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Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 10.1.28
SYNONYMS
rajadhani -- the capital; tatah -- from that time; sa -- the country and the city known as Mathura; abhut -- became; sarva-yadava-bhubhujam -- of all the kings who appeared in the Yadu dynasty; mathura -- the place known as Mathura; bhagavan -- the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yatra -- wherein; nityam -- eternally; sannihitah -- intimately connected, living eternally; harih -- the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
Since that time, the city of Mathura had been the capital of all the kings of the Yadu dynasty. The city and district of Mathura are very intimately connected with Krishna, for Lord Krishna lives there eternally.
PURPORT
It is understood that Mathura City is the transcendental abode of Lord Krishna; it is not an ordinary material city, for it is eternally connected with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vrindavana is within the jurisdiction of Mathura, and it still continues to exist. Because Mathura and Vrindavana are intimately connected with Krishna eternally, it is said that Lord Krishna never leaves Vrindavana (vrindavanam parityajya padam ekam na gacchati). At present, the place known as Vrindavana, in the district of Mathura, continues its position as a transcendental place, and certainly anyone who goes there becomes transcendentally purified. Navadvipa-dhama is also intimately connected with Vrajabhumi. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura therefore says:
sri gauda-mandala-bhumi, yeba jane cintamani,
"Vrajabhumi" refers to Mathura-Vrindavana, and Gauda-mandala-bhumi includes Navadvipa. These two places are nondifferent. Therefore, anyone living in Navadvipa-dhama, knowing Krishna and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be the same personality, lives in Vrajabhumi, Mathura-Vrindavana. The Lord has made it convenient for the conditioned soul to live in Mathura, Vrindavana and Navadvipa 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 Vrindavana and Mathura. This is undoubtedly a good vow, but if one leaves Vrindavana, Mathura or Navadvipa-dhama 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 Mathura-Vrindavana and Navadvipa-dhama. Anyone who executes devotional service in these places certainly goes back home, back to Godhead, after giving up his body. Thus the words mathura bhagavan yatra nityam sannihito harih 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 Mathura because of His intimate connection with this place. Therefore although Mathura and Vrindavana are situated on this planet earth, they are transcendental abodes of the Lord.
Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari