Bhagavatham Stories

When Lord Krishna finally approached the outskirts of His beloved city of Dwaraka after His long journey from Hastinapura, word of His arrival spread through the city like wildfire. The residents of Dwaraka - the warriors, merchants, brahmanas, women, children, and all manner of people - had not seen their beloved Lord for several months. During His absence, they had missed His presence deeply, their hearts yearning for the moment when they could see His beautiful face again. Now, as news of His imminent arrival traveled through the streets and marketplaces, the city erupted in celebration. People abandoned their regular work and business, their shops and homes, to welcome the Lord who was the very life and soul of their city.

Dwaraka itself was the most magnificent and opulent capital city in the entire world - a glorious island city designed and built by Vishvakarma, the celestial architect of the gods, according to Krishna's desires. The city's architecture was breathtaking: palaces made of the most valuable jewels, walls constructed of solid gold and silver, towers reaching toward the sky, gardens filled with trees that bore fruit year-round and flowers that blossomed eternally. The streets were wide and spacious, with beautiful archways, fountains, and public monuments. Every element of the city was designed to inspire awe and wonder, yet it was never ostentatious or frivolous - every detail expressed both supreme beauty and perfect functionality.

Now, as Krishna's arrival was imminent, the entire city transformed itself into a festival celebrating His return. The residents decorated every street, building, and plaza with flags and festoons made of colored silk and precious materials. Beautiful archways of flowers were constructed at regular intervals along the roads. The streets were sprinkled with fragrant water infused with sandalwood and rose water, and flower petals were scattered everywhere, creating a carpet of colors. Priests and brahmanas chanted Vedic mantras to sanctify the environment and invoke blessings on Krishna's arrival. Musicians and singers dressed in festival attire played on their instruments and sang auspicious songs describing Krishna's qualities and pastimes. The joyous sounds of celebration filled the entire city - the ringing of bells, the blowing of conches, the beating of drums, all creating a symphony welcoming the Lord.

Among all the residents preparing to welcome Krishna, His parents Vasudeva and Devaki held a special place in their hearts. These were Krishna's birth parents - the couple who had endured tremendous suffering to bring Him into this world. Devaki had been imprisoned by her brother Kamsa, a demon-king, who had tried countless times to kill Krishna in her womb. Vasudeva had faced unimaginable dangers protecting his wife and child. Now, seeing their beloved son, who had grown from an adorable child in Vrindavan to a powerful young man, was the fulfillment of their hearts' deepest desire. Along with Vasudeva and Devaki came Krishna's sixteen thousand one hundred and eight wives, headed by Rukmini, the princess whom Krishna had personally chosen as His primary consort. Each of these queens had been longing for Krishna's return, and the intensity of their love and longing was so overwhelming that they could not remain patient or composed.

The description of Krishna's wives and the unique nature of His relationship with them reveals an essential aspect of Krishna's transcendental nature. Krishna expanded Himself into separate individual forms - not as an incarnation or delegation of power, but as expansions of His complete personality - simultaneously manifesting in each of His palaces and engaging in different loving exchanges with each of His wives according to her particular nature and preferences. While to material consciousness this seems impossible and contradictory, it reveals that Krishna transcends all material limitations. He is not constrained by the laws of physics or the limitations that bind material beings. He is not distributed or divided among His expansions but remains completely whole and undivided. In each palace, in each relationship with each wife, Krishna is completely present, completely engaged, completely attentive - yet simultaneously engaging in all other activities. This cannot be understood through material logic but can be realized through faith in Krishna's transcendental nature.

When the moment finally arrived and Krishna appeared before His parents and His wives, the joy that erupted was so pure, so overwhelmingly beautiful, that it would be impossible to adequately describe in words. Devaki's heart leaped with a mother's love seeing her son; Vasudeva's face glowed with a father's pride. The queens, unable to restrain themselves, saw their beloved Lord standing before them - the one they had been thinking of constantly - and their joy transcended all material measurement. Some approached Krishna and embraced Him mentally in their consciousness, and in that spiritual embrace, all the agony of separation that they had accumulated was instantly dissolved and relieved, as if they had drunk the nectar of immortality. They became so absorbed in seeing Krishna's beautiful form - His dark complexion like rain clouds, His eyes expressing infinite compassion, His smile that could captivate the hearts of all beings in the universe - that they forgot even the existence of their own material bodies.

After receiving the welcoming ceremonies and honoring from His parents and elders, Krishna underwent the traditional bathing rituals and religious observances prescribed for a great personality's homecoming. He then spent time with each member of His household, engaging with them according to their individual relationships with Him. He satisfied His parents with words of filial affection and honor; He delighted His queens through sweet conversation and loving interactions; He blessed His subjects through His presence and addressed various administrative matters to ensure the smooth functioning of the kingdom. He then proceeded to His different palaces where, through His expansions, He enjoyed transcendental pastimes with each group of His wives. These domestic pastimes, though appearing similar to the activities of ordinary married people, were completely spiritual and not touched by material desires or limitations. When the Supreme Lord engages in any activity, it becomes transcendental and spiritually transforming, no matter how it appears externally. This chapter reveals that for a devotee, even ordinary activities become sacred when engaged in the service of or in the presence of the Lord, and that Krishna's presence sanctifies everything it touches.