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Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.1.28
SYNONYMS
rājadhānī — the capital; tatah — 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; sannihitah — intimately connected, living eternally; harih — 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 Krishna, for Lord Krishna lives there eternally.
PURPORT
It is understood that Mathurā 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. Vrindāvana is within the jurisdiction of Mathurā, and it still continues to exist. Because Mathurā and Vrindāvana are intimately connected with Krishna eternally, it is said that Lord Krishna never leaves Vrindāvana (vrindāvanam parityajya padam ekam na gacchati). At present, the place known as Vrindāvana, 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 Thākura therefore says:
śrī gauda-mandala-bhūmi, yebā jāne cintāmani,
"Vrajabhūmi" refers to Mathurā-Vrindāvana, and Gauda-mandala-bhūmi includes Navadvīpa. These two places are nondifferent. Therefore, anyone living in Navadvīpa-dhāma, knowing Krishna and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to be the same personality, lives in Vrajabhūmi, Mathurā-Vrindāvana. The Lord has made it convenient for the conditioned soul to live in Mathurā, Vrindāvana 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 Vrindāvana and Mathurā. This is undoubtedly a good vow, but if one leaves Vrindāvana, 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-Vrindāvana 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 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 Mathurā because of His intimate connection with this place. Therefore although Mathurā and Vrindāvana are situated on this planet earth, they are transcendental abodes of the Lord.
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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari