rÄjadhÄnÄ« tataḥ sÄbhÅ«t
sarva-yÄdava-bhÅ«bhujÄm
mathurÄ bhagavÄn yatra
nityaṠsannihito hariḥ
rÄjadhÄnÄ« - the capital; tataḥ - from that time; sÄ - the country and the city known as MathurÄ; abhÅ«t - became; sarva-yÄdava-bhÅ«bhujÄm - of all the kings who appeared in the Yadu dynasty; mathurÄ - the place known as MathurÄ; bhagavÄn - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yatra - wherein; nityam - eternally; sannihitaḥ - intimately connected, living eternally; hariḥ - the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Since that time, the city of MathurÄ had been the capital of all the kings of the Yadu dynasty. The city and district of MathurÄ are very intimately connected with Kṛṣṇa, for Lord Kṛṣṇa lives there eternally.
It is understood that MathurÄ City is the transcendental abode of Lord Kṛṣṇa; it is not an ordinary material city, for it is eternally connected with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vá¹›ndÄvana is within the jurisdiction of MathurÄ, and it still continues to exist. Because MathurÄ and Vá¹›ndÄvana are intimately connected with Kṛṣṇa eternally, it is said that Lord Kṛṣṇa never leaves Vá¹›ndÄvana (vá¹›ndÄvanaá¹ parityajya padam ekaá¹ na gacchati). At present, the place known as Vá¹›ndÄvana, in the district of MathurÄ, continues its position as a transcendental place, and certainly anyone who goes there becomes transcendentally purified. NavadvÄ«pa-dhÄma is also intimately connected with VrajabhÅ«mi. ÅšrÄ«la Narottama dÄsa ṬhÄkura therefore says:
Å›rÄ« gauá¸a-maṇá¸ala-bhÅ«mi, yebÄ jÄne cintÄmaṇi,
tÄra haya vrajabhÅ«me vÄsa
“VrajabhÅ«mi†refers to MathurÄ-Vá¹›ndÄvana, and Gauá¸a-maṇá¸ala-bhÅ«mi includes NavadvÄ«pa. These two places are nondifferent. Therefore, anyone living in NavadvÄ«pa-dhÄma, knowing Kṛṣṇa and ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu to be the same personality, lives in VrajabhÅ«mi, MathurÄ-Vá¹›ndÄvana. The Lord has made it convenient for the conditioned soul to live in MathurÄ, Vá¹›ndÄvana and NavadvÄ«pa 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 Vá¹›ndÄvana and MathurÄ. This is undoubtedly a good vow, but if one leaves Vá¹›ndÄvana, MathurÄ or NavadvÄ«pa-dhÄma 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 MathurÄ-Vá¹›ndÄvana and NavadvÄ«pa-dhÄma. Anyone who executes devotional service in these places certainly goes back home, back to Godhead, after giving up his body. Thus the words mathurÄ bhagavÄn yatra nityaá¹ sannihito hariḥ 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 MathurÄ because of His intimate connection with this place. Therefore although MathurÄ and Vá¹›ndÄvana are situated on this planet earth, they are transcendental abodes of the Lord.
