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
Na construção daquela cidade via-se plenamente o conhecimento científico e a perícia arquitetônica de Viśvakarmā. Havia amplas avenidas, vias comerciais e pátios dispostos, segundo o vāstu, em vastos terrenos; e belos parques e jardins repletos de árvores e trepadeiras celestiais. As torres dos portais eram coroadas por cúpulas de ouro que tocavam o céu, e seus níveis superiores eram talhados em cristal. As casas recobertas de ouro exibiam potes de ouro à frente, telhados com cumes de joias e pisos incrustados de esmeraldas; ao lado havia tesourarias, armazéns e estábulos de excelentes cavalos, feitos de prata e latão. Cada residência tinha uma torre de vigia e um templo para a deidade doméstica; cheia de cidadãos das quatro varṇa, a cidade era especialmente embelezada pelos palácios de Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Senhor dos Yadus.
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.