Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.50.50-53

dṛśyate yatra hi tvāṣṭraḿ

vijñānaḿ śilpa-naipuṇam

rathyā-catvara-vīthībhir

yathā-vāstu vinirmitam

sura-druma-latodyāna-

vicitropavanānvitam

hema-śṛńgair divi-spṛgbhiḥ

sphaṭikāṭṭāla-gopuraiḥ

rājatārakuṭaiḥ koṣṭhair

hema-kumbhair alańkṛtaiḥ

ratna-kūtair gṛhair hemair

mahā-mārakata-sthalaiḥ

vāstoṣpatīnāḿ ca gṛhair

vallabhībhiś ca nirmitam

cātur-varṇya-janākīrṇaḿ

yadu-deva-gṛhollasat

SYNONYMS

dṛśyate — was seen; yatra — wherein; hi — indeed; tvāṣṭram — of Tvaṣṭā (Viśvakarmā), the architect of the demigods; vijñānam — the scientific knowledge; śilpa — in architecture; naipuṇam — the expertise; rathyā — with main avenues; catvara — courtyards; vīthībhiḥ — and commercial roads; yathā-vāstu — on ample plots of land; vinirmitam — constructed; sura — of the demigods; druma — having trees; latā — and creepers; udyāna — gardens; vicitra — splendid; upavana — and parks; anvitam — containing; hema — gold; śṛńgaiḥ — having peaks; divi — the sky; spṛgbhiḥ — touching; sphaṭikā — of crystal quartz; aṭṭāla — having upper levels; gopuraiḥ — with gateways; rājata — of silver; ārakuṭaiḥ — and brass; koṣṭhaiḥ — with treasury buildings, warehouses and stables; hema — gold; kumbhaiḥ — by pots; alańkṛtaiḥ — decorated; ratna — jeweled; kūtaiḥ — having peaks; gṛhaiḥ — with houses; hemaiḥ — of gold; mahā-mārakata — with precious emeralds; sthalaiḥ — having floors; vāstoḥ — of the households; patīnām — belonging to the presiding deities; ca — and; gṛhaiḥ — with temples; vallabhībhiḥ — with watchtowers; ca — and; nirmitam — constructed; cātuḥ-varṇya — of the four occupational orders; jana — with people; ākīrṇam — filled; yadu-deva — of the Lord of the Yadus, Śrī Kṛṣṇa; gṛha — by the residences; ullasat — beautified.

TRANSLATION

In the construction of that city could be seen the full scientific knowledge and architectural skill of Viśvakarmā. There were wide avenues, commercial roads and courtyards laid out on ample plots of land; there were splendid parks, and also gardens stocked with trees and creepers from the heavenly planets. The gateway towers were topped with golden turrets touching the sky, and their upper levels were fashioned of crystal quartz. The gold-covered houses were adorned in front with golden pots and on top with jeweled roofs, and their floors were inlaid with precious emeralds. Beside the houses stood treasury buildings, warehouses, and stables for fine horses, all built of silver and brass. Each residence had a watchtower, and also a temple for its household deity. Filled with citizens of all four social orders, the city was especially beautified by the palaces of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of the Yadus.

PURPORT

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that the state highways (rathyāḥ) were in front and the secondary roads (vīthyaḥ) behind, and between them were courtyards (catvarāṇi). Within these courtyards were surrounding walls, and within the walls stood golden residences, atop which shone crystal watchtowers crowned with golden pots. Thus the buildings were multistoried. The word vāstu indicates that the houses and buildings were constructed on ample plots of land, with plenty of room for green areas.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
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