SB 1.10.27 (1964)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 27
Ahobataa swryasasa tiraskari Kusasthali punya yasaskary bhuvah Pavanti nityam yadanugrahesitam Smitablokam swapatim sma yatpraja.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Ahobata—how wonderful this is, Swaryasas—celebrity of the heavenly planets, Tiraskari—that which defeats, Bhuvah—earthly planet, Kusasthali—Dwarka, Punya—virtue, Yasaskary—famous, Pasyanti—see, Nityam—constantly, Yad—that which, Anugrahesitum—to bestow benediction, Smitabolokam—glance with favor of sweet smiling, Swapatim—unto the Soul of the living being (Krishna) Sma—used to, Yatpraja—the inhabitants of the place.
TRANSLATION
Undoubtedly this is wonderful that Dwarka has defeated the glories of the heavenly planets and has enhanced the celebrity of the earth. The inhabitants of Dwarka do always see the Soul of the living beings (Krishna) constantly in His loving feature of glancing over them by favor of sweet smiling.
PURPORT
The heavenly planets are inhabited by demigods like Indra, Chandra, Varuna, Vayu etc. and the pious souls reach there after performance of many virtuous acts on the earth. Modern scientists agree also that the timing arrangement in higher planetary system is different from the earth. As such it is understood from the revealed scriptures that duration of life there is ten thousands of years (of our calculation). Six months of earth is equal to one day of the heavenly planets. Facilities of enjoyment are also similarly enhanced and beauty of the inhabitants is legendary. Common men on the earth are very much fond of reaching the heavenly planets because they have heard it that comforts of life are far greater there than on the earth, they are now trying to reach the Moon planet by sputniks although it will never reach there. Considering all these, the heavenly planets are more celebrated than the earth. But the celebrity of earth has defeated that of the heavenly planets on account of Dwarka, where Lord Sri Krishna reigned as the King. Three places namely Vrindaban, Mathura and Dwarka are more important places than any famous planets within the universe. The places are perpetually sanctified because whenever the Lord descends on earth, He displays His trancendental activities particularly in these three places. They are perpetually the holy land of the Lord and the inhabitants still do take advantage of the holy places even though the Lord is now out their sight. The Lord is the Soul of all living beings and He desires always to have all the living beings, in their Swarupa or in the constitutional position, may participate transcendental life in His association. His attractive features and sweet smiling go deep into the heart of everyone and once it is so done the living being is admitted in the Kingdom of God where going nobody returns. This is confirmed in the Bhagwat Geeta.
The heavenly planets may be very much famous for offering better facilities of material enjoyment but as we learn it from the Bhagwat Geeta (B.G. 9/20-21) that one has to come back again on the earthly planets as soon as the acquired virtue is finished. Dwarka is certainly more important than heavenly planets because whoever has been favored with the smiling glance of the Lord shall never come back again in this rotten earth which is certified by the Lord Himself as the place of misery. Not only this earth but also all the planets of the universes are all places of miseries because it may be there are more facilities for material enjoyment but in none of the planets within the universe, there is eternal life, eternal bliss and eternal knowledge. Any person engaged in devotional service of the Lord is recommended to live in either of the above mentioned three places namely Dwarka Mathura or Vrindaban. Because devotional service in these three places is magnified potentially than in any other place and those who follow the principles in terms of instructions imparted in the revealed scriptures surely achieve the same result as they obtained during the presence of Lord Sri Krishna. His abode and He Himself are identical and a pure devotee under the guidance of another experienced devotee can obtain all the results even at present.