Chapter-11- Battle with Jarasandha and building of Dvaraka
Jarasandha, the father- in- law of Kamsa, attacked
Then in consideration of the people of Mathura who were constantly troubled by the attacks from enemy kings, Krishna wished to construct a city which would be invincible and decided to leave Mathura.Here it should be noted that he city which is known as Mathura in modern times might have been called Madhura in ancient times because in Srimadbhagavatham it is mentioned as Madhura only.Desika also mentions it so and says that Krishhna left the city of his ancestors as Parasurama left the earth conquered by him and as Rama left Ayodhya. But the city retained its glory because
Srimadbhagavatham says that
prAcheem anadhrthya nivAsa bhoomim
prthyangmukheem paddhathim AdhdhAnA
sTHiram padham prApthum iyEsha senA
satthvAdhikA dheeriva sAthvathAnAm ( Yad.11.15)
The army,which was strong, satthvAdhikA, left its residence, nivAsabhoomi, in the east,prAchee, and went towards the west,prathyang,wishing for a permanent residence, sTHiram padham.Desika, the vedanthacharya, compares this to the intellect, DHee of the devotees which filled with satthvaguna, satthvADhika, leave the inferior path of worldliness which is prAchee, followed from time immemorial, and proceeds towards the path of the self, prathyang, meaning prathyagAthma to attain salvation, sThiram padham.
The mighty army resembled a sea by its elephants roaming like the crocodiles, the horses galloping like the waves and thus it was apoorva like the sea ( apoorva means west as well as 'unseen before') and the sea itself was agitated as though fearing that it was no river,vAhinee coming to join it but an army. (vAhinee means river as well as an army.. And hence it looked as though two forces were preparing to fight each other.The poetic fervour of Desika surfaces by the description of the sea. The sound of the waves was subdued by that of the army as though the sea accepted defeat and by the rising waves, the sea seemed to offer arghya with its hands and welcome the Lord with folded hands who returned to His residence after a long time.
Desika gives a luxurious description of the city at length.
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