Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s Arrival in Dvārakā

In the Tenth Chapter of the First Canto, Śrī Kṛṣṇa begins His return journey from Hastināpura to Dvārakā. Unable to bear separation from Him, the Pāṇḍavas and the members of the Kuru dynasty lovingly accompany Him for some distance, until Śrī Kṛṣṇa consoles them and sends them back. He then travels through regions including Kurujāṅgala, Pāñcāla, Śūrasena, Brahmāvarta, Kurukṣetra, Matsya, Sārasvata, Sauvīra and Ābhīra, and reaches the land of Ānarta. The narrative now enters another joy filled episode with Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s arrival in Dvārakā. Beginning with the residents of Dvārakā eagerly coming forward to see Him upon hearing the sound of His conch, the narrative proceeds through their loving and devotional praises, the splendour of the city of Dvārakā, the grand welcome offered by His relatives and the citizens, and Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s loving reunion with His mothers and wives. Finally, it reveals His divine nature, transcendental to the qualities of material nature, even though He conducts Himself like a human being. Thus, the Eleventh Chapter movingly presents Bhagavān’s arrival, the loving joy of His devotees and His unattached divine nature within a single narrative flow.

In this chapter, Śrī Kṛṣṇa reaches His own territories in the land of Ānarta and sounds His conch, as though dispelling the sorrow of separation felt by the residents of Dvārakā. Hearing the sound of the conch, the people eagerly come forward to meet Him, longing to behold their Bhagavān. With faces blossoming in love, they offer gifts and praise Śrī Kṛṣṇa as little children seek refuge in their father. They declare that His lotus feet are the supreme refuge for those who seek the highest welfare, and that He Himself is their mother, father, well wisher, husband, sadguru and supreme deity. Feeling that they are blessed with a protector because they are able to behold Him, they express the depth of their separation, saying that whenever He goes to other regions, even a single moment seems like ten million years. Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is affectionate towards His devotees, listens to their words and enters Dvārakā, casting His gracious glance upon them.

The city of Dvārakā, protected by the Madhu, Bhoja, Daśārha, Arha, Kukura, Andhaka and Vṛṣṇi dynasties, shines everywhere with gardens, pleasure gardens, sacred trees, creepers and lotus filled lakes. In honour of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s arrival, the gateways, entrances and roads of the city are decorated with festoons, flags and banners; the main roads, streets, marketplaces and crossroads are cleansed and sprinkled with fragrant water; and the entrances of the houses are adorned with full water pots, incense, lamps and auspicious articles. On learning that Śrī Kṛṣṇa is arriving, Vasudeva, Akrūra, Ugrasena, Balarāma, Pradyumna, Sāmba and others joyfully come forward to receive Him. Amid the sounds of conches and trumpets, Vedic recitations, songs and praises, Śrī Kṛṣṇa honours and receives His relatives, the citizens and all those who have come to meet Him, each in a manner appropriate to their respective position.

As Śrī Kṛṣṇa enters the royal road, the women of Dvārakā, regarding the very sight of Him as a great festival, ascend the palaces to behold Him. Although they see Him every day, their eyes are never satisfied by beholding the form of Acyuta, the abode of all beauty. Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s chest is described as the abode of Śrī Devī, His face as the drinking vessel for the eyes, His arms as the refuge of the guardians of the worlds, and His lotus feet as the refuge of His devotees. Adorned with a white parasol, cāmaras, a shower of flowers, yellow garments and a forest garland, Śrī Kṛṣṇa proceeds along the city streets, radiant with extraordinary divine splendour.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa then reaches the residence of His mothers and bows His head before them. Devakī Devī and the other mothers lovingly take Him onto their laps and, overwhelmed with the joy of maternal affection, shed tears of happiness. Śrī Kṛṣṇa then reaches His own residence, and the hearts of His wives overflow with supreme joy upon seeing their husband after the period of separation. They immediately rise from their seats and embrace Him through their sons, through their glances and through the profound love within their hearts. Although they try to restrain their tears out of modesty, tears of joy flow from their eyes as they are overwhelmed by love. Even though Śrī Kṛṣṇa is always near them, His lotus feet are experienced by them as ever new at every moment.

Finally, the chapter reveals the inner significance of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s human like conduct. In His mission to reduce the burden of the earth, He causes enmity to arise among the kings and thereby brings about their mutual destruction. Having descended into the human world through His own māyā, He appears to enjoy life with His wives like an ordinary human being. Yet their beauty, loving smiles, glances and other charms cannot agitate His senses. The ignorant project their own nature onto Him and regard Him as a human being bound by worldly relationships. In reality, although He appears to exist within material nature, He remains untouched by its qualities, and this is the sovereignty of Parameśvara. Thus, while describing the loving joy surrounding Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s arrival in Dvārakā, the Eleventh Chapter ultimately makes clear the truth that He who associates with His devotees in the most intimate manner is Himself Parameśvara, transcendental to all material qualities.