Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 53
Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat
दृश्यते यत्र हि त्वाष्ट्रं विज्ञानं शिल्पनैपुणम् । रथ्याचत्वरवीथीभिर्यथावास्तु विनिर्मितम् ॥ ५० ॥ सुरद्रुमलतोद्यानविचित्रोपवनान्वितम् । हेमशृङ्गैर्दिविस्पृग्भि: स्फटिकाट्टालगोपुरै: ॥ ५१ ॥ राजतारकुटै: कोष्ठैर्हेमकुम्भैरलङ्कृतै: । रत्नकूतैर्गृहैर्हेमैर्महामारकत स्थलै: ॥ ५२ ॥ वास्तोष्पतीनां च गृहैर्वल्लभीभिश्च निर्मितम् । चातुर्वर्ण्यजनाकीर्णं यदुदेवगृहोल्लसत् ॥ ५३ ॥
dṛśyate yatra hi tvāṣṭraṁ vijñānaṁ śilpa-naipuṇam rathyā-catvara-vīthībhir yathā-vāstu vinirmitam
その都の造営には、ヴィシュヴァカルマンの完璧な学知と建築の妙技がありありと現れていた。広い大路、交差点、商いの道、広場はヴァーストゥの法に従ってゆったりと配され、天界の樹木と蔓に満ちた園苑が都を飾った。門楼の塔は天に届く黄金の尖頂を戴き、上層は澄みきった水晶で造られていた。黄金に覆われた邸宅は、前に金の壺を据え、屋根には宝石の頂を立て、床にはエメラルドが嵌め込まれていた。傍らには銀と真鍮で築かれた宝庫・倉庫・名馬の厩が並び、各家には見張り塔と家神の祠があった。四ヴァルナの民で満ちたその都は、とりわけヤドゥ族の主、聖なるクリシュナの宮殿によって一層輝いていた。
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that the state highways ( rathyāḥ ) were in front and the secondary roads ( vīthyaḥ ) behind, and between them were courtyards ( catvarāṇi ). Within these courtyards were surrounding walls, and within the walls stood golden residences, atop which shone crystal watchtowers crowned with golden pots. Thus the buildings were multistoried. The word vāstu indicates that the houses and buildings were constructed on ample plots of land, with plenty of room for green areas.
FAQs
This verse notes that the city was “crowded with people of the four varṇas,” showing an ordered society where different duties and livelihoods coexist in harmony under dharma.
Śukadeva describes Mathurā’s splendor to show the prosperity and prominence of the Yadu dynasty—Krishna’s own people—at the time when major conflicts (like Jarāsandha’s attacks) unfold.
Create communities where diverse roles are respected, families are supported, and public life is organized around shared values—so society becomes stable, dignified, and spiritually conducive.