70 - The plight of Akrura and departure of Krishna for Vraja 

Narayana said- Thereafter Akrura who was dispatched by Kamsa, went to his abode and took food including sweets mixed with camphor, scented betel and fragrant water and comfortably slept on the bed. Towards the end of the night, he witnessed a dream which was described in the Vedas and the Puranas. He found that the Brahmana boy who was quite healthy, his hair tied in a knot, clad in two garments was sleeping on the bed. He had a beautiful complexion and his face was devoid of any worry or grief. He was in tender age, having a dark complexion and two hands, holding a flute in hand, clad in pitambara, adorned with a garland of forest flowers, having the body plastered with sandal paste, wearing the garland of jasmine flowers, adorned with the best of the ornaments studded with gems, having peacock feathers on his head, wearing a serene smile on the face and having the eyes like lotus flowers. О sage, he witnessed that beautiful boy in his dream for the first time.

Thereafter he saw a chaste lady whose husband and son were alive. She was clad in yellow garments adorned with the ornament of gems, holding a burning lamp in one hand and white paddy in the other. She had beautiful limbs and the face was like that of the beautiful moon of the winter season. She was wearing a serene smile on her face and was anxious to shower a boon. 

Thereafter pronouncing a blessing, she looked at the Brahmana together with the goose on the white lotus besides a horse and a pool.

He also witnessed trees blossoming with flowers and fruits, beautiful and auspicious trees of mango, neem, coconut, a huge sun-tree and a plantain tree. 

He found himself having been bitten by a white serpent and also found himself seated on a mountain, a tree, an elephant, as a boat and himself mounted on the horse. 

Thereafter he found himself playing vina and consuming milk with rice, food with curd and milk placed on the lotus leaves. He witnessed that his limbs had become dirty because of insects and dirt. He then found himself crying infatuated with illusion, then carrying the flowers and white paddy in his hands. In a moment his body was plastered with sandal-paste, in a moment he found himself seated on a roof, in the ocean filled with blood, with his wounded limbs and filled himself with blood and puss. 

He then found the silver, the gems, gold, finger rings, jewels, gems, welfare pitcher filled with water, cow with calves, the big bull, the peacock, parrot, crane, kite, wagtail bird, betel, garland of flowers, fire in flames, adoration of gods, the image of Parvati and of Krishna, Shivalinga, Brahmana's daughter, a child, the ripened crops, the temple, the king, the lion, the tiger, the teacher and the gods . 

Thus, after witnessing the dream he performed his daily routine and then narrated the entire dream to Uddhava. 

О Narada, getting permission from Uddhava, adorning his teacher and the gods, with his mind set at the feet of lord Krishna, he travelled to the abode of Krishna. At the time of time start of his journey, he met with various auspicious symbols which bestowed welfare. He found the he-jackal and she-jackal on his left, a vase filled with water, the mangos, Nilakantha bird, a beautiful chaste woman adorned with divine ornaments whose husband and son were alive, white flowers, garland of flowers, fried paddy, a wagtail bird. On the right side he met with the burning fire fames, a Brahmana, a bull, an elephant, a cow with calf, a white horse, a goose, a garland of flower, the flag, gem, gold, silver, pearls, ruby, wine, flesh, sandal, wine of Bassia latifolia trees, ghee, black deer skin, fruit, fried paddy, mirror, painted plane, beautiful image, a white lotus flower, a forest of lotus flowers, Shamkha, kite, cat, mountain, clouds, peacock, parrot and crane . 

Thereafter he met with snake, cuckoo, welfare sound of the musical instruments, recital of the music of Krishna, reciting of the name of Hari and sound of victory. Thus, witnessing the auspicious symbols and hearing of auspicious sound, Akrura delightfully remembered the name of the lord and entered Vrundavana. 

He found there the desirable Rasamandala which was quite pleasant and was decorated with sandal-paste, aguru, kasthuri, flowers and where the fragrant cool breeze was blowing. It had several welfare pitchers, trunks of banana tree, tender leaves of the mango trees tied to a cord and spread everywhere. The place was decorated with several gems and three crores of beautiful diamonds, studded in the temple and a hundred crores of charming kunja-cottages. Looking at the divine dance he walked in Vrundavana up to a distance. 

Thereafter he came across the beautiful and charming Vraja of Nanda. It was quite charming like Vaikuntha, having many beautiful houses and steps besides the pillars which were decorated with various types of creepers and gems; it was built by Vishvakarma, using the best of gems. By the visible road he entered the royal gate, having a number of banners and decorated with a large number of gems. It was decorated with pearls and rubies beside the mirrors made of the gems; if had a number of Mangala kalashas made of gems. 

When Nanda came to know about the arrival of Akrura he was immensely delighted. Accompanied by Balarama and Krishna, he went to welcome him. Vrushabhanu and other cowherds and dancers were moving ahead. Placing the pitchers filled with water and the elephant to the fore besides black cow, they could with them madhuparka, padya, the asanas of gems. Nanda went to him with a delightful and humble face. The boys and the servants then saw the virtuous Akrura there. He was immediately embraced and all the cowherds offered their salutation to him bowing their heads on the feat of Akrura who blessed them all. 

О sage, thus all the people were united together. Akrura lifted up Krishna and Balarama in his lap and was overwhelmed with emotion, feeling blissful and tears started flowing from his eyes. He felt gratified and since he was successful in his mission, he kissed their tender cheeks. 

At that point of time, he found Krishna having two arms clad in yellow garment, adorned with the jasmine flowers with the sandal-paste having been applied on his limbs, holding a flute in his hand. Brahma, Shiva, Sesha and other gods including the sages like Sanaka and others were offering prayers to him. The girls of the cowherds were staring at him continuously. 

The next moment he found the lord in the lap of Akrura with four arms wearing a smile on his face surrounded by Lakshmi and Sarasvati, adorned with the garland of forest flowers and flanked by the courtiers like Sunanda, Nanda and Kumuda. Many of the devotees and siddhas were serving him. 

In the next moment they found him with five faces, three eyes, having the complexion of spotless crystal gems, adorned with Nagas, without robes, like eternal Brahma and with the ashes applied on his body. He had the matted locks of hair on his head and was holding a rosary in his hand like a yogi.

In the next moment they found him in the form of Brahma who was engaged in meditation.

In another moment, he was found in the form of Dharma and in another moment, he was found in the form of Sesha, in another moment he was found in the form of eternal flame or the sun. 

Again, he was found in extremely graceful form, which put the lustre of the moon to shame crores of beautiful gods of love. He was loved by innumerable damsels, quite passionate and filled with passion. Finding such a type of boy, Akrura embraced him. 

О Narada, then Akrura placed the boy on the gem-studded lion-throne, offered to him by Nanda and with his mind filled with devotion, he went around the lord and then offered his salutation to him placing his head on the ground.

Akrura said- You are the form of cause, form of the lord I offer my salutation to you. You are the lord of all the globes and I offer my salutation to you, the one who is beyond Prakruti and also the lord, is without qualities, unattached, without form, with form, the form of all the gods, the lord of all the gods, the only supreme god of all the gods, the beginning of the universe, Brahma in innumerable globes besides being Vishnu and Shiva, you are the seed of all the form. You are the lord of the universe, the lord of the cowherdesses and lord of all the Gangs, I offer my salutation to him.

You are the lord of all the gods I offer my salutation to you. You are the lord of Radha; I offer my salutation to you. You are husband of Radha I offer my salutation to you. I offer my salutation to the one who takes to the form of Radha, you are adorable by Radha, you are dearer to Radha than her life, you are adored by Radha. You are the only god of Radha and her beloved, the life of Radha, salutation to you. You are the one who is adored by the Vedas, you are all knowledgeable and the sole god of the Vedas being the seed of the Vedas. I offer my salutation to you, in the hair pits of whom always innumerable globes are enshrined, I offer my salutation to him.

I offer my salutation to you again and again to Mahavishnu, Ishvari and the lord of the universe, you are yourself, the form of Prakruti, the form of Ishvari, the foremost among the humans, I offer my salutation again and again. Thus, offering prayer Akrura fainted in the court of Nanda. 

He suddenly fell down on the ground. He again saw that the lord who was standing outside was also in his heart, was the soul of all, being Ishvara, was found in dark complexion, all round, was established in the universe and the form of the universe. О Narada, finding Akrura having fainted, Nanda lifted him up and seated him honourably on the gem-studded lion-throne. He then enquired of him about the news and also said, "What is there being visible." Thereafter he served him with delicious sweet food and enquired about his welfare again and again. Akrura on his part conveyed the news of Kamsa to him. 

He also advised him to send Krishna and Balarama to Mathura for getting their parents released from the bondage. Thus, whosoever recites the stotras composed by Akrura, with devotion, he would get a son if he has a none, a wife if he has no wife, riches if he has no riches, land if he has no land, the one having lost children would get children, a disgraced person would be graceful and inglorious person would achieve immense glory. Thereafter he slept on the bed of champaka flowers. 

Thereafter getting up early in the morning he completed his daily routine and made Balarama and Krishna to take their seats in the chariot. He carried five types of eatables like milk, curd, ghee, butter and butter milk with him and other valuable eatables. Accompanied by Vrushabhanu, Nanda, Sunanda and Chandra Bhanu, they got ready for the journey. Nanda the lord of Vraja made several of the musical instruments to be sounded including double drums, drums, panavas, damaru, big drums and several other musical instruments. 

Listening to the sound of musical instruments and coming to know of the departure of Balarama and Krishna to Mathura, the cowherdesses were extremely enraged and they arrived there finding Krishna having mounted on the chariot. О Brahman, thereafter, inspired by Radha the cowherdesses in anger, in spite of dissuading lord Krishna not to do so, broke the royal chariot with their kicks. 

All the cowherds cried in panic but the powerful cowherdesses embraced Krishna and took him away. Some of them called Akrura in anger to be quite cruel and denounced him. Some of them bound Akrura with clothes.

О sage, some of the cowherdesses removed the costumes of Akrura and tried to break his armlets with their hands. Thereafter, Madhava found Akrura having been so injured he went to Radha and tried to convince her. 

The lord then humbly enlightened her about the divine yoga and also to Akrura. Again, for convincing Radha, Krishna went to her. In the meantime, they found a divine chariot moving in the sky which was decorated with beautiful costumes besides the gems and was built by Vishvakarma. At the sight of the chariot, the lord of the universe went to the palace of his mother. He took his food together with all his relatives and slept there. Then the lord was surrounded by the sages Indra, Brahma, Shiva, Sesha and other ascetics. О Narada, thereafter Radha together with the cowherdesses also slept on the flower bed. All the people of Gokula were filled with delight, some of them started dancing and some of them were singing.