Shloka 3
Kṛṣṇa’s Arrival at Dvārakā
Dvārakā-praveśa and Bhakta-vātsalya
तमुपश्रुत्य निनदं जगद्भयभयावहम् । प्रत्युद्ययु: प्रजा: सर्वा भर्तृदर्शनलालसा: ॥ ३ ॥
tam upaśrutya ninadaṁ jagad-bhaya-bhayāvaham pratyudyayuḥ prajāḥ sarvā bhartṛ-darśana-lālasāḥ
Als sie jenen Klang vernahmen—der selbst die Furcht der Welt erschauern lässt—eilten alle Bürger Dvārakās Ihm entgegen, voller Sehnsucht nach dem lange ersehnten Anblick des Herrn, des Beschützers der Geweihten.
As already explained, the citizens of Dvārakā who lived at the time of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s presence there were all liberated souls who descended there along with the Lord as entourage. All were very anxious to have an audience with the Lord, although because of spiritual contact they were never separated from the Lord. Just as the gopīs at Vṛndāvana used to think of Kṛṣṇa while He was away from the village for cowherding engagements, the citizens of Dvārakā were all immersed in thought of the Lord while He was away from Dvārakā to attend the Battle of Kurukṣetra. Some distinguished fiction writer in Bengal concluded that the Kṛṣṇa of Vṛndāvana, that of Mathurā and that of Dvārakā were different personalities. Historically there is no truth in this conclusion. The Kṛṣṇa of Kurukṣetra and the Kṛṣṇa of Dvārakā are one and the same personality.
FAQs
This verse says that as soon as the citizens heard the powerful sound announcing Krishna’s arrival, they all rushed out to greet Him, driven by intense longing to see their Lord and protector.
Because the sound signaled Krishna’s presence; their hearts were eager for bhartṛ-darśana—seeing their maintainer—and Krishna’s arrival meant safety, joy, and auspiciousness for the city.
Cultivate the same eagerness to “go out to meet” the Lord by promptly turning to Krishna through kirtan, hearing (śravaṇam), and remembrance whenever you receive an opportunity for spiritual connection.