Devanagari
राजधानी तत: साभूत्सर्वयादवभूभुजाम्
मथुरा भगवान् यत्र नित्यं सन्निहितो हरि: ॥ २८ ॥
Verse text
rājadhānī tataḥ sābhūt
sarva-yādava-bhūbhujām
mathurā bhagavān yatra
nityaṁ sannihito hariḥ
Synonyms
rājadhānī
—
the capital
;
tataḥ
—
from that time
;
sā
—
the country and the city known as Mathurā
;
abhūt
—
became
;
sarva
—
yādava — bhūbhujām — of all the kings who appeared in the Yadu dynasty
;
mathurā
—
the place known as Mathurā
;
bhagavān
—
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
;
yatra
—
wherein
;
nityam
—
eternally
;
sannihitaḥ
—
intimately connected, living eternally
;
hariḥ
—
the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead .
Translation
Since that time, the city of Mathurā had been the capital of all the kings of the Yadu dynasty. The city and district of Mathurā are very intimately connected with Kṛṣṇa, for Lord Kṛṣṇa lives there eternally.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Since that time, the city of Mathurā had been the capital of all the kings of the Yadu dynasty. The city and district of Mathurā are very intimately connected with Kṛṣṇa, for Lord Kṛṣṇa lives there eternally.
KB 10.1.28
On account of the rule of King Śūrasena, Mathurā became the capital city of all the kings of the Yadus. Mathurā was also made the capital of the kings of the Yadu dynasty because the Yadus were a very pious family and knew that Mathurā is the place where Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa lives eternally, just as He also lives in Dvārakā.
Purport
It is understood that Mathurā City is the transcendental abode of Lord Kṛṣṇa; it is not an ordinary material city, for it is eternally connected with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vṛndāvana is within the jurisdiction of Mathurā, and it still continues to exist. Because Mathurā and Vṛndāvana are intimately connected with Kṛṣṇa eternally, it is said that Lord Kṛṣṇa never leaves Vṛndāvana (
vṛndāvanaṁ parityajya padam ekaṁ na gacchati
). At present, the place known as Vṛndāvana, in the district of Mathurā, continues its position as a transcendental place, and certainly anyone who goes there becomes transcendentally purified. Navadvīpa-dhāma is also intimately connected with Vrajabhūmi. Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura therefore says:
śrī gauḍa-maṇḍala-bhūmi, yebā jāne cintāmaṇi,
tāra haya vrajabhūme vāsa
“Vrajabhūmi” refers to Mathurā-Vṛndāvana, and Gauḍa-maṇḍala-bhūmi includes Navadvīpa. These two places are nondifferent. Therefore, anyone living in Navadvīpa-dhāma, knowing Kṛṣṇa and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to be the same personality, lives in Vrajabhūmi, Mathurā-Vṛndāvana. The Lord has made it convenient for the conditioned soul to live in Mathurā, Vṛndāvana and Navadvīpa and thus be directly connected with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Simply by living in these places, one can immediately come in contact with the Lord. There are many devotees who vow never to leave Vṛndāvana and Mathurā. This is undoubtedly a good vow, but if one leaves Vṛndāvana, Mathurā or Navadvīpa-dhāma for the service of the Lord, he is not disconnected from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. At any rate, we must understand the transcendental importance of Mathurā-Vṛndāvana and Navadvīpa-dhāma. Anyone who executes devotional service in these places certainly goes back home, back to Godhead, after giving up his body. Thus the words
mathurā bhagavān yatra nityaṁ sannihito hariḥ
are particularly important. A devotee should fully utilize this instruction to the best of his ability. Whenever the Supreme Lord personally appears, He appears in Mathurā because of His intimate connection with this place. Therefore although Mathurā and Vṛndāvana are situated on this planet earth, they are transcendental abodes of the Lord.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
From that time (tataḥ), Mathurā (sā), most famous and with indescribable glories, was the capital of the Yadu kings. In spite of the curse on Yayāti, by excellent governing with the great power of a person like Śūrasena, they stayed there as kings. But not only was it their capital. Svayam Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa endowed with all powers, who attracts all by his extraordinarily sweet form, qualities and pastimes, remains in that vicinity eternally because Mathurā agitates even Kṛṣṇa’s mind. Since he resides there eternally it is false to say that he disappears and goes elsewhere by the force of time. This means that Mathurā also is eternal. In Padma Purāṇa, Nirvāṇa-khaṇḍa the Lord says:
aho na jānanti narā durāśayāḥ purīṁ madīyāṁ paramāṁ sanātanīm
surendranāgendra-munīndra-saṁstutaṁ manorāṁ tāṁ mathurāṁ parākṛtim
Unfortunate people do not know my supreme eternal city, attractive Mathurā, with a spiritual form, praised by the best of the devatās, nāgas and sages.
tāsāṁ madhye sākṣād brahma gopāla-purī hi
In the center of those is the city of Kṛṣṇa, fully spiritual. Gopāla Tāpanī Upaniṣad
prāpya mathurāṁ purīṁ ramyāṁ sadā brahmādi-sevitām
śaṅkha-cakra-gadāśārṅga-rakisītāṁ muṣalādibhiḥ
yatrāsau saṁsthitaḥ kṛṣṇas tribhiḥ śaktyā samāhitaḥ
rāmāniruddha-pradyumnai rukmiṇyā sahito vibhuḥ
He went to Mathurā served by Brahmā and others and protected by the conch, cakra, club, bow and pestle. There the almighty Kṛṣṇa, endowed with his full potency, resided in the company of his three plenary expansions—Balarāma, Aniruddha and Pradyumna and Rukmiṇī. Gopala-tāpanī Upaniṣad
The three śaktis are Balarāma, Aniruddha and Pradyumna. Rukmiṇī is also included. This is more attractive than Vaikuṇṭha. Padma Purāṇa says aho madhupurī dhanyā vaikuṇṭhāt ca garīyasī: fortunate Mathurā is greater than Vaikuṇṭha. Because they are all the abodes of Kṛṣṇa Goloka and his other abodes are all one.