(Bhagavatam) , Victorious Sri Krishna returns to Dvaraka

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Hare Krishna. Pranam to all Vasihnavas ,

Lord Sri Krishna returns to Dvaraka, after winning the Kurukshetra war

The material existence of our present status is full of fear. Out of the four problems of material existence, namely the food problem, the shelter problem, the fear problem and the mating problem, the fear problem gives us more trouble than the others. We are always fearful due to our ignorance of the next problem. The whole material existence is full of problems, and thus the fear problem is always prominent. This is due to our association with the illusory energy of Lord Sri Krishna, known as maya or external energy, yet all fear is vanished as soon as there is the sound of Lord Krishna, represented by His holy name, as it was sounded by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the following sixteen words :

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare HareHare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

We can take advantage of these sounds and be free from all threatening problems of material existence.

The beloved Lord Sri Krishna was away from His own prosperous metropolis of Dvaraka for a considerably long period because of the great battle of Kurukshetra, and thus all the inhabitants were overcome with melancholia due to the separation. When Lord Krishna descends on the earth, His eternal associates also come with Him, just as the entourage of a king accompanies him. Such associates of Lord Krishna are eternally liberated souls, and they cannot bear the separation of the Lord even for a moment because of intense affection for the Lord. Thus the inhabitants of the city of Dvaraka were in a mood of dejection and expected the arrival of the Lord at any moment. So the heralding sound of the auspicious ‘panchajanya’ conchshell was very encouraging, and apparently the sound pacified their dejection. They were still more aspirant to see Lord Sri Krishna amongst themselves, and all of them became alert to receive Him in the befitting manner. These are the signs of spontaneous love of Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Godhead.

Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 11

TEXT 1

Sage Suka said: Upon reaching the border of His most prosperous metropolis, (Dvaraka), the Lord sounded His auspicious conchshell, heralding His arrival and apparently pacifying the dejection of the inhabitants.

TEXT 2

The white and fat-boweled conchshell, being gripped by the hand of Lord Krishna and sounded by Him, appeared to be reddened by the touch of His transcendental lips. It seemed that a white swan was playing in the stems of red lotus flowers.

TEXT 3

The citizens of Dwarka, having heard that sound which threatens fear personified in the material world, began to run towards Him fast, just to have a long desired audience with the Lord, who is the protector of all devotees.

TEXTS 4–5

The citizens arrived before the Lord with their respective presentations, offering them to the fully satisfied and self-sufficient one, who, by His own potency, incessantly supplies others. These presentations were like the offering of a lamp to the sun. Yet the citizens began to speak in ecstatic language to receive the Lord, just as wards welcome their guardian and father.

TEXT 6

The citizens said : O Lord, You are worshiped by all devatas like Brahma, the four Sanas and even the King of heaven. You are the ultimate rest for those who are really aspiring to achieve the highest benefit of life. You are the supreme transcendental Lord, and inevitable time cannot exert its influence upon You.

TEXT 7

O creator of the universe, You are our mother, well-wisher, Lord, father, Guru and worshipable Deity. By following in Your footsteps we have become successful in every respect. We pray, therefore, that You continue to bless us with Your mercy.

TEXT 8

Oh, it is our good luck that we have come again today under Your protection by Your presence, for Your Lordship rarely visits even the denizens of heaven. Now it is possible for us to look into Your smiling face, which is full of affectionate glances. We can now see Your transcendental form, full of all auspiciousness.

TEXT 9

O lotus-eyed Lord, whenever You go away to Mathura, Vrindavana or Hastinapura to meet Your friends and relatives, every moment of Your absence seems like a million years. O infallible one, at that time our eyes become useless, as if bereft of sun.

TEXT 10

O master, if You live abroad all the time, then we cannot look at Your attractive face, whose smiles vanquish all our sufferings. How can we exist without Your presence?Upon hearing their speeches, the Lord, who is very kind to the citizens and the devotees, entered the city of Dvaraka and acknowledged all their greetings by casting His transcendental glance over them.

TEXT 11

As Bhogavati, the capital of Nagaloka, is protected by the Nagas, so was Dvaraka protected by the descendants of Vrishni—Bhoja, Madhu, Dasarha, Arha, Kukura, Andhaka, etc.—who were strongmen of their master Lord Sri Krishna.

TEXT 12

The city of Dvarakapuri was filled with the opulences of all seasons. There were hermitages, orchards, flower gardens, parks and reservoirs of water breeding lotus flowers all over.

TEXT 13

The city gateway, the household doors and festooned arches along the roads were all nicely decorated with festive signs like plantain trees and mango leaves, all to welcome the Lord. Flags, garlands and painted signs and slogans all combined to shade the sunshine.

TEXT 14

The highways, subways, lanes, markets and public meeting places were all thoroughly cleansed and then moistened with scented water. And to welcome the Lord, fruits, flowers and unbroken seeds were strewn everywhere.

TEXT 15

In each and every door of the residential houses, auspicious things like curd, unbroken fruits, sugarcane and full waterpots with articles for worship, incense and candles were all displayed.

TEXTS 16–17

On hearing that the most dear Krishna was approaching Dvarakapuri , magnanimous Vasudeva, Akrüra, Ugrasena, Balaräma (the superhumanly powerful), Pradyumna, Cärudeñëa and Sämba the son of Jämbavati all extremely happy, abandoned resting, sitting and dining.

TEXT 18

They hastened toward the Lord on chariots with brahmanas bearing flowers. Before them were elephants, emblems of good fortune. Conchshells and bugles were sounded, and Vedic hymns were chanted. Thus they offered their respects, which were saturated with affection.

TEXT 19

At the same time, many hundreds of well-known prostitutes began to proceed on various vehicles. They were all very eager to meet the Lord, and their beautiful faces were decorated with dazzling earrings, which enhanced the beauty of their foreheads.

TEXT 20

Expert dramatists, artists, dancers, singers, historians, genealogists and learned speakers all gave their respective contributions, being inspired by the superhuman pastimes of the Lord. Thus they proceeded on and on.

TEXT 21

Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, approached them and offered due honor and respect to each and every one of the friends, relatives, citizens and all others who came to receive and welcome Him.

TEXT 22

The Supreme Godhead greeted everyone present by bowing His head, exchanging greetings, embracing, shaking hands, looking and smiling, giving assurances and awarding benedictions, even to the lowest in rank.

TEXT 23

Then Lord Krishna personally entered the city accompanied by elderly relatives and invalid brahmanas with their wives, all offering benedictions and singing the glories of the Lord. Others also praised the glories of the Lord.

TEXT 24

When Lord Sri Krishna passed over the public roads, all the ladies from the respectable families of Dväraka went up to the roofs of their palaces just to have a look at the Lord. They considered this to be the greatest festival.

TEXT 25

The inhabitants of Dvaraka were regularly accustomed to look upon the reservoir of all beauty, the infallible Lord, yet they were never satiated.

TEXT 26

Lord Krishna’s chest is the abode of Sri Mahalakshmi ,the goddess of fortune. His moonlike face is the drinking vessel for eyes which hanker after all that is beautiful. His arms are the resting places for the administrative devatas. And His lotus feet are the refuge of pure devotees (Vaishnavas) who never talk or sing of any subject except His Lordship.

TEXT 27

As the Lord passed along the public road of Dvaraka, His head was protected from the sunshine by a white umbrella. White feathered fans moved in semicircles, and showers of flowers fell upon the road. His yellow garments and garlands of flowers made it appear as if a dark cloud were surrounded simultaneously by sun, moon, lightning and rainbows.

TEXT 28

After entering the house of His father, He was embraced by the mothers present, and the Lord offered His obeisances unto them by placing His head at their feet. The mothers were headed by Devaki [His real mother].

TEXT 29

The mothers, after embracing their son, sat Him on their laps. Due to pure affection, milk sprang from their breasts. They were overwhelmed with delight, and the tears from their eyes wetted the Lord.

TEXT 30

Thereafter, the Lord entered His palaces, which were perfect to the fullest extent. His wives lived in them, and they numbered over sixteen thousand.

TEXT 31

The queens of Lord Sri Krishna rejoiced within their minds to see their husband home after a long period abroad. The queens got up at once from their seats and meditations. As was socially customary, they covered their faces shyly and looked about coyly.

TEXT 32

The insuperable ecstasy was so strong that the queens, who were shy, first embraced the Lord in the innermost recesses of their hearts. Then they embraced Him visually, and then they sent their sons to embrace Him [which is equal to personal embracing]. But, O chief amongst the Bhrigus, though they tried to restrain their feelings, they inadvertently shed tears.

TEXT 33

Although Lord Sri Krishna was constantly by their sides, as well as exclusively alone, His feet appeared to them to be newer and newer. The goddess of fortune Malakshmi, although by nature always restless and moving, could not quit the Lord’s feet. So what woman can be detached from those feet, having once taken shelter of them?

TEXT 34

The Lord was pacified after killing those kings who were burdensome to the earth. They were puffed up with their military strength, their horses, elephants, chariots, infantry, etc. He Himself was not a party in the fight. He simply created hostility between the powerful administrators, and they fought amongst themselves. He was like the wind which causes friction between bamboos and so sparks a fire.

TEXT 35

That Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna, out of His causeless mercy, appeared on this planet by His internal potency and enjoyed Himself amongst competent women as if He were engaging in mundane affairs.

TEXT 36

Although the queens’ beautiful smiles and furtive glances were all spotless and exciting, and although they could conquer Cupid himself by making him give up his bow in frustration, and although even the tolerant Devata Siva could fall victim to them, still, despite all their magical feats and attractions, they could not agitate the senses of the Lord.

TEXT 37

The common materialistic conditioned souls speculate that Lord Krishna is one of them. Out of their ignorance they think that the Lord is affected by matter, although He is unattached.

TEXT 38

This is the divinity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead : He is not affected by the qualities of material nature, even though He is in contact with them. Similarly, the devotees who have taken shelter of the Lord do not become influenced by the material qualities.

TEXT 39

The simple and delicate women truly thought that Lord Sri Krishna, their beloved husband, followed them and was dominated by them. They were unaware of the extent of the glories of their husband, as the atheists are unaware of Him as the supreme controller of the entire universe.

OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA!!!SriKrishnaDasa Rajeev

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