Shloka 16
Kṛṣṇa’s Arrival at Dvārakā
Dvārakā-praveśa and Bhakta-vātsalya
निशम्य प्रेष्ठमायान्तं वसुदेवो महामना: । अक्रूरश्चोग्रसेनश्च रामश्चाद्भुतविक्रम: ॥ १६ ॥ प्रद्युम्नश्चारुदेष्णश्च साम्बो जाम्बवतीसुत: । प्रहर्षवेगोच्छशितशयनासनभोजना: ॥ १७ ॥
niśamya preṣṭham āyāntaṁ vasudevo mahā-manāḥ akrūraś cograsenaś ca rāmaś cādbhuta-vikramaḥ
جب یہ خبر سنی کہ سب سے عزیز شری کرشن دوارکا دھام کی طرف آ رہے ہیں تو عالی ہمت وسودیو، اکرور، اُگرا سین، نہایت زورآور بلرام، پردیومن، چارودیشْن اور جامبَوَتی کے پتر سامب—سب خوشی کے جوش میں آرام، بیٹھنا اور کھانا چھوڑ کر اٹھ کھڑے ہوئے۔
Vasudeva: Son of King Śūrasena, husband of Devakī and father of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He is the brother of Kuntī and father of Subhadrā. Subhadrā was married with her cousin Arjuna, and this system is still prevalent in some parts of India. Vasudeva was appointed minister of Ugrasena, and later on he married eight daughters of Ugrasena’s brother Devaka. Devakī is only one of them. Kaṁsa was his brother-in-law, and Vasudeva accepted voluntary imprisonment by Kaṁsa on mutual agreement to deliver the eighth son of Devakī. This was foiled by the will of Kṛṣṇa. As maternal uncle of the Pāṇḍavas, he took active parts in the purificatory process of the Pāṇḍavas. He sent for the priest Kaśyapa at Śataśṛṅga Parvata, and he executed the functions. When Kṛṣṇa appeared within the bars of Kaṁsa’s prison house, He was transferred by Vasudeva to the house of Nanda Mahārāja, the foster father of Kṛṣṇa, at Gokula. Kṛṣṇa disappeared along with Baladeva prior to the disappearance of Vasudeva, and Arjuna (Vasudeva’s nephew) undertook the charge of the funeral ceremony after Vasudeva’s disappearance.
FAQs
This verse shows Krishna’s closest devotees—Vasudeva, Akrura, Ugrasena, and Balarama—eagerly coming forward as soon as they hear He is approaching, illustrating loving reception as a natural expression of bhakti.
They represent Krishna’s intimate circle in Dvārakā—family elders and trusted devotees—who take the lead in receiving Him, emphasizing both affection and royal-social honor offered to the Lord.
Cultivate readiness to receive the Lord through daily practices—hearing (śravaṇam), welcoming sacred time with kīrtana or prayer, and honoring devotees—so that remembrance of Krishna becomes immediate and heartfelt.