Friday, 18 April 2025

IN THE COMPANY OF KRISHNA- 16. PARASURAMA

 


Krishna and his brother Balabhadra once met Parasurama while traveling. At that time, the Yadava kingdom was running low on money because of constant wars with Jarasandha. To get more wealth, Krishna and Balabhadra went to Mount Gomantaka, a place full of precious gems. On the way, they saw Parasurama meditating under a peepal tree.

Parasurama told them about a nearby kingdom called Karavira, ruled by a king named Srgalavasudeva. He advised them to defeat the king and collect wealth from there. Krishna and Balabhadra followed his advice, defeated the king, and took the money and gems.

At Pravarsanagiri, Garuda returned Krishna’s crown, which had earlier been stolen by the demon Banasura. After that, they both returned to Mathura. But since they had killed Srgalavasudeva, Jarasandha attacked Mathura again—for the 18th time. Even though he kept losing, these battles had weakened the Yadavas.

So Krishna decided to leave Mathura for good. One reason was that Jarasandha was related to Kamsa, Krishna’s enemy. Also, Jarasandha wanted to rule Mathura. To protect his people, Krishna moved the Yadavas to a new city, Dvaraka, built on an island by the divine architect Visvakarma. There they lived safely by the western sea.

Sources:

1. Bhagavata Purana (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam) – Canto 10, Chapter 50

This chapter narrates Jarasandha's repeated attacks on Mathura and Krishna's decision to relocate the Yadavas to Dvaraka.​

तस्मात् दुर्गं समुद्रान्ते कर्तव्यं नो नरैर् अपि । दुर्गं तत्र निवास्यैषां हनिष्यामो यवनाधिपम् Verse 10.50.48
"Therefore, we should construct a fortress at the edge of the sea that no human can penetrate. We will settle our people there and then kill the Yavana king."​

एवं संकल्प्य भगवान् बलदेवेन सम्युतः । दुर्गं समुद्रान्ते चकार द्वादश योजनम् Verse 10.50.49     "Having thus decided, the Supreme Lord, along with Balarama, constructed a fortress at the edge of the sea, twelve yojanas in circumference."​Sacred Texts+7VedaBase+7VedaBase+7

तस्मिन दुर्गे पुरं रम्यं सर्वसंपत्समाकुलम् । निर्मापयद् विश्वकर्मा तत्र तत्रोपबृंहितम् Verse 10.50.50 "Within that fortress, the divine architect Vishvakarma built a beautiful city, filled with all opulences and enhanced in various ways."​

2. Vishnu Purana – Book 5, Chapter 23

This chapter describes Krishna's strategic decision to relocate the Yadavas to Dvaraka to avoid further conflicts.

श्रीभगवानुवाच -"मथुरायां पुनः पुनः जरासन्धेन पीड्यमानान् यदून् रक्षायै समुद्रान्ते दुर्गं कर्तव्यम्।"

ततः विश्वकर्मणा समुद्रस्य मध्ये द्वारका नाम पुरी निर्मिता। सा पुरी सर्वसंपन्ना, सुविभक्तमार्गचत्वरा, सुवर्णभित्तिप्राकारयुक्ता, रत्नविचित्रगृहशालिनी च।

The Supreme Lord said:

"As the Yadavas are repeatedly harassed by Jarasandha in Mathura, a fortress should be constructed at the edge of the sea for their protection."

Then, by the divine architect Vishvakarma, a city named Dvaraka was built in the midst of the sea. That city was endowed with all opulences, had well-laid-out roads and squares, walls adorned with gold, and houses decorated with various jewels.​

3. Harivamsa – Chapter 39 (Khila Parva)

This chapter details Krishna and Balabhadra's encounter with Parasurama during their journey to Mount Gomanta. Parasurama advises Krishna to confront Jarasandha on Mount Gomanta, predicting that the terrain will give Krishna a strategic advantage.

तत्रैव तं परशुरामं तपसा तप्यमानं दृष्ट्वा तं प्रणम्य जगतां नाथं जगन्नाथः सह बलभद्रः।Verse 67:

तु ताभ्यां समागम्य परशुरामो महातपाः। उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं धर्मज्ञः सत्यविक्रमः॥Verse 68:

अस्ति पर्वतपृष्ठे तु रत्नानां निचयो महान्। गिरिगोमन्तकः ख्यातो यत्र रत्नानि सन्ति च॥Verse 69:

तस्य पादे स्थितं राज्यं करवीरं महाबलम्। श्रृगालवसुदेवस्य तं निहत्य धनं हरेत्॥Verse 70:

तं हत्वा रत्नसञ्चयं गृहीत्वा धनं बहु। प्रवर्षणगिरिं गत्वा तत्र कुर्याथ तपः शुभम्॥​Verse 71:

These verses capture the guidance provided by Parasurama to Krishna and Balabhadra, directing them towards Mount Gomanta and advising them on acquiring wealth to support the Yadava clan.

 

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