Krsna Erects the Dvaraka Fort 333
by Kalayavana. He therefore thought it wise to take precautionary
measures to defend the strategic points of Mathura. If both Krsna and
Balarama were engaged in fighting with Kalayavana at one place,
Jarasandha might come at another place to attack the whole Yadu family
and take his revenge. Jarasandha was very powerful, and having been
defeated seventeen times, he might vengefully kill the members of the
Yadu family or arrest them and take them to his kingdom. Krsna therefore
decided to construct a formidable fort in a place where no two-legged
animal, either man or demon, could enter. He decided to keep His relatives
there so that He would then be free to fight with the enemy. It appears
that formerly Dvaraka was also part of the kingdom of Mathura, because in
the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that Krsna constructed a fort in the
midst of the sea. Remnants of the fort which Krsna constructed are still
existing on the Bay of Dvaraka.

He first of all constructed a very strong wall covering ninety-six square
miles, and the wall itself was within the sea. It was certainly wonderful
and was planned and constructed by Visvakarma. No ordinary architect
could construct such a fort within the sea, but an architect like V isvakarma,
who is considered to be the engineer among the demigods, can execute
such wonderful craftmanship anywhere in any part of the universe. If huge
planets can be floated in weightlessness in the outer space by the arrange-
ment of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, surely the architectural
construction of a fort within the sea covering a space of ninety-six square
miles was not a very wonderful act.

It is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that this new, well-constructed
city, developed within the sea, had regular planned roads, streets and lanes.
Not only were there well-planned roads, trees and lanes, but there were well-
planned paths and gardens filled with plants known as kalpaurksas, or desire
trees. These desire trees are not like the ordinary trees of the material world;
the desire trees are found in the spiritual world. By Krsna’s supreme will,
everything is possible, so such desire trees were planted in this city of
Dvaraka constructed by Krsna. The city was also filled with many palaces
and gopuras, or big gates. These gopuras are still found in some of the larger
temples. They are very high and constructed with extreme artistic skill.
Such palaces and gates held golden waterpots (kalasa). These water pots on
the gates or in the palaces are considered to be auspicious signs.

Almost all the palaces were skyscrapers. In each and every house there
were big pots of gold and silver and grains stocked in underground rooms.
And there were many golden waterpots within the rooms. The bedrooms
were all bedecked with jewels, and the floors were mosiac pavements of
