Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.71.13
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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saṅkarṣaṇam
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Lord Balarāma
Saṅkarṣaṇa — the one who attracts and gathers. Kṛṣṇa's elder brother and first expansion. The Lord asks leave of His own viṣṇu-tattva expansion — fraternal etiquette is not waived even between divine forms.
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śatru - han
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O killer of enemies (Parīkṣit)
Sūta addresses Parīkṣit by his warrior epithet — reminding the listener-king that the chapter belongs in a long kṣatriya line of dharma-protection.
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garuḍa - dhvajam
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Garuḍa-flagged
Garuḍa-dhvaja is one of Viṣṇu's standard insignias. The flag declares the chariot's occupant before He is even seen — Vaiṣṇavas are taught to recognise the Lord by His emblems, signs and names equally with His form.
Having accepted Uddhava’s proposal, Lord Kṛṣṇa first proceeded with His wives, family and entourage to the royal city of Indraprastha, the capital of the Pāṇḍavas. The rest of this chapter describes Lord Kṛṣṇa’s journey to that city and how He was received there by His loving devotees. In Indraprastha Lord Kṛṣṇa explained to the Pāṇḍavas His plan to first kill Jarāsandha and then perform the Rājasūya sacrifice, and with their full agreement He proceeded, with Bhīmasena, to settle accounts with the wicked king. Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that Lord Kṛṣṇa’s wives had also been invited to the Rājasūya sacrifice and were eager to go. The description of the colorful royal procession begins with the following verse.
Having his wives (avarodhan), he mounted his chariot. They went because they also were invited and were eager to attend.
He arranged for the going of the inner palace, his sons, grandsons, their wives and daughters, since they could not leave each other because of the strong affection, along with furnishings like palanquins, servants and retinue (paricchadān). Balarāma is called Saṅkarṣaṇa because he was the second member of the caturvyūha. Kṛṣṇa took permission from Ugrasena, who as king should protect the city. He established respect for him by doing this. After the queens and others had departed he asked permission from Balarāma and Ugrasena, since they accompanied him for quite a distance. O slayer of enemies! This was a proper way for Kṛṣṇa to kill his enemy Jarāsandha. You know since you also kill your enemies. The uniqueness of Kṛṣṇa’s chariot is described. It was decorated with Garuḍa. This suggests it would go fast and instill fear in the enemies.
He arranged for the going of the members of the inner palace--his sons, grandsons, their wives and daughters--since they could not leave each other because of the strong affection, along with furnishings like palanquins, servants and retinue (paricchadān). Balarāma is called Saṅkarṣaṇa because he was the second member of the caturvyūha. Thus he was capable of protecting the city. With the idea of leaving him in the city, he took permission. Actually, he did this so that Yudhiṣṭhira would not be hesitant to select Kṛṣṇa for the first worship. Kṛṣṇa took permission from Ugrasena. Kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa mahābāho yadūnāṁ nandivardhana Śruyatāṁ yad aham tv ādya vakṣyāmī ripusūdana Tvayā vihīnāḥ sarve sma na śaktāḥ sukham āsitum Puro ‘smin viṣayānte ca parihīnā yathā striyaḥ Tvat samāthā vayaṁ tāta tad bāhubalam āśritāḥ Bibhīmo na narendrāṇāṁsarveṣām api mānada Vijayāya yaduśreṣṭha yatra yatra gamiṣyasi Tatra tvaṁ sahito smābhir gaccehthā yādavarṣabha O mighty armed Kṛṣṇa! Increaser of joy of the Yadus! O killer of enemies, hear what I say today. Al of us in your absence cannot be happy in this city, like a wife without her husband. We depend on you. We have taken shelter of your arms. We do not fear all the kings. O best of the Yadus! Wherever you go for victory, you should go with us. O best of the Yadus! Viṣṇu Purāṇa Kṛṣṇa placed him in charge of protecting the city, in order to give him respect, though Ugrasena also wanted to go. Or he took permission from all of the elder members in order to be unrestricted in his pastimes on the way and in Yudhiṣṭhira’s house. After the queens and others had departed, he asked permission from Balarāma and Ugrasena, since they accompanied him for quite a distance. O slayer of enemies! This was a proper way for Kṛṣṇa to kill his enemy Jarāsandha. You know since you also kill your enemies. The uniqueness of Kṛṣṇa’s chariot is described. It was decorated with Garuḍa. This suggests it would go fast and instill fear in the enemies.
Kṛṣṇa stepping onto His Garuḍa-flagged chariot is like a swan settling upon a lake whose every ripple already knows him — the chariot is no mere conveyance but Garuḍa's living mark, flying ahead of the Lord it carries.
Garuḍa appears across the Bhāgavata — bearing Viṣṇu to rescue Gajendra in 8.3, carrying Kṛṣṇa back from Naraka's city in 10.59. His emblem on Kṛṣṇa's flag declares the same identity Mathurā saw in the Viṣṇu-form of 10.3.
Gauḍīyas understand Garuḍa as the great vāhana whose presence is itself a śaraṇa-signal: where Garuḍa's wing falls, snakes (and all snake-like fears) flee. The flag at Kṛṣṇa's chariot is therefore both ornament and protection.
My note
Source: vedabase.io