Shloka 12
Kṛṣṇa’s Arrival at Dvārakā
Dvārakā-praveśa and Bhakta-vātsalya
सर्वर्तुसर्वविभवपुण्यवृक्षलताश्रमै: । उद्यानोपवनारामैर्वृतपद्माकरश्रियम् ॥ १२ ॥
sarvartu-sarva-vibhava- puṇya-vṛkṣa-latāśramaiḥ udyānopavanārāmair vṛta-padmākara-śriyam
सर्वर्तुसर्वविभवैः पुण्यवृक्षलताश्रमैः, उद्यानोपवनारामैः, पद्माकरश्रिया वृतैः जलाशयैश्च द्वारकापुरी समृद्धा बभूव॥
Perfection of human civilization is made possible by utilizing the gifts of nature in their own way. As we find herewith in the description of its opulence, Dvārakā was surrounded by flower gardens and fruit orchards along with reservoirs of water and growing lotuses. There is no mention of mills and factories supported by slaughterhouses, which are the necessary paraphernalia of the modern metropolis. The propensity to utilize nature’s own gifts is still there, even in the heart of modern civilized man. The leaders of modern civilization select their own residential quarters in a place where there are such naturally beautiful gardens and reservoirs of water, but they leave the common men to reside in congested areas without parks and gardens. Herein of course we find a different description of the city of Dvārakā. It is understood that the whole dhāma, or residential quarter, was surrounded by such gardens and parks with reservoirs of water where lotuses grew. It is understood that all the people depended on nature’s gifts of fruits and flowers without industrial enterprises promoting filthy huts and slums for residential quarters. Advancement of civilization is estimated not on the growth of mills and factories to deteriorate the finer instincts of the human being, but on developing the potent spiritual instincts of human beings and giving them a chance to go back to Godhead. Development of factories and mills is called ugra-karma, or pungent activities, and such activities deteriorate the finer sentiments of the human being and society to form a dungeon of demons.
FAQs
This verse describes Dvārakā as filled with sacred groves and gardens, displaying the splendor of all seasons, and beautified by lotus lakes—showing the divine opulence of the Lord’s abode.
Śukadeva portrays Dvārakā’s natural abundance to highlight it as a spiritually auspicious city fit for Śrī Kṛṣṇa—where nature itself reflects the Lord’s presence and prosperity.
Use it for bhakti-smaraṇa (devotional remembrance): visualize the Lord’s pure abode and cultivate a sacred, peaceful environment—through cleanliness, beauty, and devotional focus—in one’s home and heart.