru-bhayāvahā mṛdhe manasvināṁ harṣa-karīḥ parasparam vinighnatārīn muṣalena durmadān saṅkarṣaṇenāparīmeya-tejasā

Those rivers, set flowing in battle by Sankarshana of immeasurable power, who slew the arrogant enemy with His club — they struck terror into the fainthearted, and stirred delight among the brave.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.50.28)

बलं तदङ्गार्णवदुर्गभैरवं दुरन्तपारं मगधेन्द्रपालितम् । क्षयं प्रणीतं वसुदेवपुत्रयो- र्विक्रीडितं तज्जगदीशयोः परम् ॥ २८ ॥

balaṁ tad aṅgārṇava-durga-bhairavaṁ duranta-pāraṁ magadhendra-pālitam kṣayaṁ praṇītaṁ vasudeva-putrayor vikrīḍitaṁ taj jagad-īśayoḥ param

That vast army, formidable and terrible as an ocean of blood, seemingly boundless, commanded by the King of Magadha — was reduced to ruin by the mere supreme sport of these two sons of Vasudeva, the very Lords of the universe.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.50.29)

स्थित्युद्भवान्तं भुवनत्रयस्य यः समीहितेऽनन्तगुणः स्वलीलया । न तस्य चित्रं परपक्षनिग्रह- स्तथापि मर्त्यानुविधस्य वर्ण्यते ॥ २९ ॥

sthity-udbhavāntaṁ bhuvana-trayasya yaḥ samīhite ’nanta-guṇaḥ sva-līlayā na tasya citraṁ para-pakṣa-nigrahas tathāpi martyānuvidhasya varṇyate

For Him who, possessed of infinite qualities, brings about by mere sport the creation, maintenance and dissolution of the three worlds, the subduing of an opposing army is no wonder at all; and yet, because He does it while playing the part of a man, sages still delight in telling of it.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.50.30)

जग्राह विरथं रामो जरासन्धं महाबलम् । हतानीकावशिष्टासुं सिंहः सिंहमिवौजसा ॥ ३० ॥

jagrāha virathaṁ rāmo jarāsandhaṁ mahā-balam hatānīkāvaśiṣṭāsuṁ siṁhaḥ siṁham ivaujasā

His chariot destroyed, his army annihilated, only his breath now remaining, mighty Jarasandha was seized by Balarama with the same force with which one lion seizes another.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.50.31)

बध्यमानं हतारातिं पाशैर्वारुणमानुषैः । वारयामास गोविन्दस्तेन कार्यचिकीर्षया ॥ ३१ ॥

badhyamānaṁ hatārātiṁ pāśair vāruṇa-mānuṣaiḥ vārayām āsa govindas tena kārya-cikīrṣayā

As Balarama began to bind that slayer of many foes with the noose of Varuna and with ordinary ropes as well, Govinda stopped Him, having some further purpose yet to accomplish through Jarasandha.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.50.32)

स मुक्तो लोकनाथाभ्यां व्रीडितो वीरसम्मतः । तपसे कृतसङ्कल्पो वारितः पथि राजभिः ॥ ३२ ॥

sā mukto loka-nāthābhyāṁ vrīḍito vīra-sammataḥ tapase kṛta-saṅkalpo vāritaḥ pathi rājabhiḥ

Jarasandha, so highly honored among warriors, felt ashamed at being released by the two Lords of the universe, and resolved to take up austerities. But on the road several kings stopped him.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.50.33)

वाक्यैः पवित्रार्थपदैर्नयनैः प्राकृतैरपि । स्वकर्मबन्धप्राप्तोऽयं यदुभिस्ते पराभवः ॥ ३३ ॥

vākyaiḥ pavitrārtha-padair nayanaiḥ prākṛtair api sva-karma-bandha-prāpto ’yaṁ yadubhis te parābhavaḥ

With words both spiritually purifying and worldly-wise, they persuaded him: "This defeat of yours at the hands of the Yadus is simply the fruit of the bonds of your own past deeds."

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.50.34)

हतेषु सर्वानीकेषु नृपो बार्हद्रथस्तदा । उपेक्षितो भगवता मगधान् दुर्मना ययौ ॥ ३४ ॥

hateṣu sarvānīkeṣu nṛpo bārhadrathas tadā upekṣito bhagavatā magadhān durmanā yayau

All his armies destroyed, and now disregarded by the Lord, King Barhadratha, dejected in spirit, returned to the land of Magadha.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.50.35)

मुकुन्दोऽप्यक्षतबलो निस्तीर्णारिबलार्णवः । विकीर्यमाणः कुसुमैस्त्रीदशैरनुमोदितः ॥ ३५ ॥

mukundo ’py akṣata-balo nistīrṇāri-balārṇavaḥ vikīryamāṇaḥ kusumais trīdaśair anumoditaḥ

Mukunda, meanwhile, having crossed that ocean of enemy forces with His own army left entirely unharmed, was honored by the celestials, who showered flowers upon Him in praise.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.50.36)

माथुरैरुपसङ्गम्य विज्वरैर्मुदितात्मभिः । उपगीयमानविजयः सूतमागधवन्दिभिः ॥ ३६ ॥

māthurair upasaṅgamya vijvarair muditātmabhiḥ upagīyamāna-vijayaḥ sūta-māgadha-vandibhiḥ

The people of Mathura, their anxiety now dissolved, came out to meet Him with joyful hearts, while court bards, heralds and panegyrists sang aloud the praises of His victory.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.50.37)

शङ्खदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्भेरीतूर्याण्यनेकशः । वीणावेणुमृदङ्गानि पुरं प्रविशति प्रभौ ॥ ३७ ॥

śaṅkha-dundubhayo nedur bherī-tūryāṇy anekaśaḥ vīṇā-veṇu-mṛdaṅgāni puraṁ praviśati prabhau

As the Lord entered the city, conches and kettledrums resounded, many drums and horns played together, and the music of vina, flute and mridanga rose in unison.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.50.38)

सिक्तमार्गां हृष्टजनां पताकाभिरभ्यलङ्कृताम् । निर्घुष्टां ब्रह्मघोषेण कौतुकाबद्धतोरणाम् ॥ ३८ ॥

sikta-mārgāṁ hṛṣṭa-janāṁ patākābhir abhyalaṅkṛtām nirghuṣṭāṁ brahma-ghoṣeṇa kautukābaddha-toraṇām

The city streets were freshly sprinkled with water, the people rejoicing; the whole city was adorned with banners, resounding with the chanting of Vedic hymns, and its gateways decked with festive arches.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.50.39)

निचीयमानो नारीभिर्माल्यदध्यक्षताङ्कुरैः । निरीक्ष्यमाणः सस्नेहं प्रीत्युत्कलितलोचनैः ॥ ३९ ॥

nicīyamāno nārībhir mālya-dadhy-akṣatāṅkuraiḥ nirīkṣyamāṇaḥ sa-snehaṁ prīty-utkalita-locanaiḥ

The city's women, gazing on Him tenderly with eyes wide with love, showered Him with garlands, curd, unbroken rice grains and fresh sprouts.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.50.40)

आयोधनगतं वित्तमनन्तं वीरभूषणम् । यदुराजाय तत् सर्वमाहृतं प्रादिशत्प्रभुः ॥ ४० ॥

āyodhana-gataṁ vittam anantaṁ vīra-bhūṣaṇam yadu-rājāya tat sarvam āhṛtaṁ prādiśat prabhuḥ

The Lord had gathered up all the immense wealth — the ornaments of the fallen warriors — left upon the battlefield, and presented the whole of it to the king of the Yadus.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.50.41)

एवं सप्तदशकृत्वस्तावत्यक्षौहिणीबलः । युयुधे मागधो राजा यदुभिः कृष्णपालितैः ॥ ४१ ॥

evaṁ saptadaśa-kṛtvas tāvaty akṣauhiṇī-balaḥ yuyudhe māgadho rājā yadubhiḥ kṛṣṇa-pālitaiḥ

In this same way, seventeen times over, the King of Magadha, each time with an equally vast host, went to war against the Krishna-protected Yadus.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.50.42)

अक्षिण्वंस्तद्बलं सर्वं वृष्णयः कृष्णतेजसा । हतेषु स्वेष्वनीकेषु त्यक्तोऽगादरिभिर्नृपः ॥ ४२ ॥

akṣiṇvaṁs tad-balaṁ sarvaṁ vṛṣṇayaḥ kṛṣṇa-tejasā hateṣu sveṣv anīkeṣu tyakto ’gād aribhir nṛpaḥ

Each time, by Krishna's power, the Vrishnis would destroy his entire army, and each time, his forces annihilated, the king would be let go by his enemies and would return home.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.10.50.43)

अष्टादशमसङ्ग्राम आगामिनि तदन्तरा । नारदप्रेषितो वीरो यवनः प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥ ४३ ॥

aṣṭādaśama saṅgrāma āgāmini tad-antarā nārada-preṣito vīro yavanaḥ pratyadṛśyata

As the eighteenth battle was about to begin, meanwhile, a heroic Yavana, sent by Narada, appeared upon the scene.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.10.50.44)

रुरोध मथुरामेत्य तिसृभिर्म्लेच्छकोटिभिः । नृलोके चाप्रतिद्वन्द्वो वृष्णीन्श्रुत्वात्मसम्मितान् ॥ ४४ ॥

rurodha mathurām etya tisṛbhir mleccha-koṭibhiḥ nṛ-loke cāpratidvandvo vṛṣṇīn śrutvātma-sammitān

This Yavana, who had never met his match among men, came to Mathura and besieged it with thirty million barbarian troops, for he had heard that the Vrishnis alone were his equals in strength.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.10.50.45)

तं दृष्ट्वाचिन्तयत् कृष्णः सङ्कर्षणसहायवान् । अहो यदूनां वृजिनं प्राप्तं ह्युभयतो महत् ॥ ४५ ॥

taṁ dṛṣṭvācintayat kṛṣṇaḥ saṅkarṣaṇa sahāyavān aho yadūnāṁ vṛjinaṁ prāptaṁ hy ubhayato mahat

Seeing him, Krishna, with Sankarshana beside Him, thought: "Ah, a great danger has now come upon the Yadus from two directions at once.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.10.50.46)

यवनोऽयं निरुन्धेऽस्मानद्य तावन्महाबलः । मागधोऽप्यद्य वा श्वो वा परश्वो वागमिष्यति ॥ ४६ ॥

yavano ’yaṁ nirundhe ’smān adya tāvan mahā-balaḥ māgadho ’py adya vā śvo vā paraśvo vāgamiṣyati

This exceedingly powerful Yavana besieges us even now, and the King of Magadha too will surely arrive — if not today, then tomorrow, or the day after.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.10.50.47)

आवयोः युध्यतोरस्य यद्यागन्ता जरासुतः । बन्धून् हनिष्यत्यथवा नेष्यते स्वपुरं बली ॥ ४७ ॥

āvayoḥ yudhyator asya yady āgantā jarā-sutaḥ bandhūn haniṣyaty atha vā neṣyate sva-puraṁ balī

If, while We two are engaged in fighting this Yavana, Jarasandha should arrive, that powerful king will either slay our kinsmen or carry them off captive to his own city.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.10.50.48)

तस्मादद्य विधास्यामो दुर्गं द्विपददुर्गमम् । तत्र ज्ञातीन् समाधाय यवनं घातयामहे ॥ ४८ ॥

tasmād adya vidhāsyāmo durgaṁ dvipada-durgamam tatra jñātīn samādhāya yavanaṁ ghātayāmahe

Therefore We shall now build a fortress impossible for any human force to breach. Having placed Our kinsmen safely within it, We shall then destroy this Yavana."

Verse 49 (bhagavata.10.50.49)

इति सम्मन्त्र्य भगवान् दुर्गं द्वादशयोजनम् । अन्तःसमुद्रे नगरं कृत्स्नाद्भुतमचीकरत् ॥ ४९ ॥

iti sammantrya bhagavān durgaṁ dvādaśa-yojanam antaḥ-samudre nagaraṁ kṛtsnādbhutam acīkarat

Having thus deliberated, the Lord had built, within the sea, a fortress twelve yojanas in extent, and within it a city, wondrous in every respect.

Verse 50 (bhagavata.10.50.50)

दृश्यते यत्र हि त्वाष्ट्रं विज्ञानं शिल्पनैपुणम् । रथ्याचत्वरवीथीभिर्यथावास्तु विनिर्मितम् ॥ ५० ॥

dṛśyate yatra hi tvāṣṭraṁ vijñānaṁ śilpa-naipuṇam rathyā-catvara-vīthībhir yathā-vāstu vinirmitam

In that city could be seen the very science and craft-skill of Tvashta, the divine architect; its avenues, squares and lanes were laid out according to the proper canons of city-planning.

Verse 51 (bhagavata.10.50.51)

सुरद्रुमलतोद्यानविचित्रोपवनान्वितम् । हेमशृङ्गैर्दिविस्पृग्भिः स्फटिकाट्टालगोपुरैः ॥ ५१ ॥

sura-druma-latodyāna- vicitropavanānvitam hema-śṛṅgair divi-spṛgbhiḥ sphaṭikāṭṭāla-gopuraiḥ

It was graced with wondrous groves of celestial trees and creepers, and adorned with gateway towers and turrets, their sky-touching golden spires crowned with crystal.

Verse 52 (bhagavata.10.50.52)

राजतारकुटैः कोष्ठैर्हेमकुम्भैरलङ्कृतैः । रत्नकूतैर्गृहैर्हेमैर्महामारकत स्थलैः ॥ ५२ ॥

rājatārakuṭaiḥ koṣṭhair hema-kumbhair alaṅkṛtaiḥ ratna-kūtair gṛhair hemair mahā-mārakata-sthalaiḥ

There were storehouses of silver and gold, adorned with golden pitchers; golden mansions crowned with jewel-set pinnacles, their courtyards inlaid with great emeralds.

Verse 53 (bhagavata.10.50.53)

वास्तोष्पतीनां च गृहैर्वल्लभीभिश्च निर्मितम् । चातुर्वर्ण्यजनाकीर्णं यदुदेवगृहोल्लसत् ॥ ५३ ॥

vāstoṣpatīnāṁ ca gṛhair vallabhībhiś ca nirmitam cātur-varṇya-janākīrṇaṁ yadu-deva-gṛhollasat

There were shrines to the household deities and dwellings built with fine terraces and gables; the city, thronged with people of all four social orders, shone with particular splendor because of the palace of Krishna, Lord of the Yadus.

Verse 54 (bhagavata.10.50.54)

सुधर्मां पारिजातं च महेन्द्रः प्राहिणोद्धरेः । यत्र चावस्थितो मर्त्यो मर्त्यधर्मैर्न युज्यते ॥ ५४ ॥

sudharmāṁ pārijātaṁ ca mahendraḥ prāhiṇod dhareḥ yatra cāvasthito martyo martya-dharmair na yujyate

Mahendra sent to Hari the Sudharma assembly hall and the parijata tree — the hall within which even a mortal being becomes exempt from the laws of mortality.

Verse 55 (bhagavata.10.50.55)

श्यामैकवर्णान् वरुणो हयान् शुक्लान्मनोजवान् । अष्टौ निधिपतिः कोशान् लोकपालो निजोदयान् ॥ ५५ ॥

śyāmaika-varṇān varuṇo hayān śuklān mano-javān aṣṭau nidhi-patiḥ kośān loka-pālo nijodayān

Varuna offered horses swift as the mind, some deep dark-blue, others white; Kubera, lord of treasures, gave his eight treasure-hoards; and each guardian of a quarter offered his own particular opulence.

Verse 56 (bhagavata.10.50.56)

यद् यद् भगवता दत्तमाधिपत्यं स्वसिद्धये । सर्वं प्रत्यर्पयामासुर्हरौ भूमिगते नृप ॥ ५६ ॥

yad yad bhagavatā dattam ādhipatyaṁ sva-siddhaye sarvaṁ pratyarpayām āsur harau bhūmi-gate nṛpa

O King, all the various powers of governance the Lord had previously bestowed on them for the fulfillment of their own duties, the demigods now offered back in full to that very Lord, now that He had descended upon the earth.

Verse 57 (bhagavata.10.50.57)

तत्र योगप्रभावेन नीत्वा सर्वजनं हरिः । प्रजापालेन रामेण कृष्णः समनुमन्त्रितः । निर्जगाम पुरद्वारात् पद्ममाली निरायुधः ॥ ५७ ॥

tatra yoga-prabhāvena nītvā sarva-janaṁ hariḥ prajā-pālena rāmeṇa kṛṣṇaḥ samanumantritaḥ nirjagāma pura-dvārāt padma-mālī nirāyudhaḥ

Having, by the power of His yoga, transported all His people to that new city, Krishna, after consulting with Balarama, who remained behind to guard the citizens of Mathura, went out through the city gate wearing a garland of lotuses, bearing no weapon at all.