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
Sa pagtatayo ng lungsod na iyon, malinaw na nakita ang ganap na kaalamang pang-agham at husay sa arkitektura ni Viśvakarmā. May malalapad na lansangan, mga liwasan at daang pangkalakalan na inayos ayon sa tuntuning vāstu sa maluluwang na lupain; may magagarang parke at harding hitik sa mga punò at baging na mula sa langit. Ang mga tore sa tarangkahan ay may gintong tuktok na wari’y sumasayad sa langit, at ang itaas na bahagi’y yari sa kristal. Ang mga bahay na nababalutan ng ginto ay may mga gintong banga sa harap, bubong na may hiyas, at sahig na may inlay na esmeralda; sa tabi nito’y may mga imbakan ng yaman, bodega at kuwadra ng mahuhusay na kabayo na gawa sa pilak at tanso. Bawat tahanan ay may bantay-tore at dambana para sa diyos ng sambahayan; punô ng mamamayan ng apat na varṇa, ang lungsod ay lalo pang gumanda dahil sa mga palasyo ni Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Panginoon ng mga Yadu.
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.