Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.50.50-53
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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tvāṣṭram
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of Viśvakarmā (Tvaṣṭā)
Tvaṣṭā — one of the twelve ādityas, the architect of the demigods. His skill is here pressed into Kṛṣṇa's service. The greatest possible craftsmanship dedicated to Bhagavān's residence — and yet, in Gauḍīya frame, Goloka itself is non-manufactured, beyond any Tvaṣṭā.
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śilpa-naipuṇam
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expertise in architecture
Compound: śilpa (craft) + naipuṇa (skill). The verse celebrates technical brilliance — Vaiṣṇava tradition does not despise craft; it elevates craft when offered in service. Dvārakā is Tvaṣṭā's offering.
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sura-druma-latā
—
trees and creepers of the demigods
Compound. The gardens contain kalpa-vṛkṣa and divine creepers — the city is, in plant-life as in stone, an importation of heaven. Yet Gauḍīyas insist: Dvārakā exceeds Indra's heaven, because Kṛṣṇa lives in it.
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sphaṭikā
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of crystal quartz
Sphaṭika — crystal. The upper levels are crystal — translucent, light-passing. The city's architecture is engineered for light, mirroring the inner light of bhakti that radiates from its central resident.
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hema-śṛṅgaiḥ
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with golden peaks
Compound: hema (gold) + śṛṅga (peak/horn). Gold towers touch the sky. The city's verticality reaches up toward svarga, but its center remains Bhagavān at ground level — gold reaches up to where He has come down.
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.
In that city was seen the knowledge of Visvakarma, manifest as his skill in architecture. This is described in three and half verses. It was constructed with main roads, side roads, yards and houses not extending beyond their designated areas. There were stables of silver, brass and iron, and houses with gold kalasas and spires of rubies and other jewels. It had temples (vastospatinam grha) and towers (valabhi). The city became especially beautiful with the residences of Krsna (yadudeva).
These verses show the astonishing objects in the city. For certain one could see there the knowledge and skill of craftsmanship of Viśvakarmā. It reached its height in this city since he attained the highest abilities by the mercy of the Lord. The buildings such as stables are described (koṣṭhaiḥ) with their ornaments. The udyānas had mainly flowers and the upavanas had mainly fruit. Āra-kuṭaiḥ means brass and iron. The city was filled with people of the four varṇas. Yadu-deva refers to Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma, Vasudeva, Ugrasena and others. The living quarters should be understood as follows. It was surrounded by the sea. To create obstacles there were then moats. Then interior to this there was seawater bordered by land on the four sides of the city for recreation. Then there were the fortress walls. On the corners and between as well there were jeweled turrets with gold peaks on which were gold spheres with flags. There were gates in the four directions. On top of the gates there were rooms with clear crystal walls for looking outside. Within the fort there were areas containing flower gardens and orchards as well as wells and water tanks. Within the area of gardens there were temples. Within that area there were stables, grain storehouses etc. Then interior to that in the east there were houses of brāhmaṇas. In the west were houses for śūdras. In the north were houses for vaiśyas and in the south were houses for kṣatriyas. In the center, facing the Sudharmā hall, were the houses of Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma, Vasudeva and Ugrasena. The houses had emerald floors and on top were turrets with gold pots shining brilliantly. Beginning from the hall there were roads radiating outwards with side roads.
Inside Dvārakā the scientific knowledge of Tvaṣṭā (Viśvakarmā) is on full display — wide avenues, commercial roads, courtyards laid out on ample plots, gardens stocked with kalpa-vṛkṣa and divine creepers, gateway-towers tipped with gold touching the sky, upper levels of crystal. The city is a vaikuṇṭha-prototype in stone and gold and quartz.
Viśvakarmā / Tvaṣṭā is the same divine architect who built Laṅkā for Rāvaṇa (Rāmāyaṇa) and the assembly hall for Yudhiṣṭhira (Mahābhārata Sabhā-parva). At Dvārakā his work reaches its climax: not a palace, not a single building, but a complete city for the Supreme Lord's residence.
Gauḍīyas note the difference: Laṅkā was built for Rāvaṇa's bhoga, the Sabhā for Yudhiṣṭhira's rāja-yajña, but Dvārakā is built for Kṛṣṇa's nitya-līlā. The same architect, three commissions, three rasas — the highest being the Vraja-prince's seaside city.
My note
Source: vedabase.io