द्वारका

यन्त्रोपारोपितकोशांशः

कल्पद्रुमः

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

द्वारका, स्त्री, (द्वारेण बहुना प्रशस्तेन च प्रती- हारेण कायतीति । कै + कः । स्त्रियां टाप् ।) स्वनामख्यातपुरी । तत्पर्य्यायः । द्वारावती २ द्वारवती ३ वनमालिनी ४ द्वारिका ५ अब्धि- नगरी ६ द्वारकः ७ । इति शब्दरत्नावली ॥ (यथा, हरिवंशे । १३२ । ४६ । “सत्यकं प्रेषयामास द्वारकां द्वारमालिनीम् ॥”) तस्या निर्म्माणप्रकारो यथा, -- अतीव द्वारकां रम्यां शतयोजनविस्तृताम् ॥ ब्रह्मादीनाञ्च नगरं विजित्य च विराजिताम् । तेजसाच्छादितां सूर्य्यं रत्नानाञ्च परिष्कृताम् ॥ वासुदेव उवाच । पैतृकीतीर्थतुल्या सा किं तीर्थं द्वारकापरम् । सर्व्वतीर्थपरा श्रेष्ठा द्वारका बहुपुण्यदा ॥ यस्याः प्रवेशमात्रेण नराणां जन्मखण्डनम् ॥ दानञ्च द्वारकायाञ्च श्राद्धञ्च देवपूजनम् । चतुर्गुणञ्च तीर्थानां गङ्गादीनाञ्च भूमिप ! ॥” इति ब्रह्मवैवर्त्ते श्रीकृष्णजन्मखण्डम् ॥

वाचस्पत्यम्

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

द्वारका¦ स्त्री प्रशस्तेन द्वारेण कायते कै--क टाप् धातुस्थकपूर्बत्वात् न अत इत्त्वम्। द्वारवत्याम् पुर्य्या द्वारवतीशब्देदृश्यम्
“पैवृकी तीर्थतुल्या सा किं तीर्थं द्वारका प-रम्। सर्वतीर्थपरा श्रेष्ठा द्वारका बहुपुण्यदा। यस्याःप्रवेशमात्रेण नराणां जन्मखण्डनम्। दानञ्च द्वारकायाञ्च श्राद्धञ्च देवपूजनम्। चतुर्गुणञ्च तीर्थानां गङ्गा-दीनाञ्च भूमिप!” ब्रह्मवै॰ श्रीकृष्णजन्मखण्डे।

Monier-Williams

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

द्वारका f. " many-gated " , N. of the capital of कृष्ण(on the western point of Gujarat , supposed to have been submerged by the sea) MBh. Hariv. Pur. etc. ( f( इका). id. L. RTL. 55 , 1 ; 113 ; 400 , 2 )

द्वारका f. of prec.

Purana index

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

--(also द्वारवती and कुशस्थली). Capital of कृष्ण, built for him by Revata in the midst of sea 1(1/2) miles in circumference according to वास्तु rules and well furnish- ed, for fear from कालयवन; फलकम्:F1: भा. I. 8. १०-27; ११. २५; १२. ३६; १३. १६; १४. 1-6; X. ५०. ४९-57; IX. 3. २८; Br. III. ७१. ६२-85; M. 4. १८; २४६. ८९; Vi. IV. 1. ९१; १३. १९; V. २३. १३-15.फलकम्:/F sacred to Hari. फलकम्:F2: भा. VII. १४. ३१.फलकम्:/F कृष्ण releas- ed नृग in; फलकम्:F3: Ib. X. ३७. १७-20.फलकम्:/F कृष्ण carried the spoils of war with the Yava- nas to that place; फलकम्:F4: Ib. X. ५२. 5;फलकम्:/F return of कृष्ण and राम to, after being besieged by जरासन्ध at Gomanta. फलकम्:F5: Ib. X. ५२. १३-14 [1]; [५६ (V) 7].फलकम्:/F Left by अक्रूर, when the city had no rains; hence कृष्ण sent for him; फलकम्:F6: Ib. X. ५७. २९-34.फलकम्:/F कृष्ण and [page२-147+ ५७] सात्यकी returned from हस्तिनापुर to; फलकम्:F7: Ib. X. ५८. २८.फलकम्:/F here were sent १६००० maidens of Naraka's harem and ६४ elephants of the ऐरावत line; फलकम्:F8: Ib. X. ५९. ३६-7.फलकम्:/F reached by कृष्ण and सत्यभामा after the fight for the पारिजाता; फलकम्:F9: Ib. X. [६७ (V) ३८-40].फलकम्:/F arrival of Aniruddha's marriage party from भोजकट; फलकम्:F१०: Ib. X. ६१. ४०.फलकम्:/F visited by चित्रलेखा; फलकम्:F११: Ib. X. ६२. २२. ६४ [११]; Vi. V. ३२. २८-30.फलकम्:/F besieged by पौण्- ड्रक; फलकम्:F१२: भा. X. ६६. [1 and १३].फलकम्:/F described when visited by नारद, as containing ९००,000 houses; फलकम्:F१३: Ib. X. ६९. 3-7;फलकम्:/F शम्ब and others reached द्वारका after युधिष्ठिर's राजसूय. फलकम्:F१४: Ib. X. ७५. २९.फलकम्:/F Blockaded by शाल्व, and defended by Pradyumna and others; फलकम्:F१५: Ib. X. ७६. 8-१४.फलकम्:/F reached by कृष्ण after the कुरुक्षेत्र war; city described; फलकम्:F१६: Ib. X. ८०. [8-१२]; ८२. 1.फलकम्:/F reached by कृष्ण and his party after a long stay at स्यमन्तपञ्चक; फलकम्:F१७: Ib. X. ८४. ७०.फलकम्:/F कृष्ण per- formed the अश्वमेध here; फलकम्:F१८: Ib. X. ८९. २२. [1]; ९०. 1.फलकम्:/F visited by sages from पिण्डा- raka, कुरुक्षेत्र and other places and filled with Brahma- घोष; फलकम्:F१९: Ib. X. २८. 1-१३.फलकम्:/F नारद lived there for a time to worship कृष्ण; फलकम्:F२०: Ib. XI. 2. 1.फलकम्:/F visited by ब्रह्मा and other gods to invite कृष्ण to go back to वैकुण्ठ; फलकम्:F२१: Ib. XI. 6. 1-4.फलकम्:/F evil omens in the city; people, advised by कृष्ण, left for प्रभासा. फलकम्:F२२: Ib. XI. 6. ३३-35; ३०. 1, 5, १०.फलकम्:/F दारुक informs Vasudeva and others of कृष्ण's condition and राम's entry to his धाम; फलकम्:F२३: Ib. XI. ३१. १५-17.फलकम्:/F swallowed up by the sea excepting कृष्ण's mansion; फलकम्:F२४: Ib. XI. 7. 3; ३१. २३; XII. १२. ६०; Vi. V. ३७. ३६; ३०. 9-१०.फलकम्:/F a पितृ Ti1rtham; फलकम्:F२५: M. २२. ३८.फलकम्:/F represents the neck of the Vedas. फलकम्:F२६: वा. ९६. ६०; १०४. ७६.फलकम्:/F पारिजात of heaven taken to. फलकम्:F२७: Vi. V. ३१. १०-11.फलकम्:/F

Purana Encyclopedia

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

Dvārakā, Dvāravatī  : f.: Name of a city, also called Kuśasthalī (2. 13. 49; 12. 326. 83, 85), Ānartanagarī (5. 7. 4; 14. 51. 41), Ānartanagara (3. 21. 1), Ānartapurī (14. 51. 56), Vṛṣṇipura (3. 21. 4; 3. 180. 25).


A. Location: In the west (pratīcīṁ diśam āśritāḥ) 2. 13. 49; (samāvṛttāḥ paścimāṁ diśam eva te/dadṛśur dvārakāṁ cāpi) 17. 1. 43; in the Anarta country (ānartam evābhimukhāḥ…vṛṣṇipuraṁ praviśya) 3. 180. 25; in the Surāṣṭra country (surāṣṭreṣu …puṇyā dvāravatī tatra) 3. 86. 20-21; near the Raivataka mountain (raīvatenopaśobhitām) 2. 13. 49; 2. 13. 52; 14. 58. 3-4.


B. Description: Holy (puṇyā) 3. 13. 31; pleasing (ramyā) 2. 13. 49; 5. 7. 4; 14. 58. 3; 14. 84. 13; liked by the sages (ṛṣikāntā) 3. 13, 41; offering different kinds of enjoyments (bhogavatī) 3. 13. 31; full of jewels (ratnasaṁpūrṇā) 16. 8. 40; adorned by Raivataka mountain (raivatenopaśobhitām) 2. 13. 49; guarded by Vṛṣṇi heroes (vṛṣṇivīrābhirakṣitā) 14. 84. 13; the place of residence of the Vṛṣṇis (vṛṣṇinilaya) 16. 6. 4; having ramparts and watch towers (prākārāṭṭālakopetā) 16. 7. 17; referred to chiefly as pūrī 1. 212. 9; 1. 213. 55; 2. 13. 49, 65; 2. 42. 49, 55; 3. 16. 2, 4; 3. 21. 9; 5. 7. 3; 12. 326. 83, 84; 14. 15. 21, 26; 14. 51. 42; 14. 58. 3; 14. 84. 15; 16. 5. 7; 16. 7. 13; but also as nagara 3. 16. 12; 3. 21. 8; 16. 2. 17, 18; 16. 8. 10; nagarī 16. 7. 17; and pura 3. 16. 18.


C. Fortification: The Yādavas fortified Dvārakā in such a way that even gods could not reach it and women could defend it (tathaiva durgasaṁskāraṁ devair api durāsadam//striyo 'pi yasyāṁ yudhyeyuḥ kiṁ punar vṛṣṇipuṁgavāḥ) 2. 13. 50-51.


D. Epic events:

(1) The Yādavas fled to the west from Mathurā due to fear of Jarāsandha and repaired to Kuśasthalī; they settled down there and fortified the town; they lived in Kuśasthalī without fear from any quarter (akutobhayāḥ); seeing the mountain (Raivataka) nearby and the Mādhavītīrtha, the Yādavas were highly delighted 2. 13. 49-52, 65; hence the city is referred to as the residence of the Yādavas (yadusadana) 8. 26. 63;

(2) Hearing that Śiśupāla was killed by Kṛṣṇa, Śālva, during the absence of Kṛṣṇa from Dvārakā, attacked the city riding in his Saubha town; he killed young Vṛṣṇi heroes who defended the city and destroyed all gardens (purodyānāni sarvāṇi bhedayām āsa durmatiḥ) 3. 15. 5-7; hearing that Śrautaśrava (Śiśupāla) was killed, Śālva besieged Dvāravatī from all sides; he mounted his Saubha, flying in the sky, and from there attacked the city; the fortification and the defence arrangements of the city were looked after by Gada, Sāmba, Uddhava and others according to the rules laid down in the Śāstras (śāstradṛṣṭena vidhinā saṁyūktā); drinking liquor was forbidden in the town to avoid negligence on the part of citizens (āghoṣitaṁ ca nagare na pātavyā sureti ha/ pramādaṁ parirakṣadbhiḥ) 3. 16. 2-18; Dvārakā was well guarded by king Āhuka by giving largesses (dvārakā bhūridakṣiṇaiḥ/ āhukena suguptā ca rājñā) 3. 16. 23; Śālva attacked Dvārakā with the speed of the king of birds (abhisārayām āsa tadā vegena patagendravat) 3. 17. 7; all the people in Dvārakā were bewildered when Śālva descended on the earth with his Saubha (saubhasthaṁ pṛthivīgatam) 3. 17. 28; when Śālva was defeated by the Vṛṣṇis led by Pradyumna he left Dvārakā mounting his Saubha 3. 20. 27;

(3) At the end of the Rājasūya Kṛṣṇa wished to return to Dvārakā 2. 42. 46, 52; Yudhiṣṭhira approved of Kṛṣṇa's return to Dvāravatī 2. 42. 49; when Kṛṣṇa returned to Ānartanagara after the Rājasūya of Yudhiṣṭhira at Indraprastha he saw Dvārakā lack-lustre; it was bereft of the sound of Vedic studies and Vedic sacrifices (ānartanagaraṁ muktaṁ tato 'ham agamaṁ tadā/mahākratau rājasūye nivṛtte…// apaśyaṁ dvārakāṁ cāhaṁ mahārāja hatatviṣam/niḥsvādhyāyavaṣaṭkāram); noble women of the town did not put on ornaments; the gardens of Dvārakā were changed beyond recognition (anabhijñeyarūpāṇī dvārakopavanānī ca); Kṛṣṇa found Vṛṣṇipura with its men and women very much ill at ease (asvasthanaranārīkam idaṁ vṛṣṇipuraṁ bhṛśam); the siege of Dvārakā by Śālva and lifting of the siege later by him was reported to Kṛṣṇa; enraged, he asked the Yādava heroes to be watchful in the city (apramādaḥ sadā kāryo nagare yādavarṣabhāḥ) and left for the destruction of Śālva; he vowed not to return to Dvāravatī without killing Śālva (nāhatvā taṁ nivartiṣye purīṁ dvāravatīṁ prati) 3. 21. 1-9; he asked Sātyaki, Baladeva, and Pradyumna to protect Dvārakā and his father Vasudeva 3. 22. 16-17; during the fight with Śālva, a certain resident of Dvārakā (puruṣaḥ kaścid dvārakānilayaḥ), a servant (paricārakaḥ) of Āhuka, met Kṛṣṇa and gave him a false message from Āhuka; according to the message Śālva had attacked Dvārakā and killed the son of Śūrasena (Vasudeva); hence Kṛṣṇa was advised to leave the battle, return to Dvārakā and protect it; that should be Kṛṣṇa's prime concern (dvārakām eva rakṣasva kāryam etan mahat tava) 3. 22. 12-14; Kṛṣṇa then mentally blamed Sātyaki and others who were entrusted with the protection of Dvārakā and of Vasudeva 3. 22. 16-17; (Kṛṣṇa, however, soon realized that he was tricked by Śālva by his māyā and started to fight with him again); he was incited to action by his charioteer who reminded him that Dvārakā was ransacked by Śālva (dvārakā cāvamarditā) 3. 23. 25;

(4) Kṛṣṇa told Yudhiṣṭhira that he was not in Dvārakā when the game of dice was played in Hāstinapura 3. 14. 1; he heard of the dyūta only when he returned to Dvārakā after vanquishing Śālva 3. 14. 15;

(5) After informing Yudhiṣṭhira in the forest about Śālva's attacking Dvārakā and Kṛṣṇa's subsequent battle with him, he comforted Yudhiṣṭhira and returned to Dvārakā 3. 23. 42-45;

(6) Dvārakā was once burnt by Śiśupāla when Kṛṣṇa and others had gone to Prāgjyotiṣapura 2. 42. 7;

(7) Prophecies regarding Dvārakā: (i) Nārāyaṇa told Nārada that at the conjunction of Dvāpara and Kali (dvāparasya kaleś caiva saṁdhau 12. 326. 82) he would be born at Mathurā but would make Kuśasthalī (i. e. Dvārakā) his residence (kuśasthalīṁ kariṣyāmi nivāsaṁ dvārakāṁ purīm) 12. 326. 83-85; while residing in that city he would kill Naraka, Mura and Pīṭha 12. 326. 84; he would also kill the demons and take the wealth of Prāgjyotiṣapura to Kuśasthalī (prāgjyotiṣapuraṁ ramyaṁ nānādhanasamanvitam/kuśasthalīṁ nayiṣyāmi) 12. 326. 85; having lessened the burden of the earth he would bring about the destruction of the Sātvata heroes, his kinsmen and of Dvārakā (kṛtvā bhārāvataraṇaṁ vasudhāyā yathepsitam/sarvasātvatamukhyānāṁ dvārakāyāś ca sattama/kariṣye pralayaṁ ghoram ātmajñātivināśanam//) 12. 326. 92; (ii) prophesied also by Arjuna that Dvārakā, which was made his home by Kṛṣṇa, would be drowned in the sea by him (dvārakām ātmasāt kṛtvā samudraṁ gamayiṣyasi) 3. 13. 31; (iii) Kṛṣṇa too had foretold that when Arjuna would leave Dvārakā taking with him the citizens, the city, together with its ramparts and watchtowers, would be instantly inundated by the sea (imāṁ ca nagarīṁ sadyaḥ pratiyāte dhanaṁjaye/prākārāṭṭālakopetāṁ samudraḥ plāvayiṣyati) 16. 7. 17; 16. 8. 10;

(8) Destruction of Dvārakā: Arjuna advised all people to leave the town at the end of a week and stay outside 16. 8. 12; before leaving Dvārakā, the citizens (dvārakāvāsinaḥ) attended the funeral of Vasudeva 16. 8. 19-23; when all people had left, the city was overrun by the sea (sāgaraḥ…/dvārakāṁ ratnasaṁpūṛṇāṁ jalenāplāvayat tadā//) 16. 8. 40; the people of Dvārakā witnessed the event the like of which had not happened before (adbhutam) 16. 8. 41; the people of Dvārakā who followed Arjuna to Indraprastha were handed over to Vajra 16. 8. 73: the Pāṇḍavas when they started on their great final journey (mahāprasthāna) went, on their way, to the west and saw Dvārakā inundated by the sea (dadṛśur dvārakāṁ cāpi sāgareṇa pariplutām) 17. 1. 43; Arjuna's going to Dvāravatī, bereft of the Vṛṣṇi heroes, and his taking with him the people of Dvāravatī listed in the contents of the Mausalaparvan 1. 2. 223, 226;

(9) After the Pāṇḍavas were established at Indraprastha Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma left for Dvāravatī with the consent of the Pāṇḍavas 1. 199. 50.

(10) During the period of his exile Arjuna went from Raivataka mountain to Dvārakā; the city, even up to the modest houses (?), was decorated to welcome him (alaṁkṛtā dvārakā…api niṣkuṭakeṣv api) 1. 210. 15-16 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 2. 218. 16: niṣkuṭeṣu gṛhārāmeṣv api alaṁkṛtā kim uta rājamārgādiṣu); the people of Dvārakā rushed to the main roads to see Arjuna; women in large numbers rushed to the windows (?) (avalokeṣu nārīṇām sahasrāṇi śatāni ca); there was a great gathering (samavāyo mahān abhūt) of the Bhojas, the Vṛṣṇis and the Andhakas; Arjuna lived (in Dvārakā) in the house of Kṛṣṇa for many nights 1. 210. 17-21; once, while Subhadrā was returning to Dvārakā after worshipping Raivataka mountain she was kidnapped by Arjuna; the helpless soldiers cried aloud and ran towards Dvārakā 1. 212. 7, 9; the incident is referred to in 8. 26. 63;

(11) The Yādavas, returned to Dvāravatī after visiting Indraprastha where they had gone to give gifts to the Pāṇḍavas in connection with the marriage of Subhadrā 1. 213. 55; Subhadrā's abduction by Arjuna from Dvārakā referred to (i) in the Anukramaṇīparvan 1. 1. 103; also listed in the contents of the Ādiparvan narrated in the Parvasaṁgrahaparvan 1. 2. 92, (ii) in Vaiśaṁpāyana's summary of the Mahābhārata events 1. 55. 32-34, and (iii) in the Saṁbhavaparvan of the Ādiparvan 1. 90. 85;

(12) After asking Maya to build a sabhā for the Pāṇḍavas, Kṛṣṇa left for Dvārakā 2. 2. 23;

(13) Yudhiṣṭhira sent a messenger to Dvārakā to invite Kṛṣṇa, living in Dvārakā, for consuitations regarding the Rājasūya 2. 12. 29; at the end of the Rājasūya, Yudhiṣṭhira consented to Kṛṣṇa's return to Dvāravatī; accordingly Kṛṣṇa reached Dvāravatī 2. 42. 49, 55, 60;

(14) The sons of Draupadī, during the period of exile of the Pāṇḍavas, went to Vṛṣṇipura situated in the Ānarta country 3. 180. 25; later, Satyabhāmā informed Draupadī that her sons were all well and happy at Dvāravatī 3. 224. 11;

(15) Before going to the Virāṭanagara for the ajñātavāsa, Yudhiṣṭhira sent away Indrasena and others, with their chariots, to Dvāravatī 4. 4. 3; the spies, who were sent by Duryodhana in search of the Pāṇḍavas, told him that the charioteers of the Pāṇḍavas had reached Dvāravatī but neither the Pāṇḍavas nor Kṛṣṇā was to be found in Dvāravatī 4. 24. 15-16;

(11) After the marriage of Abhimanyu, Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and others, permitted by Virāṭa, went to Dvārakā; after Kṛṣṇa's departure to Dvārakā, Yudhiṣṭhira started making all kinds of preparations for the war (cakruḥ sāṅgrāmikaṁ sarvam) 5. 5. 11-12; 5. 7. 1 (Dvāravatī);

(12) When Duryodhana knew through his messengers and spies that Kṛṣṇa had returned to Dvārakā, he started to go there to seek Kṛṣṇa's help in war; that very day Arjuna too arrived in Ānartanagarī; both of them, after reaching Dvārakā, saw Kṛṣṇa sleeping 5. 7. 3 (ānartanagarīṁ ramyāṁ jagāmāśu dhanaṁjayaḥ) 5. 7. 4, 5;

(13) When Balarāma started for his pilgrimage he, on his way, asked his servants to bring from Dvārakā all the materials and utensils required for the pilgrimage, as also the sacred fires and priests (saṁbhārāṁs tīrthayātrāyāṁ sarvopakaraṇāni ca/ānayadhvaṁ dvārakāyā agnīn vai yājakāṁs tathā) 9. 34. 15; when Balarāma chose to go to the battlefield to watch the duel between Bhīma and Duryodhana, he sent away his co-pilgrims and attendants to Dvārakā 9. 53. 32; at the end of the duel, Balarāma, expressing his disapproval of the way Bhīma brought about the downfall of Duryodhana, left for Dvārakā 9. 59. 26; when he left for Dvāravatī, the Pāñcālas and the Pāṇḍavas, did not feel very happy 9. 59. 27;

(14) When the sacrificial horse for the Aśvamedha of Yudhiṣṭhira reached Dvāravatī, king Ugrasena came out of the town to honour Arjuna who accompanied the horse 14. 84. 13-15; when Yudhiṣṭhira asked Kṛṣṇa to give some news about Arjuna (who was accompanying the horse), Kṛṣṇa told him that a confidential attendant who lived in Dvārakā (dvārakāvāsī mamāptaḥ puruṣaḥ) had seen him (Arjuna) who, fighting many battles, was emaciated (bahusaṁgrāmakarśitam) 14. 88. 9;

(15) After the war, Kṛṣṇa informed Arjuna his intention to return to Dvāravatī to meet his father, Baladeva and others, if permitted by Yudhiṣṭhira, but not otherwise; hence he wanted Yudhiṣṭhira to be informed by Arjuna about his wish to go to Dvārakā 14. 15. 20-21, 26, 31; before Kṛṣṇa's return to Dvārakā, Arjuna wanted Kṛṣṇa to tell him once again what he taught him before in the Gītā 14. 16. 6-7; Arjuna approved Kṛṣṇa's wish to return to Dvārakā; so he suggested that they should go to Hāstinapura to seek Yudhiṣṭhira's permission for Kṛṣṇa's return to Dvārakā 14. 50. 51; 14. 51. 23; Arjuna sought Yudhiṣṭhira's permission for Kṛṣṇa's return to Ānartanagarī 14. 51. 40-41; Yudhiṣṭhira gave Kṛṣṇa his permission to return to Dvāravatī to see his father 14. 51. 42; Arjuna and others embraced Kṛṣṇa when he left Hāstinapura to go to Dvārakā 14. 52. 1;

(16) Yudhiṣṭhira was grieved to think of what Subhadrā, who was then in Dvārakā (dvārakāvāsinī), would say to Kṛṣṇa when he returned to Dvārakā (since her son was killed in war) 12. 1. 16;

(17) Aśvatthāman once went to Dvārakā where he stayed for some time honoured by the Vṛṣṇis; he wanted to exchange his Brahmaśiras missile for the Sudarśana of Kṛṣṇa; while he was in Dvāravatī (vasan dvāravatīm anu), one day he approached Kṛṣṇa who was sitting alone on seashore; Kṛṣṇa informed Aśvatthāman that none of the Vṛṣṇi and the Andhaka heroes who lived in Dvārakā had ever asked him to part with his Sudarśana 10. 12. 11-12, 15, 31-33;

(18) The Yādavas, headed by Sāraṇa, once saw Viśvāmitra, Kaṇva, Nārada and other sages who were on a visit to Dvārakā 16. 2. 4; by the proclamation of a royal decree Āhuka prohibited fermentation of spirituous liquor in all the houses of Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas living in the town (Dvārakā) (adyaprabhṛti sarveṣu vṛṣṇyandhakagṛheṣviha/surāsavo na kartavyaḥ sarvair nagaravāsibhiḥ) 16. 2. 17-18; one of the bad omens that occurred for the citizens of Dvārakā was that a laughing black woman with white teeth entered the houses at night, stole the marriage threads of women while they were asleep, and ran through the streets of Dvārakā (kālī strī pāṇḍurair dantaiḥ praviśya hasatī niśi/striyaḥ svapneṣu muṣṇantī dvārakāṁ paridhāvati) 16. 4. 1 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 16. 3. 1: muṣṇantī strīṇām maṅgalasūtrādikaṁ corayantī); when the Yādavas were destroyed, Kṛṣṇa entered Dvāravatī and told Vasudeva to guard the women folk and wait for the arrival of Arjuna in Dvāravatī 16. 5. 7; 16. 7. 13; when Arjuna reached Dvārakā with Dāruka the city appeared to him like a woman who had lost her husband (mṛtanāthām iva striyam) 16. 6. 4; Arjuna, after he witenessed the plight of Dvārakā and the women of Kṛṣṇa he wept loudly and fell down on the ground 16. 6. 12.


E. Past events or events not related to the epic narrative:

(1) Kṛṣṇa told Uttaṅka whom he met on his way to Dvārakā that he (Uttaṅka) should think of him (Kṛṣṇa) if he desired something 14. 54. 13; Govinda (Kṛṣṇa) gave boon to Uttaṅka and went to Dvārakā in the company of Sātyaki 14. 58. 2, 3 (Dvāravatī);

(2) Pious king Nṛga, due to a sin unknowingly committed by him (13. 69. 22; 13. 71. 2), had to live as a lizard in a deep well at Dvāravatī 13. 69. 1-4; Kṛṣṇa liberated him when the Yādavas were settling down at Dvāravatī 13. 71. 2-3; 13. 69. 25-29;

(3) Śiva, in the form of Durvāsas, lived for a long time with Kṛṣṇa in his residence at Dvāravatī 13. 145. 35;

(4) Yudhiṣṭhira asked Bhīṣma the kind of gifts which one should give under different nakṣatras (nakṣatrayogasyedānīṁ dānakalpaṁ bravīhi me); Bhīṣma then told him what formerly Nārada, who had arrived at Dvārakā, told Devaki in reply to her question 13. 63. 1-4.


F. Dvārakā as a holy place: Described as holy (puṇyā) 3. 86. 21; Yudhiṣṭhira, while on a pilgrimage, visited Dvārakā (yac cāpi tīrthāni carann agacchaṁ dvārakāṁ prati) 7. 85. 63; a holy place Piṇḍāraka located in Dvāravatī 3. 80. 82.


G. Similes:

(1) The city Dvārakā was well protected and well camouflaged and was furnished with all kinds of weapons as is done for the residence of Indra (surakṣitaṁ suguptaṁ ca sarvāyudhasamanvitam/tat puraṁ bharataśreṣṭha yathendrabhavanaṁ tathā//) 3. 16. 18;

(2) As Indra left for heaven after killing his enemies so did Kṛṣṇa leave for Ānartapurī (when all the Kauravas were killed) 14. 51. 56;

(3) Dvārakā, bereft of Vṛṣṇi heroes, compared with a woman who had lost her husband (dvārakāṁ…mṛtanāthāṁ iva striyam) 16. 6. 4;

(4) In a long drawn metaphor Dvārakā compared to a river: the Vṛṣṇis and the Andhakas were its water, horses its fishes, chariots its boats, the sound of musical instruments and the one produced by chariots its current, residences and holy bathing places its big crocodiles, jewels its thick layer of moss, ramparts made of vajra its garlands, streets its whirlpools, cross-roads its steady, deep pieces of water, Rāma and Kṛṣṇa its big sharks; this river in the form of Dvārakā looked like the terrible Vaitaraṇī river having the noose of Kāla as its shark (tām sa vṛṣṇyandhakajalāṁ hayamīnāṁ rathoḍupām/ vāditrarathaghoṣaughāṁ veśmatīrthamahāgrahām//ratnaśaivalasaṁghāṭāṁ vajraprākāramālinīm/rathyāsrotojalāvartāṁ catvarastimitahradām//rāmakṛṣṇamahāgrāhāṁ dvārakāsaritam tadā/kālapāśagrahāṁ ghorāṁ nadīṁ vaitaraṇīm iva//) 16. 6. 8-10;

(5) Arjuna saw Dvārakā bereft of Vṛṣṇi heroes like a lotus pond in winter which is without its glory and gives no delight (gataśriyaṁ nirānandāṁ padminīṁ śiśire yathā) 16. 6. 11.


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Mahabharata Cultural Index

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

Dvārakā, Dvāravatī  : f.: Name of a city, also called Kuśasthalī (2. 13. 49; 12. 326. 83, 85), Ānartanagarī (5. 7. 4; 14. 51. 41), Ānartanagara (3. 21. 1), Ānartapurī (14. 51. 56), Vṛṣṇipura (3. 21. 4; 3. 180. 25).


A. Location: In the west (pratīcīṁ diśam āśritāḥ) 2. 13. 49; (samāvṛttāḥ paścimāṁ diśam eva te/dadṛśur dvārakāṁ cāpi) 17. 1. 43; in the Anarta country (ānartam evābhimukhāḥ…vṛṣṇipuraṁ praviśya) 3. 180. 25; in the Surāṣṭra country (surāṣṭreṣu …puṇyā dvāravatī tatra) 3. 86. 20-21; near the Raivataka mountain (raīvatenopaśobhitām) 2. 13. 49; 2. 13. 52; 14. 58. 3-4.


B. Description: Holy (puṇyā) 3. 13. 31; pleasing (ramyā) 2. 13. 49; 5. 7. 4; 14. 58. 3; 14. 84. 13; liked by the sages (ṛṣikāntā) 3. 13, 41; offering different kinds of enjoyments (bhogavatī) 3. 13. 31; full of jewels (ratnasaṁpūrṇā) 16. 8. 40; adorned by Raivataka mountain (raivatenopaśobhitām) 2. 13. 49; guarded by Vṛṣṇi heroes (vṛṣṇivīrābhirakṣitā) 14. 84. 13; the place of residence of the Vṛṣṇis (vṛṣṇinilaya) 16. 6. 4; having ramparts and watch towers (prākārāṭṭālakopetā) 16. 7. 17; referred to chiefly as pūrī 1. 212. 9; 1. 213. 55; 2. 13. 49, 65; 2. 42. 49, 55; 3. 16. 2, 4; 3. 21. 9; 5. 7. 3; 12. 326. 83, 84; 14. 15. 21, 26; 14. 51. 42; 14. 58. 3; 14. 84. 15; 16. 5. 7; 16. 7. 13; but also as nagara 3. 16. 12; 3. 21. 8; 16. 2. 17, 18; 16. 8. 10; nagarī 16. 7. 17; and pura 3. 16. 18.


C. Fortification: The Yādavas fortified Dvārakā in such a way that even gods could not reach it and women could defend it (tathaiva durgasaṁskāraṁ devair api durāsadam//striyo 'pi yasyāṁ yudhyeyuḥ kiṁ punar vṛṣṇipuṁgavāḥ) 2. 13. 50-51.


D. Epic events:

(1) The Yādavas fled to the west from Mathurā due to fear of Jarāsandha and repaired to Kuśasthalī; they settled down there and fortified the town; they lived in Kuśasthalī without fear from any quarter (akutobhayāḥ); seeing the mountain (Raivataka) nearby and the Mādhavītīrtha, the Yādavas were highly delighted 2. 13. 49-52, 65; hence the city is referred to as the residence of the Yādavas (yadusadana) 8. 26. 63;

(2) Hearing that Śiśupāla was killed by Kṛṣṇa, Śālva, during the absence of Kṛṣṇa from Dvārakā, attacked the city riding in his Saubha town; he killed young Vṛṣṇi heroes who defended the city and destroyed all gardens (purodyānāni sarvāṇi bhedayām āsa durmatiḥ) 3. 15. 5-7; hearing that Śrautaśrava (Śiśupāla) was killed, Śālva besieged Dvāravatī from all sides; he mounted his Saubha, flying in the sky, and from there attacked the city; the fortification and the defence arrangements of the city were looked after by Gada, Sāmba, Uddhava and others according to the rules laid down in the Śāstras (śāstradṛṣṭena vidhinā saṁyūktā); drinking liquor was forbidden in the town to avoid negligence on the part of citizens (āghoṣitaṁ ca nagare na pātavyā sureti ha/ pramādaṁ parirakṣadbhiḥ) 3. 16. 2-18; Dvārakā was well guarded by king Āhuka by giving largesses (dvārakā bhūridakṣiṇaiḥ/ āhukena suguptā ca rājñā) 3. 16. 23; Śālva attacked Dvārakā with the speed of the king of birds (abhisārayām āsa tadā vegena patagendravat) 3. 17. 7; all the people in Dvārakā were bewildered when Śālva descended on the earth with his Saubha (saubhasthaṁ pṛthivīgatam) 3. 17. 28; when Śālva was defeated by the Vṛṣṇis led by Pradyumna he left Dvārakā mounting his Saubha 3. 20. 27;

(3) At the end of the Rājasūya Kṛṣṇa wished to return to Dvārakā 2. 42. 46, 52; Yudhiṣṭhira approved of Kṛṣṇa's return to Dvāravatī 2. 42. 49; when Kṛṣṇa returned to Ānartanagara after the Rājasūya of Yudhiṣṭhira at Indraprastha he saw Dvārakā lack-lustre; it was bereft of the sound of Vedic studies and Vedic sacrifices (ānartanagaraṁ muktaṁ tato 'ham agamaṁ tadā/mahākratau rājasūye nivṛtte…// apaśyaṁ dvārakāṁ cāhaṁ mahārāja hatatviṣam/niḥsvādhyāyavaṣaṭkāram); noble women of the town did not put on ornaments; the gardens of Dvārakā were changed beyond recognition (anabhijñeyarūpāṇī dvārakopavanānī ca); Kṛṣṇa found Vṛṣṇipura with its men and women very much ill at ease (asvasthanaranārīkam idaṁ vṛṣṇipuraṁ bhṛśam); the siege of Dvārakā by Śālva and lifting of the siege later by him was reported to Kṛṣṇa; enraged, he asked the Yādava heroes to be watchful in the city (apramādaḥ sadā kāryo nagare yādavarṣabhāḥ) and left for the destruction of Śālva; he vowed not to return to Dvāravatī without killing Śālva (nāhatvā taṁ nivartiṣye purīṁ dvāravatīṁ prati) 3. 21. 1-9; he asked Sātyaki, Baladeva, and Pradyumna to protect Dvārakā and his father Vasudeva 3. 22. 16-17; during the fight with Śālva, a certain resident of Dvārakā (puruṣaḥ kaścid dvārakānilayaḥ), a servant (paricārakaḥ) of Āhuka, met Kṛṣṇa and gave him a false message from Āhuka; according to the message Śālva had attacked Dvārakā and killed the son of Śūrasena (Vasudeva); hence Kṛṣṇa was advised to leave the battle, return to Dvārakā and protect it; that should be Kṛṣṇa's prime concern (dvārakām eva rakṣasva kāryam etan mahat tava) 3. 22. 12-14; Kṛṣṇa then mentally blamed Sātyaki and others who were entrusted with the protection of Dvārakā and of Vasudeva 3. 22. 16-17; (Kṛṣṇa, however, soon realized that he was tricked by Śālva by his māyā and started to fight with him again); he was incited to action by his charioteer who reminded him that Dvārakā was ransacked by Śālva (dvārakā cāvamarditā) 3. 23. 25;

(4) Kṛṣṇa told Yudhiṣṭhira that he was not in Dvārakā when the game of dice was played in Hāstinapura 3. 14. 1; he heard of the dyūta only when he returned to Dvārakā after vanquishing Śālva 3. 14. 15;

(5) After informing Yudhiṣṭhira in the forest about Śālva's attacking Dvārakā and Kṛṣṇa's subsequent battle with him, he comforted Yudhiṣṭhira and returned to Dvārakā 3. 23. 42-45;

(6) Dvārakā was once burnt by Śiśupāla when Kṛṣṇa and others had gone to Prāgjyotiṣapura 2. 42. 7;

(7) Prophecies regarding Dvārakā: (i) Nārāyaṇa told Nārada that at the conjunction of Dvāpara and Kali (dvāparasya kaleś caiva saṁdhau 12. 326. 82) he would be born at Mathurā but would make Kuśasthalī (i. e. Dvārakā) his residence (kuśasthalīṁ kariṣyāmi nivāsaṁ dvārakāṁ purīm) 12. 326. 83-85; while residing in that city he would kill Naraka, Mura and Pīṭha 12. 326. 84; he would also kill the demons and take the wealth of Prāgjyotiṣapura to Kuśasthalī (prāgjyotiṣapuraṁ ramyaṁ nānādhanasamanvitam/kuśasthalīṁ nayiṣyāmi) 12. 326. 85; having lessened the burden of the earth he would bring about the destruction of the Sātvata heroes, his kinsmen and of Dvārakā (kṛtvā bhārāvataraṇaṁ vasudhāyā yathepsitam/sarvasātvatamukhyānāṁ dvārakāyāś ca sattama/kariṣye pralayaṁ ghoram ātmajñātivināśanam//) 12. 326. 92; (ii) prophesied also by Arjuna that Dvārakā, which was made his home by Kṛṣṇa, would be drowned in the sea by him (dvārakām ātmasāt kṛtvā samudraṁ gamayiṣyasi) 3. 13. 31; (iii) Kṛṣṇa too had foretold that when Arjuna would leave Dvārakā taking with him the citizens, the city, together with its ramparts and watchtowers, would be instantly inundated by the sea (imāṁ ca nagarīṁ sadyaḥ pratiyāte dhanaṁjaye/prākārāṭṭālakopetāṁ samudraḥ plāvayiṣyati) 16. 7. 17; 16. 8. 10;

(8) Destruction of Dvārakā: Arjuna advised all people to leave the town at the end of a week and stay outside 16. 8. 12; before leaving Dvārakā, the citizens (dvārakāvāsinaḥ) attended the funeral of Vasudeva 16. 8. 19-23; when all people had left, the city was overrun by the sea (sāgaraḥ…/dvārakāṁ ratnasaṁpūṛṇāṁ jalenāplāvayat tadā//) 16. 8. 40; the people of Dvārakā witnessed the event the like of which had not happened before (adbhutam) 16. 8. 41; the people of Dvārakā who followed Arjuna to Indraprastha were handed over to Vajra 16. 8. 73: the Pāṇḍavas when they started on their great final journey (mahāprasthāna) went, on their way, to the west and saw Dvārakā inundated by the sea (dadṛśur dvārakāṁ cāpi sāgareṇa pariplutām) 17. 1. 43; Arjuna's going to Dvāravatī, bereft of the Vṛṣṇi heroes, and his taking with him the people of Dvāravatī listed in the contents of the Mausalaparvan 1. 2. 223, 226;

(9) After the Pāṇḍavas were established at Indraprastha Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma left for Dvāravatī with the consent of the Pāṇḍavas 1. 199. 50.

(10) During the period of his exile Arjuna went from Raivataka mountain to Dvārakā; the city, even up to the modest houses (?), was decorated to welcome him (alaṁkṛtā dvārakā…api niṣkuṭakeṣv api) 1. 210. 15-16 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 2. 218. 16: niṣkuṭeṣu gṛhārāmeṣv api alaṁkṛtā kim uta rājamārgādiṣu); the people of Dvārakā rushed to the main roads to see Arjuna; women in large numbers rushed to the windows (?) (avalokeṣu nārīṇām sahasrāṇi śatāni ca); there was a great gathering (samavāyo mahān abhūt) of the Bhojas, the Vṛṣṇis and the Andhakas; Arjuna lived (in Dvārakā) in the house of Kṛṣṇa for many nights 1. 210. 17-21; once, while Subhadrā was returning to Dvārakā after worshipping Raivataka mountain she was kidnapped by Arjuna; the helpless soldiers cried aloud and ran towards Dvārakā 1. 212. 7, 9; the incident is referred to in 8. 26. 63;

(11) The Yādavas, returned to Dvāravatī after visiting Indraprastha where they had gone to give gifts to the Pāṇḍavas in connection with the marriage of Subhadrā 1. 213. 55; Subhadrā's abduction by Arjuna from Dvārakā referred to (i) in the Anukramaṇīparvan 1. 1. 103; also listed in the contents of the Ādiparvan narrated in the Parvasaṁgrahaparvan 1. 2. 92, (ii) in Vaiśaṁpāyana's summary of the Mahābhārata events 1. 55. 32-34, and (iii) in the Saṁbhavaparvan of the Ādiparvan 1. 90. 85;

(12) After asking Maya to build a sabhā for the Pāṇḍavas, Kṛṣṇa left for Dvārakā 2. 2. 23;

(13) Yudhiṣṭhira sent a messenger to Dvārakā to invite Kṛṣṇa, living in Dvārakā, for consuitations regarding the Rājasūya 2. 12. 29; at the end of the Rājasūya, Yudhiṣṭhira consented to Kṛṣṇa's return to Dvāravatī; accordingly Kṛṣṇa reached Dvāravatī 2. 42. 49, 55, 60;

(14) The sons of Draupadī, during the period of exile of the Pāṇḍavas, went to Vṛṣṇipura situated in the Ānarta country 3. 180. 25; later, Satyabhāmā informed Draupadī that her sons were all well and happy at Dvāravatī 3. 224. 11;

(15) Before going to the Virāṭanagara for the ajñātavāsa, Yudhiṣṭhira sent away Indrasena and others, with their chariots, to Dvāravatī 4. 4. 3; the spies, who were sent by Duryodhana in search of the Pāṇḍavas, told him that the charioteers of the Pāṇḍavas had reached Dvāravatī but neither the Pāṇḍavas nor Kṛṣṇā was to be found in Dvāravatī 4. 24. 15-16;

(11) After the marriage of Abhimanyu, Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and others, permitted by Virāṭa, went to Dvārakā; after Kṛṣṇa's departure to Dvārakā, Yudhiṣṭhira started making all kinds of preparations for the war (cakruḥ sāṅgrāmikaṁ sarvam) 5. 5. 11-12; 5. 7. 1 (Dvāravatī);

(12) When Duryodhana knew through his messengers and spies that Kṛṣṇa had returned to Dvārakā, he started to go there to seek Kṛṣṇa's help in war; that very day Arjuna too arrived in Ānartanagarī; both of them, after reaching Dvārakā, saw Kṛṣṇa sleeping 5. 7. 3 (ānartanagarīṁ ramyāṁ jagāmāśu dhanaṁjayaḥ) 5. 7. 4, 5;

(13) When Balarāma started for his pilgrimage he, on his way, asked his servants to bring from Dvārakā all the materials and utensils required for the pilgrimage, as also the sacred fires and priests (saṁbhārāṁs tīrthayātrāyāṁ sarvopakaraṇāni ca/ānayadhvaṁ dvārakāyā agnīn vai yājakāṁs tathā) 9. 34. 15; when Balarāma chose to go to the battlefield to watch the duel between Bhīma and Duryodhana, he sent away his co-pilgrims and attendants to Dvārakā 9. 53. 32; at the end of the duel, Balarāma, expressing his disapproval of the way Bhīma brought about the downfall of Duryodhana, left for Dvārakā 9. 59. 26; when he left for Dvāravatī, the Pāñcālas and the Pāṇḍavas, did not feel very happy 9. 59. 27;

(14) When the sacrificial horse for the Aśvamedha of Yudhiṣṭhira reached Dvāravatī, king Ugrasena came out of the town to honour Arjuna who accompanied the horse 14. 84. 13-15; when Yudhiṣṭhira asked Kṛṣṇa to give some news about Arjuna (who was accompanying the horse), Kṛṣṇa told him that a confidential attendant who lived in Dvārakā (dvārakāvāsī mamāptaḥ puruṣaḥ) had seen him (Arjuna) who, fighting many battles, was emaciated (bahusaṁgrāmakarśitam) 14. 88. 9;

(15) After the war, Kṛṣṇa informed Arjuna his intention to return to Dvāravatī to meet his father, Baladeva and others, if permitted by Yudhiṣṭhira, but not otherwise; hence he wanted Yudhiṣṭhira to be informed by Arjuna about his wish to go to Dvārakā 14. 15. 20-21, 26, 31; before Kṛṣṇa's return to Dvārakā, Arjuna wanted Kṛṣṇa to tell him once again what he taught him before in the Gītā 14. 16. 6-7; Arjuna approved Kṛṣṇa's wish to return to Dvārakā; so he suggested that they should go to Hāstinapura to seek Yudhiṣṭhira's permission for Kṛṣṇa's return to Dvārakā 14. 50. 51; 14. 51. 23; Arjuna sought Yudhiṣṭhira's permission for Kṛṣṇa's return to Ānartanagarī 14. 51. 40-41; Yudhiṣṭhira gave Kṛṣṇa his permission to return to Dvāravatī to see his father 14. 51. 42; Arjuna and others embraced Kṛṣṇa when he left Hāstinapura to go to Dvārakā 14. 52. 1;

(16) Yudhiṣṭhira was grieved to think of what Subhadrā, who was then in Dvārakā (dvārakāvāsinī), would say to Kṛṣṇa when he returned to Dvārakā (since her son was killed in war) 12. 1. 16;

(17) Aśvatthāman once went to Dvārakā where he stayed for some time honoured by the Vṛṣṇis; he wanted to exchange his Brahmaśiras missile for the Sudarśana of Kṛṣṇa; while he was in Dvāravatī (vasan dvāravatīm anu), one day he approached Kṛṣṇa who was sitting alone on seashore; Kṛṣṇa informed Aśvatthāman that none of the Vṛṣṇi and the Andhaka heroes who lived in Dvārakā had ever asked him to part with his Sudarśana 10. 12. 11-12, 15, 31-33;

(18) The Yādavas, headed by Sāraṇa, once saw Viśvāmitra, Kaṇva, Nārada and other sages who were on a visit to Dvārakā 16. 2. 4; by the proclamation of a royal decree Āhuka prohibited fermentation of spirituous liquor in all the houses of Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas living in the town (Dvārakā) (adyaprabhṛti sarveṣu vṛṣṇyandhakagṛheṣviha/surāsavo na kartavyaḥ sarvair nagaravāsibhiḥ) 16. 2. 17-18; one of the bad omens that occurred for the citizens of Dvārakā was that a laughing black woman with white teeth entered the houses at night, stole the marriage threads of women while they were asleep, and ran through the streets of Dvārakā (kālī strī pāṇḍurair dantaiḥ praviśya hasatī niśi/striyaḥ svapneṣu muṣṇantī dvārakāṁ paridhāvati) 16. 4. 1 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 16. 3. 1: muṣṇantī strīṇām maṅgalasūtrādikaṁ corayantī); when the Yādavas were destroyed, Kṛṣṇa entered Dvāravatī and told Vasudeva to guard the women folk and wait for the arrival of Arjuna in Dvāravatī 16. 5. 7; 16. 7. 13; when Arjuna reached Dvārakā with Dāruka the city appeared to him like a woman who had lost her husband (mṛtanāthām iva striyam) 16. 6. 4; Arjuna, after he witenessed the plight of Dvārakā and the women of Kṛṣṇa he wept loudly and fell down on the ground 16. 6. 12.


E. Past events or events not related to the epic narrative:

(1) Kṛṣṇa told Uttaṅka whom he met on his way to Dvārakā that he (Uttaṅka) should think of him (Kṛṣṇa) if he desired something 14. 54. 13; Govinda (Kṛṣṇa) gave boon to Uttaṅka and went to Dvārakā in the company of Sātyaki 14. 58. 2, 3 (Dvāravatī);

(2) Pious king Nṛga, due to a sin unknowingly committed by him (13. 69. 22; 13. 71. 2), had to live as a lizard in a deep well at Dvāravatī 13. 69. 1-4; Kṛṣṇa liberated him when the Yādavas were settling down at Dvāravatī 13. 71. 2-3; 13. 69. 25-29;

(3) Śiva, in the form of Durvāsas, lived for a long time with Kṛṣṇa in his residence at Dvāravatī 13. 145. 35;

(4) Yudhiṣṭhira asked Bhīṣma the kind of gifts which one should give under different nakṣatras (nakṣatrayogasyedānīṁ dānakalpaṁ bravīhi me); Bhīṣma then told him what formerly Nārada, who had arrived at Dvārakā, told Devaki in reply to her question 13. 63. 1-4.


F. Dvārakā as a holy place: Described as holy (puṇyā) 3. 86. 21; Yudhiṣṭhira, while on a pilgrimage, visited Dvārakā (yac cāpi tīrthāni carann agacchaṁ dvārakāṁ prati) 7. 85. 63; a holy place Piṇḍāraka located in Dvāravatī 3. 80. 82.


G. Similes:

(1) The city Dvārakā was well protected and well camouflaged and was furnished with all kinds of weapons as is done for the residence of Indra (surakṣitaṁ suguptaṁ ca sarvāyudhasamanvitam/tat puraṁ bharataśreṣṭha yathendrabhavanaṁ tathā//) 3. 16. 18;

(2) As Indra left for heaven after killing his enemies so did Kṛṣṇa leave for Ānartapurī (when all the Kauravas were killed) 14. 51. 56;

(3) Dvārakā, bereft of Vṛṣṇi heroes, compared with a woman who had lost her husband (dvārakāṁ…mṛtanāthāṁ iva striyam) 16. 6. 4;

(4) In a long drawn metaphor Dvārakā compared to a river: the Vṛṣṇis and the Andhakas were its water, horses its fishes, chariots its boats, the sound of musical instruments and the one produced by chariots its current, residences and holy bathing places its big crocodiles, jewels its thick layer of moss, ramparts made of vajra its garlands, streets its whirlpools, cross-roads its steady, deep pieces of water, Rāma and Kṛṣṇa its big sharks; this river in the form of Dvārakā looked like the terrible Vaitaraṇī river having the noose of Kāla as its shark (tām sa vṛṣṇyandhakajalāṁ hayamīnāṁ rathoḍupām/ vāditrarathaghoṣaughāṁ veśmatīrthamahāgrahām//ratnaśaivalasaṁghāṭāṁ vajraprākāramālinīm/rathyāsrotojalāvartāṁ catvarastimitahradām//rāmakṛṣṇamahāgrāhāṁ dvārakāsaritam tadā/kālapāśagrahāṁ ghorāṁ nadīṁ vaitaraṇīm iva//) 16. 6. 8-10;

(5) Arjuna saw Dvārakā bereft of Vṛṣṇi heroes like a lotus pond in winter which is without its glory and gives no delight (gataśriyaṁ nirānandāṁ padminīṁ śiśire yathā) 16. 6. 11.


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