Vaishampāyana said:—When having entered the inner appartment of the Bhoja king along with Vinatā's son, the highly powerful Krishna and Baladeva held parley, the former said:—"O Vinatā's son, the king Jarāsandha is unslayable by us. It has been so ordained. Incomparable is his might and he is encircled by a huge army and highly powerful kings. The army of the Magadha king consists of many soldiers and so we shall not be able to consume it even within hundred years. Therefore I tell you, O king of birds, that it never bodes good for us to live in this city of Mathura. Even it is my desire (97-100)".
Garuda said:—O god of gods, having saluted thee I took leave and went to Kusathali for finding out a worthy habitation for thee (101), O foremost of gods, having gone there and been stationed in the welkin I reconnoitered all over that city endued with all auspicious marks (102). That city is situate in an extensive watery province of the ocean. It has the ocean on the east and is therefore always cool. It is surrounded on all sides by the ocean, a mine of every sort of jem, spread with trees conferring wished-for objects, covered on all sides with flowers of all seasons and therefore highly charming; it is the abode of all forms of Ashramas, satisfies every sort of desire, is filled with men and women, is always full of merriment, is encircled by ditches and walls, is embellished with palaces and gates, variegated courtyards and roads, has huge doors and gates, and various bolts and other contrivances, is adorned with a golden wall, is filled with car-warriors, cavalry and infantry, and with trees of various countries covered with celestial flowers and fruits, is adorned with flags and pennons, contains big palaces, strikes terror to the enemies, enhances the joy of the friends and is isolated from other cities presided over by kings (103-109). O god, there is that best of mountains Raivata resembling the garden of Nandana. Do thou make it an ornament of thy gate (110). O foremost of gods, that city will also be liked by thy sons. Do thou go and live there (111). Like unto Indra's capital Amarāvati thy city will be celebrated in the three worlds under the name of Dwāravati (112). O god, if the great ocean gives there room covered with water the celestial Architect will make works of art after his own heart (113). O god, out of lustrous jewels, pearls, corals, diamonds, sapphires and other jems produced in the three worlds, do thou have many white palaces built there like unto the assembly hall of the celestials, consisting of hundred heavenly pillars, adorned with all sorts of jewels made of gold, decorated with celestial flags and pennons, guarded by gods and Kinnaras and lighted by the sun and the moon (114-116).
Vaishampāyana said:—Having said this to Keshava and saluted them both Vinatā's son took his seat (117). Meditating on the words uttered by him conducive to their well-being, and in order to give a proof of his appreciation Krishna, with Rama, honored Garuda with presents of most excellent and precious dresses and dismissed him. And then they enjoyed there like two immortals in the city of the celestials (118-119). When in time the highly illustrious Bhoja king heard of what Garuda had said he affectionately addressed to Keshava the following nectarine words (120).
He said:—O Krishna, O enhancer of the delight of the Yādavas, O thou of large arms, O slayer of thy enemies, listen to what I say. O my son, without thee, like unto a woman separated from her husband we shall not be able to live happily either in this city of Mathurā or in any other kingdom. O conferror of honor, even if Indra comes to the help of all the kings, still we, under the protection of thy arms, do not fear them. O foremost of Yadus, we shall proceed for accomplishing conquests (121-124).
Hearing Ugrasena's words Devaki's son smilingly said: "O king, I am ready to do whatever you wish. There is not the least doubt in it" (125).
CHAPTER CXIII. KRISHNA'S PROPOSAL TO GO TO DWARAKA.
Vaishampayana said:—Once on a time the lotus-eyed Krishna addressed the following reasonable words to the Yadus in their assembly:—"This Mathurā city is the abode of the Yadus: we too were born here and brought up in Vraja. However all our griefs have disappeared and the enemies have been defeated. Now our hostilities with the kings and battle with Jarāsandea have commenced (1-3). The number of our infantry and animals is endless. And we have enough of jewels and friends (4). Although through our friends and soldiers we have attained to the consummation of prosperity still the city of Mathurā is very limited and the enemies can easily enter it (5). Beside if one Koti of princes and infantry live here jointly there is every possibility of a dissension cropping up amongst them (6). Therefore, O ye leading Yadus, methinks it is better that we should live elsewhere. If you like it, we will lay out a city elsewhere (7). If you approve of what I have said before this assemblage of the Yadus for your well-being and in pursuance of the proper time I shall carry it out (8)." Hearing it all the Yādavas delightedly said:—"O Krishna, do what thou deemst proper for the behoof of all these people" (9).
Thereupon the Vrishnis began to hold consultations regarding this most excellent proposal:—"Our enemy the king Jarāsandha has been destined as unslayable by us. And his power is also very great (10). True it is that many armies of the kings have been slain in this city of Mathurā. But so great is the number of his soldiers that we shall not be able to bring about their destruction even in hundred years" (11). At that time O king, the emperor Jarāsandha, along with Kālayavana was proceeding towards Mathurā with his army (12). Having heard of the approach of Jarāsandha and Kālayavana with that highly irrepressible huge army the Yadavas thought of retreating as mentioned before (13). The truthful Krishna again said to the Yadavas:—"To day is an auspicious day. So we shall, even this very day, issue out of Mathura along with our army and followers (14)".
Having obtained this command from Krishna, the Yadavas, headed by Vasudeva, along with their wives, cars and elephants, set out, echoing the four quarters with the noise of their soldiers resembling that of the waves of the ocean (15-16). Leaving Mathurā the Yadavas went on with their wealth, kinsmen, friends, golden chariots, infuriated elephants and trotting horses decorated with gold (17-18). O foremost of Bharatas, having adorned their respective detachments of the army and moved it on the Yādadas set out for the west (19). Stationed in front, Vasudeva and other leaving Yadavas, ever adorning a battle-field, guided the army (20). Having thus wended a very long distance the leading Yādus reached the bank of the ocean. It was variegated with creepers, abounded in coconut trees and beautiful elephants, was covered with Ketaki trees, palmyras, Pannages and vines (21–24). Having secured such a picturesque site the Yadavas were highly delighted as if they had arrived at the celestial region (23). Searching for a site where he would lay out a city Krishna, the slayer of inimical heroes, saw an extensive tract of land situated on the bank of the ocean (24). The land had a coppery soil mixed with gravels, was well-suited for animals of burden, was endued with all the favourable marks of a city, as if it was presided over by the Goddess of prosperity herself. It was fanned by the sea breeze and was watered by the ocean. Near it was shining in beauty the charming mountain Raivata like the mount Mandara. On that mountain containing all the jems and resorted to by many great men Drona lived for many long years. There lived the king Ekalavya. And the sporting ground laid out by himself like a board of dice is celebrated by the name of Dwāravati (25-29). Keshava selected that site for his city and the Yādavas also wanted to encamp their soldiers there. Thereupon the Yadu commanders pitched tents there for the night (30–31).
With a view to lay out his city there the Lord Krishna, the foremost of Yadus, lived there with them shorn of anxiety. And that foremost of men, the leader of the Yādavas, having Gada as his elder brother, thought in his mind of the names he would give to the various houses in that city (32-32).