84 - Return of Akrūra 

Vyasa said: 

1. Thinking thus on his way and approaching Krişhņa, that scion of the family of Yadavas bowed his head to the feet of Hari saying - 'I am Akrūra'. 

2. The lord too stroked him with his hand marked by the lines of flag, thunderbolt and lotus. He dragged him with love towards himself and closely embraced him. 

3. Balarama and Krişhņa were duly greeted and honoured by him. The two who were delighted took him with them and entered their chamber. 

4-6. After being greeted by them and having taken his meals Akrūra precisely mentioned everything to them; how Vasudeva was rebuked by Kaṁsa; how Devakī was insulted by that wicked Kamsa, how that wicked Kamsa behaved towards Ugrasena and why he had been sent by Kamsa. 

7. On hearing everything in detail the lord, the slayer of Kesin said-"O lord of charitable gifts, all this has been understood by me. 

8. O highly blessed one, I shall undertake what is the most proper expedient in this matter. It should not be considered otherwise. Know that Kamsa is already killed by me. 

9. Rāma and I shall go to Mathurā along with you, tomorrow. The elderly cowherds will accompany us taking many presents with them. 

10. O heroic one, let this night be passed off. It does not behove you to worry over anything. Within three nights I shall kill Kassa alongwith his followers."

Vyasa said: 

11. After directing cowherds in regard to Akrūra, Keśava and Balabhadra went to the abode of Nandagopa and slept there. 

12. When the day dawned with pure atmosphere, the extremely powerful Balarama and Krishna began their prepar ations to go to Mathurā in the company of Akrūra. 

13. On seeing this, the cowherd folk were full of tears. The bangles in their hands got loose. They heaved sighs in their misery and spoke to one another thus: 

14. After reaching Mathura how will Krishņa return to the cowherds' colony? He will imbibe honey of the sweet tale of the city-lasses by his ears. 

15. After getting involved in the net of elegant speech of the city lasses how will his mind revert to the cowherd boys and cowherd lasses of vulgar nature? 

16. The ruthless wicked Fate has struck at the cowherd damsels since it removes Krishna who is the essence of our colony. 

17. The following attributes of the city lasses are extraor- dinary—their words are uttered with smiles couched in emotional fervour; their movement is graceful and elegant; their sideglances are very attractive. 

18. If our rural and vulgar lord is held up by the fetters of their seductive charms, by what expedient will he return to us. 

19. This Keśava goes to Mathură driving in a chariot. He has been duped by Akrūra who is really Krūra (cruel) and who is one who has dashed our hopes. 

20. Does not this wicked Akrūra know us earnestly in love with him? Wherefore does he take our lord elsewhere, lord who provides us with imperishable delight? 

21. This excessively merciless Krishna is going away accompanied by Rama and scated in a chariot. May steps be taken hurriedly to prevent him. 

22. What do you say? Is it this-"It is not proper on our part to say anything in front of our elders"? But what will the elders do to us who already are burnt by the fire of separation? 

23. All these cowherds, led by Nandagopa, are ready to accompany him. No one attempts to make Govinda return. 

24. In regard to the womenfolk residing in Mathura the night has turned into a bright morning. The lotus-like face of Achyuta can now be enjoyed by their eyes which resemble the bees. 

25. All those persons are blessed who will unobstructedly view Krishna on the way, as he starts from here and will experience the sense of horripilation. 

26. It will be a festive occasion to the eyes of the residents of Mathura, after seeing the face of Krişhņa. 

27. What auspicious dream was seen by those fortunate ladies? Without any impediment they will see the lord with their wide attractive eyes. 

28-30. Alas, after showing them a great treasure the eyes of the cowherd lasses have been plucked by the merciless Fate. Love for us (in the heart) of Krishna who is going to Mathurā has become feeble. Even the bracelets in our hands have become loose suddenly. Akrūra with a cruel heart is hurriedly driving the horses. Is there a man who will not have any sympathy for the women who are distressed thus? 

31. May this column of dust raised up by the wheels of Krishna's chariot be seen. Now even that dust is not seen-the dust by which Krishna has been taken away from us." 

32. So lamented the cowherd lasses. Even as they were watching him with great sincerity and affection, Keśava left that land of cowherds' colony (far behind) in the company of Rāma. 

33. Travelling thus in a chariot fitted with quick horses, Rama, Akrūra, and Srikrishna reached the banks of Yamunā at midday. 

34. Then Akrūra said to Krishna: “Both of you be waiting here, until I complete rites in the waters of Yamuna."

35. O brahmins, after they had consented saying "So be it", Akrūra of great lustre entered the waters of Yamunā, had his bath and then performed Achamana. 

35-45. There in the waters of Yamuna he saw Balarama with a thousand hoods. His physical form was as pure and white as the Kunda flower. His eyes were large resembling the petals of a full blown lotus. He was surrounded by a large number of serpents, sons of Vasuki.¹ He was being eulogised by them. He was bedecked in garlands of fragrant sylvan flowers. He was clad in blue garments. He had handsome features and beautiful ornaments. His ear-rings were fine. He was inebriate and was stationed on the bottom bed of the river water. In his lap he saw Krişhņa. He was dark in complexion like the cloud. His large eyes were copper-coloured. He had graceful limbs and four arms. The discus and other weapons were like ornaments unto him. He wore two yellow clothes. He was bedecked in garlands with flowers of onion colour. He was like a cloud rendered wonderful by Indra's bow (i.e. rain-bow) and many streaks of lightning. The Srivatsa scar marked his chest. He shone with beautiful armlets and coronet. He was unafflicted and bedecked in lotus. He was being meditated upon by Sanandana¹ and other sages who had achieved yogic power, who were devoid of sins and who were seated there with their eyes fixed to the tips of their noses on recognizing Balarama and Krişhņa. Akrūra was struck with wonder. He thought within himself—"How did they come here so quickly?” As he was about to say something, Krişhņa stunned his faculty of speech. Thereafter, he came out of the water and went near the chariot. There too he saw both of them seated in the chariot. Balarama and Krişhņa were there as before, in human form. Coming back and diving under the water once again he saw them in the same manner as before. They were being eulogised by Gandharvas, sages, Siddhas and Nagas. 

1. King of Nägas with a thousand heads; according to Puranic legend he was incarnate in Balarama. 

47. Thereupon, he understood the real nature of the lord as existence. The lord of charitable gifts then eulogised lord Achyuta full of all perfect knowledge. 

Akrara said:

48. Obeisance, obeisance to the great Atman of the form of Cit (Consciousness) alone; to the all-pervading lord of unima ginable greatness, to one of single form, to one of many forms. 

49. O unimaginable one, obeisance to you, of the form of sound; obeisance to you who have become identical with the sacrificial offering of ghee, obeisance to the lord of the form of perfect knowledge, O lord, greater than Prakruti. 

1. Sanandana: belonged to the Sanakādi group and was the mental son of Brahma, having taken incarnation long before Brahmå started his work of creation. 

50. Though-one, you are stationed in five different forms viz—the Ātman of Elements, the Atman of sense-organs, the Ātman of Pradhāna; the Atman (i.e. individual soul) and the supreme soul. 

51. Be pleased, o lord identical with all virtuous rites, O Maheśvara, O imperishable being amongst the perishable ones. You are praised with the conception of Brahmā, Vişhnu and Siva. 

52. O deity whose form, nature, purpose and aim cannot be adequately expressed; O deity whose name cannot be specifically mentioned, I bow to you, the greatest lord. 

53. lord, you are the unborn one. You are the greatest eternal Brahman without aberrations wherein there are no imposed ideas of name, caste and the like. 

54. Since, without some sort of conception, no matter can be comprehended, you are being worshipped under the names: Krişhņa, Achyuta, Ananta and Vişhnu. 

55. O unborn lord, O soul of all, by means of these different conceptions, you are identical with Devas and the Universe. O soul of the universe, you are devoid of differences and aberrations. In every object of the world there is nothing which is different from you. 

56-58. You are Brahmä, Pasupati, Aryamă, Vidhātā, Dhätā, lord of Devas, wind-god, fire-god, lord of waters, lord of wealth and annihilator. Although you are the one and only Being, you are differentiated through different Saktis and rule over the whole universe. In the form of a ray (?) you crcate and destroy the universe. O unborn lord, this universe is full of your attributes. Your greatest form is imperishable; it is expressed by the word 'sat'. I bow into that deity of perfect knowledge, the existent and the non-existent. Om obeisance to Vasudeva; obeisance to Samkarşana; obeisance to Pradyumna; obeisance to Anuruddha". 

Vyāsa said: 

59. After eulogising Krishna thus under the water that scion of the family of Yadavas worshipped the lord of all by means of incense and flowers mentally conceived. 

60. After eschewing other objects, fixing the mind therein in the deity who had become identical with the Brahman and staying there for a long time he returned from Samadhi. 

61. Considering himself contented and blessed, O excellent brahmins, he came out of the waters of Yumuna and approached the chariot once again. 

62. There he saw Rama and Krishna seated as before. Krishna spoke thus to Akrūra who was evidently surprised as was indicated by his eyes. 

SriKrishna said: 

63. O Akrūra, what wonderful thing was seen by you within the waters of Yamunā? Since your eyes are wide open due to surprise (I ask you thus). 

Aktūra said: 

64. O Achyuta, here itself standing in front of me in its embodied form I see the same miracle as was seen by me inside the water. 

65. This universe itself is a great wonderful form of yours, O noble Krishna. I had come into contact with you who are interested in miracles. 

66. But, of what use is this? O slayer of Madhu, we shall go to Mathurā. I am afraid of Kamsa. Fie upon one's life if one has to sustain oneself by the doles offered by others. 

Vyāsa said: 

67. After saying this, the scion of the family of Yadu drove those horses as swift as the wind. In the evening Akrūra reached the city of Mathura. Observing the city of Mathura and looking at Krishna and Balarāma he spoke this.

Akrūra said: 

68. You two of great vigour and prowess will go on foot. I shall alone go in with my chariot. You two should not go to the house of Vasudeva. It is for your sake that the old man is expelled by Kamsa. 

Vyāsa said: 

69. After saying this Akrüra entered Mathurā. Balarama and Krishna too entered the city and reached the Royal Highway. 

70. They were glanced at with delighted eyes by the citizens men and women. The two heroic boys went ahead sportingly like two elephant cubs. 

71. As they wandered here and there they saw a washerman and dyer. They requested him for beautiful clothes of good colour. 

72. He was the special washerman of Kamsa. He was very arrogant because he had the special favour of Kamsa. He hurled many abuses against Balarama and Keśava. 

73. With a blow of his palm in anger, Krişhņa struck down the head of that wicked washerman and let it fail on the ground. 

74. After killing him and taking clothes from his house Krişhņa and Balarama, clad themselves in yellow and blue robes, joyously and went to the gardener's abode. 

75. Seeing them with a wide gaping eyes, the gardener was struck with wonder and he thought mentally-"In which family are these two born?” 

76. On seeing those two charming boys clad in yellow and blue robes he resolved that they were two Devas who had come to the Earth. 

77. He was requested for flowers by those two boys whose faces beamed like full-blown lotuses. Thereupon, he supported himself on his hands and touched the ground with his head. 

78. That gardener who maintained himself by selling garlands spoke to them-"O my lords, you two have come to my house with delighted gentle faces. I am blessed. I shall worship you." 

79. Then with his face beaming with delight he gave them whatever flowers they desired. He tempted them by offering them more. 

80. The excellent gardener bowed to them again and again and gave them beautiful fragrant and pure flowers. 

81-85. Krishna was delighted and granted a boon to the gardener-"O gentle one, Sri (Goddess of glory) who is supported by me will never forsake you. O gentle one, you will never have loss of strength or of wealth. Your progeny, sons and- grandsons, will continue (to be born as long as the earth and sun last. After enjoying extensive pleasures, you will in the end attain my bliss due to my grace. You will then attain divine world. O gentle one, at all times your mind will dwell in virtue. The children born as your progeny will have longevity. Among your progeny there will never be calamities and faults. O highly blessed one, your family will last as long as the sun and moon last. 

86. After saying this, o excellent sages, Krişhņa came out of that house in the company of Balarama. He was duly worshipped by the gardener.