Chapter 59 - The Laying Out of Dvarka

1-2. Vaishampayana said:—Thereupon when the sun rose in the clear morning, Hrishikesha, the descendant of Yadu, having performed his morning ablution and sat for some time at the outskirt of the forest, began to survey it for finding out a site where he would build a fortress. The principal members of the Yudu race followed him.

3-4. Thereafter in an auspicious day under the auspices of the planet Rohini he offered immense presents to the Brahmanas and made them perform benedictory rites. He then commenced the work of the building of the fort. Thus when the construction of the fort was taken in hand, like unto Indra addressing the gods, the lotus-eyed slayer of Keshi, the foremost of creators, said to the Yadavas. "

5. O you Yadavas, behold the site that I have selected like unto the very abode of the gods. I have also selected the name under which it will be celebrated on earth.

6-7. I am laying out courtyards, promenades, well-levelled roads and inner appartments, all those marks, for which this city of mine will be celebrated on earth by the name of Dvaravati like unto Indra’s Amaravti.

8. Taking Ugrasena before you and putting impediments in the ways of your enemies do you enjoy here shorn of anxiety like the celestials.

9. Let all of you take lands for building houses; let gardens and crossings of four roads be laid out and let a survey of roads and walls be taken. Let artizans, expert in building houses and masons be sent round the country." Thus accosted the Yadavas gladly selected sites for building their own houses. O king, some of the Yadavas engaged in measuring their own lands with ropes and some of them began to worship the tutelary deity by adorning the Brahmanas on that auspicious day.

10-14. Thereupon the high-minded Govinda said to the masons:—"Do you build for me a temple for my tutelary deity, well laid out with courtyards and roads".

15-21. Having said "So be it" to the mighty-armed Krishna, the masons collected all the materials for building the fort and began to lay out the gate and the boundary line. Temples, in proper places, were built for Brahma, the god of sacrifices, Indra, the presiding deities of fire and water and other gods. They then constructed the four gates of the temples (namely Shudraksha, Aindra, Bhallata and Pushpadantaka.) Thus when the houses of the high-souled Yadavas were constructed, Madhava thought of laying out the city very soon. Thereupon there arose by accident a pure intellect in his mind conducive to the well-being of the Yadavas and of the city, by which, he could soon lay out the city. (He thought) that Prajapati’s son, the powerful Visvakarma, the foremost of architects, would construct the city. Thereupon, seated in a solitary place with his face directed towards the celestial region Krishna thought of Visvakarma, in his mind, so that he might come there.

22. In the meantime the highly intelligent celestial architect, Visvakarma, the foremost of gods, came there and stood before Krishna.

23. Visvakarma said:—"O Vishnu of firm vows, despatched speedily by the king of gods, this your servant has arrived here; what command am I to carry out?

24. O god, you art adorable unto me as the grand-father (Brahma) and the three-eyed deity (Siva). O lord, there is no difference amongst the three.

25. O you of large arms, do you gladly issue command to me as you dost order the three worlds."

26. Hearing the humble words of Visvakarma, Keshava, the foremost of Yudus and the slayer of Kamsa, replied, in incomparable words:—"

27. O foremost of gods, you were also present there and listened to our counsels held in private for the behoof of gods. You are now to build a house for me here.

28. O you of firm vows, do you build a city here for manifesting my own self and decorate it with houses befitting my power.

29-30. You are an expert, O you of great intellect; what shall I tell you more. Build for me such a city that it may be celebrated on earth like Amaravati;you are to build here such a house for me as I have in the celestial region so that the mortals may see the beauty of my city and of the Yadu race."

31. Thus accosted the intelligent Visvakarma said to Krishna of unwearied actions, the destroyer of the enemies of the celestials. "

32-33. O lord, I shall do all that you have ordered. But your city will not sufficiently accommodate such a number of men. So very extensive should be your city that even the four oceans, in their full forms, may range here.

34. O foremost of Purusas, if the ocean, of his own accord, gives a little more room then your city may turn highly extensive."

37. Krishna, the foremost of orators, had already settled this. Therefore thus spoken to by the celestial architect he said to the ocean, the lord of rivers:—"

36. O ocean, if you have any respect for me, then withdraw your form in the water extending over twelve yojanas.

33. If you give room, this city, abounding in wealth and enjoyments, will be able to afford accommodation to my huge army".

38-39. Hearing the words of Krishna, the ocean, the lord of rivers, offered him his bed, resorting to his yoga power. Observing the respect shown to Govinda by the ocean and the site for building the city Vishvakarma was highly pleased.

40-41. Thereupon Vishvakarma said to Krishna, the descendant of Yadu:—"From even this very day you will settle down in the city. O lord, I had already made a plan of this most excellent city in my mind. So in no time it will be decorated with the rows of houses.

42. This charming city will be like the hump of the earth on account of its beautiful gateways, gates and upper-storied rooms".

43. Thereupon having constructed that city in the region liked by the gods he built the inner appartment of Krishna consisting of bathing houses.

44. Thus by Visvakarma’s mental effort that beautiful Vaishnava city, by name Dvarkavati, was built.

45-49. That city was properly protected by doors, adorned with most excellent walls, girt by ditches, filled with palaces, beautiful men and women, traders and various articles of merchandise. And although it was established on earth, it appeared like one ranging in the sky. It was adorned with pools, streamlets of pure water and with gardens. It was covered on all sides like a damsel of spacious eyes. It had prosperous court-yards, high edifices stricken by clouds, many clear public roads and streets for carriages. As Indra’s city beautifies the celestial region, so that city, prosperous with all sorts of jems, adorned the ocean on earth.

50. That city, a beautiful field for heroes, that creates envy in the hearts of the neighbouring kings, covered even the sky with its palaces.

51. That city was filled with the noise of people hailing from the various kingdoms of earth and the air was saturated with the water of the waves of the ocean.

52. With its charming sea-side and gardens that beautiful city Dvarka, delightful to the females, shone like the welkin studded with stars.

54. That city was encircled by walls of sun-like and golden lustre, was filled with golden houses and gates like white clouds and was adorned with palaces. At some places the high roads were full of high palaces.

55. As the moon lights up the sky, so Krishna, the enhancer of the joy of the Yadavas, encircled by his own people, began to live in that celestial city abounding in jewels and built by Visvakarma.

56. Having laid out that city resembling that of the celestials and been honored by Govinda the Divine Architect repaired to the region of gods.

57. Thus when the city was laid out Krishna, who was conversant with the knowledge of Spirit, felt a desire of gratifying his own people, who were poor, with profuse riches.

57-61. Thereupon in one night the powerful Upendra invited the foremost of Nidhis, Sankha, who was an attendant of the god of riches Vaishravana, to his own house. As desired by Keshava the lord of Dvaravati, Sankha came to him. As he used to respect Vaishravana, Sankha, humbly and with folded hands, bowed to him and said:—"O lord, I am a guard of treasures of the gods. O descendant of Yadu, O you of large arms, tell me what command of thine I am to carry out"

62-63. Hearing this Hrishikesha said to that best of Guhyakas Sankha:—"Give enough of riches to those men of my city who have little wealth. I do not like to see any man in this city unfed, lean, dirty and poor and nor do I wish to hear any man cry out 'Give me some thing'".

64-65. Vaishampayana:—In order to satisfy Keshava’s order Sankha, the foremost of Kuvera’s attendants, ordered them to shower heaps of wealth in every house of Dvaravati and they accordingly did so. Therefore there remained no man poor, or of limited means.

66-71. Thereupon that Divine Purusha, ever doing good by the Yadavas, sent for the (wind god) Vayu, the vital air of animals, who, appearing before Gadadhara, seated alone, said "O god, I am quick-coursing and can go everywhere. What shall I do for you? O sinless one, as I am an emissary of the gods, so I am yours". Hearing this the mystic Purusha Krishna said to Vayu, the life of the universe, present there in his own form:—"Go to the gods and their king and offering them my respects beg of them the assembly Hall Sudharma and bring it to Dvarka.

72-73. O Vayu, these pious Yadavas, endued with prowess, will enter into it; therefore do not bring the false one; for that undecaying assembly hall only, capable of going and assuming forms at will, will be able to accommodate these god-like Yadavas."

74-75. Hearing the words of Krishna of unwearied actions, Vayu, in his course fleet like the mind, repaired to the celestial region and communicated to the gods Keshava’s complements and request. And then taking the assembly-hall Sudharma he returned on earth.

76. Thereupon presenting to the pious and energetic Krishna that Sudharma hall the wind-god disappeared.

77. As it was placed in the land of celestials for the gods so that Sudharma hall was placed by Keshava in Dvaravati for the leading Yadavas.

78. Thus with divine, earthly and watery articles the eternal and intelligent Hari decorated the city of Dvaravati like unto his own wife.

79-82. Thereupon having fixed the limits of the city the emperor Ugrasena placed in their proper places the commanders of armies and the heads of clans. He then settled in their respective places the priest Sandipani, the commander-in-chief Anadhristhi, the foremost of ministers Vikadru, and the ten elderly persons headed by Udhava, always engaged in Yadava’s works. Of the car-warriors the mighty car-warrior Daruka was appointed Keshava’s charioteer and, Satyaki, the foremost of warriors, the commander of his army.

83-84. Having made these arrangements for his city, the blameless Krishna, the creator of the world, began to live happily on earth along with the Yadavas. A few days after with Reshava’s consent Baladeva acquired the good-natured daughter of Revata, by name Revati.