Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 49

Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat

Devanagari script

इति सम्मन्‍त्र्य भगवान् दुर्गं द्वादशयोजनम् । अन्त:समुद्रे नगरं कृत्‍स्‍नाद्भ‍ुतमचीकरत् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

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

Translation

এনেদৰে বলৰামৰ সৈতে পৰামৰ্শ কৰি ভগৱানে সমুদ্ৰৰ ভিতৰত দ্বাদশ যোজন পৰিধিৰ এক দুৰ্গ নিৰ্মাণ কৰালে, আৰু সেই দুৰ্গৰ ভিতৰত সকলো অদ্ভুত বস্তুৰে ভৰা এক নগৰ গঢ়ালে।

Synonyms

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyopasaṃhāra (वाक्योपसंहार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्त्यर्थक/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• सम्मन्त्र्य: having consulted
• सम्मन्त्र्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); धातु: √मन्त्र् with उपसर्ग सम्; अर्थः ‘having consulted/deliberated’

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• दुर्गम्: a fort
• दुर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्वादश-योजनम्: twelve-yojana (in extent)
• द्वादश-योजनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘दुर्गम्’ इति; द्विगु-समासः (numeral compound)

• अन्तः-समुद्रे: within the sea
• अन्तः-समुद्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तः (अव्यय/उपपद) + समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः ‘अन्तः’ + ‘समुद्रे’ = ‘within the sea’

• नगरम्: a city
• नगरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्स्न-अद्भुतम्: wholly marvelous
• कृत्स्न-अद्भुतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक) + अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘नगरम्’ इति; कर्मधारयः = ‘entirely wonderful’

• अचीकरत्: he caused (it) to be made
• अचीकरत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) णिच् (causative)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; धातु: √कृ causative = ‘caused to be made/constructed’

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the building of Dvārakā in the sea?

This verse states that after deliberation, Bhagavān had a vast, unconquerable fortress and a completely wondrous city constructed within the ocean—describing the divine establishment of Dvārakā.

Why did Kṛṣṇa create a strong fort and city at this point in Canto 10?

In the narrative, Jarāsandha repeatedly attacked Mathurā; Kṛṣṇa, after consulting, arranged a secure strategic refuge—Dvārakā—so His people could be protected while His divine mission continued.

Practical application of Kṛṣṇa’s ‘consult and protect’ principle in modern life?

Act thoughtfully: consult wise counsel, plan for safety, and create stable support systems—protecting dependents while continuing one’s dharma without panic.