Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 23
The Disappearance of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the Aftermath in Dvārakā
द्वारकां हरिणा त्यक्तां समुद्रोऽप्लावयत् क्षणात् । वर्जयित्वा महाराज श्रीमद्भगवदालयम् ॥ २३ ॥
dvārakāṁ hariṇā tyaktāṁ samudro ’plāvayat kṣaṇāt varjayitvā mahā-rāja śrīmad-bhagavad-ālayam
Ô roi, dès que Dvārakā fut abandonnée par Bhagavān Hari, l’océan l’engloutit de toutes parts en un instant, épargnant seulement le palais du Seigneur.
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that whereas the external manifestation of the Lord’s abode was covered by the ocean, the Lord’s eternal Dvārakā exists beyond the material universe and certainly beyond the material ocean. Dvārakā had been constructed by Viśvakarmā, the architect of the demigods, and the Sudharmā assembly hall had been brought from heaven. In that city there were many beautiful and splendorous residences of the aristocratic Yadu dynasty, and the most beautiful residence of all was that of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī mentions that even in the modern age, people who live near the site of the original Dvārakā sometimes catch a glimpse of it in the ocean. Ultimately, the Lord’s associates and abode are eternal, and one who understands this is qualified to become fully Kṛṣṇa conscious.
FAQs
This verse states that once Hari departed, the ocean inundated Dvārakā immediately, indicating the city’s divine protection was tied to the Lord’s manifest presence and His completed earthly līlā.
The verse highlights that although the ocean reclaimed the city, it did not overwhelm the specific ‘Bhagavad-ālaya’—emphasizing the sanctity of the Lord’s residence and the enduring holiness of places connected to Him.
It teaches that worldly opulence can vanish in a moment, but devotion and connection to the Lord’s shelter (bhagavad-āśraya) remain the true refuge and lasting spiritual wealth.