Chapter 38: Akrūra's Arrival in Vṛndāvana

 

10.38.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

akrūro 'pi ca tāḿ rātriḿ

madhu-puryāḿ mahā-matiḥ

uṣitvā ratham āsthāya

prayayau nanda-gokulam

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; akrūraḥ — Akrūra; api ca — and; tām — that; rātrim — night; madhu-puryām — in the city of Mathurā; mahā-matiḥ — high-minded; uṣitvā — remaining; ratham — his chariot; āsthāya — mounting; prayayau — he set off; nanda-gokulam — for the cowherd village of Nanda Mahārāja.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After passing the night in the city of Mathurā, the high-minded Akrūra mounted his chariot and set off for the cowherd village of Nanda Mahārāja.

 

10.38.2

gacchan pathi mahā-bhāgo

bhagavaty ambujekṣaṇe

bhaktiḿ parām upagata

evam etad acintayat

 

gacchan — traveling; pathi — along the road; mahā-bhāgaḥ — the greatly fortunate; bhagavati — for the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ambuja-īkṣaṇe — the lotus-eyed Lord; bhaktim — devotion; parām — exceptional; upagataḥ — he experienced; evam — thus; etat — this (as follows); acintayat — he thought.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As he traveled on the road, the great soul Akrūra felt tremendous devotion for the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead, and thus he began to consider as follows.

 

10.38.3

kiḿ mayācaritaḿ bhadraḿ

kiḿ taptaḿ paramaḿ tapaḥ

kiḿ vāthāpy arhate dattaḿ

yad drakṣyāmy adya keśavam

 

kim — what; mayā — by me; ācaritam — has been performed; bhadram — good works; kim — what; taptam — suffered; paramam — severe; tapaḥ — austerity; kim — what; vā — or else; atha api — otherwise; arhate — worship performed; dattam — charity given; yat — by which; drakṣyāmi — I am going to see; adya — today; keśavam — Lord Kṛṣṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Śrī Akrūra thought:] What pious deeds have I done, what severe austerities undergone, what worship performed or charity given so that today I will see Lord Keśava?

 

10.38.4

mamaitad durlabhaḿ manya

uttamaḥ-śloka-darśanam

viṣayātmano yathā brahma-

kīrtanaḿ śūdra-janmanaḥ

 

mama — my; etat — this; durlabham — difficult to achieve; manye — I consider; uttamaḥ-śloka — of the Supreme Lord, who is praised in the best poetry; darśanam — the audience; viṣaya-ātmanaḥ — for one who is absorbed in sense gratification; yathā — just as; brahma — of the Vedas; kīrtanam — chanting; śūdra — as a low-class man; janmanaḥ — by one who has taken his birth.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Since I am a materialistic person absorbed simply in sense gratification, I think it is as difficult for me to have gotten this opportunity to see Lord Uttamaḥśloka as it would be for one born a śūdra to be allowed to recite the Vedic mantras.

 

10.38.5

maivaḿ mamādhamasyāpi

syād evācyuta-darśanam

hriyamāṇaḥ kala-nadyā

kvacit tarati kaścana

 

mā evam — I should not think like this; mama — for me; adhamasya — who am most fallen; api — even; syāt — it may come about; eva — certainly; acyuta — of the infallible Lord; darśanam — the sight; hriyamāṇaḥ — being pulled along; kāla — of time; nadyā — by the river; kvacit — sometimes; tarati — crosses to the shore; kaścana — someone.

 

TRANSLATION

 

But enough of such thoughts! After all, even a fallen soul like me can have the chance to behold the infallible Supreme Lord, for one of the conditioned souls being swept along in the river of time may sometimes reach the shore.

 

10.38.6

mamādyāmańgalaḿ naṣṭaḿ

phalavāḿś caiva me bhavaḥ

yan namasye bhagavato

yogi-dhyeyānghri-pańkajam

 

mama — my; adya — today; amańgalam — inauspicious sinful reactions; naṣṭam — eradicated; phala-vān — fruitful; ca — and; eva — indeed; me — my; bhavaḥ — birth; yat — since; namasye — I am going to offer obeisances; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Lord; yogi-dhyeya — meditated upon by yogīs; ańghri — to the feet; pańkajam — lotuslike.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Today all my sinful reactions have been eradicated and my birth has become worthwhile, since I will offer my obeisances to the Supreme Lord's lotus feet, which mystic yogīs meditate upon.

 

10.38.7

kaḿso batādyākṛta me 'ty-anugrahaḿ

drakṣye 'ńghri-padmaḿ prahito 'munā hareḥ

kṛtāvatārasya duratyayaḿ tamaḥ

pūrve 'taran yan-nakha-maṇḍala-tviṣā

 

kaḿsaḥ — King Kaḿsa; bata — indeed; adya — today; akṛta — has done; me — toward me; ati-anugraham — an act of extreme kindness; drakṣye — I will see; ańghri-padmam — the lotus feet; prahitaḥ — sent; amunā — by him; hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kṛta — who has enacted; avatārasya — His descent to this world; duratyayam — insurmountable; tamaḥ — the darkness of material existence; pūrve — persons in the past; ataran — transcended; yat — whose; nakha-maṇḍala — of the orb of the toenails; tviṣā — by the effulgence.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Indeed, today King Kaḿsa has shown me extreme mercy by sending me to see the lotus feet of Lord Hari, who has now appeared in this world. Simply by the effulgence of His toenails, many souls in the past have transcended the insurmountable darkness of material existence and achieved liberation.

 

10.38.8

yad arcitaḿ brahma-bhavādibhiḥ suraiḥ

śriyā ca devyā munibhiḥ sa-sātvataiḥ

go-cāraṇāyānucaraiś carad vane

yad gopikānāḿ kuca-kuńkumāńkitam

 

yat — which (lotus feet); arcitam — worshiped; brahma-bhava — by Brahmā and Śiva; ādibhiḥ — and other; suraiḥ — demigods; śriyā — by Śrī; ca — also; devyā — the goddess of fortune; munibhiḥ — by the sages; sa-sātvataiḥ — along with the devotees; go — the cows; cāraṇāya — for tending; anucaraiḥ — together with His companions; carat — moving about; vane — in the forest; yat — which; gopikānām — of the cowherd girls; kuca — from the breasts; kuńkuma — by the red kuńkuma powder; ańkitam — marked.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Those lotus feet are worshiped by Brahmā, Śiva and all the other demigods, by the goddess of fortune, and also by the great sages and Vaiṣṇavas. Upon those lotus feet the Lord walks about the forest while herding the cows with His companions, and those feet are smeared with the kuńkuma from the gopīs' breasts.

 

10.38.9

drakṣyāmi nūnaḿ su-kapola-nāsikaḿ

smitāvalokāruṇa-kañja-locanam

mukhaḿ mukundasya guḍālakāvṛtaḿ

pradakṣiṇaḿ me pracaranti vai mṛgāḥ

 

drakṣyāmi — I am going to see; nūnam — for certain; su — beautiful; kapola — whose cheeks; nāsikam — and nose; smita — smiling; avaloka — with glances; aruṇa — reddish; kañja — lotuslike; locanam — the eyes; mukham — the face; mukundasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; guḍa — twisting; alaka — with hair; āvṛtam — framed; pradakṣiṇam — clockwise circumambulation; me — of me; pracaranti — are performing; vai — indeed; mṛgāḥ — the deer.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Surely I shall see the face of Lord Mukunda, since the deer are now walking past me on my right. That face, framed by His curly hair, is beautified by His attractive cheeks and nose, His smiling glances and His reddish lotus eyes.

 

10.38.10

apy adya viṣṇor manujatvam īyuṣo

bhārāvatārāya bhuvo nijecchayā

lāvaṇya-dhāmno bhavitopalambhanaḿ

mahyaḿ na na syāt phalam añjasā dṛśaḥ

 

api — furthermore; adya — today; viṣṇoḥ — of the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu; manujatvam — the form of a human being; īyuṣaḥ — who has assumed; bhāra — the burden; avatārāya — for diminishing; bhuvaḥ — of the earth; nija — by His own; icchayā — desire; lāvaṇya — of beauty; dhāmnaḥ — of the abode; bhavitā — there will be; upalambhanam — the perceiving; mahyam — for me; na — it is not the case; na syāt — that it will not happen; phalam — the fruit; añjasā — directly; dṛśaḥ — of sight.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I am going to see the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, the reservoir of all beauty, who by His own sweet will has now assumed a humanlike form to relieve the earth of her burden. Thus there is no denying that my eyes will achieve the perfection of their existence.

 

10.38.11

ya īkṣitāhaḿ-rahito 'py asat-satoḥ

sva-tejasāpāsta-tamo-bhidā-bhramaḥ

sva-māyayātman racitais tad-īkṣayā

prāṇākṣa-dhībhiḥ sadaneṣv abhīyate

 

yaḥ — who; īkṣitā — the witness; aham — false ego; rahitaḥ — devoid of; api — nevertheless; asat-satoḥ — of material products and causes; sva-tejasā — by His personal potency; apāsta — having dispelled; tamaḥ — the darkness of ignorance; bhidā — the idea of being separate; bhramaḥ — and bewilderment; sva-māyayā — by His material creative energy; ātman — within Himself; racitaiḥ — by those who are produced (the living entities); tat-īkṣayā — by His glancing upon that Māyā; prāṇa — by the vital airs; akṣa — the senses; dhībhiḥ — and intelligence; sadaneṣu — within the bodies of the living beings; abhīyate — His presence is surmised.

 

TRANSLATION

 

He is the witness of material cause and effect, yet He is always free from false identification with them. By His internal potency He dispels the darkness of separation and confusion. The individual souls in this world, who are manifested here when He glances upon His material creative energy, indirectly perceive Him in the activities of their life airs, senses and intelligence.

 

10.38.12

yasyākhilāmīva-habhiḥ su-mańgalaiḥ

vāco vimiśrā guṇa-karma-janmabhiḥ

prāṇanti śumbhanti punanti vai jagat

yās tad-viraktāḥ śava-śobhanā matāḥ

 

yasya — of whom; akhila — all; amīva — sins; habhiḥ — which destroy; su-mańgalaiḥ — most auspicious; vācaḥ — words; vimiśrāḥ — joined; guṇa — with the qualities; karma — activities; janmabhiḥ — and incarnations; prāṇanti — they give life; śumbhanti — make beautiful; punanti — and purify; vai — indeed; jagat — the entire universe; yāḥ — which (words); tat — of these; viraktāḥ — devoid; śava — of a corpse; śobhanāḥ — (like) the decorating; matāḥ — considered.

 

TRANSLATION

 

All sins are destroyed and all good fortune created by the Supreme Lord's qualities, activities and appearances, and words that describe these three things animate, beautify and purify the world. On the other hand, words bereft of His glories are like the decorations on a corpse.

 

10.38.13

sa cāvatīrṇaḥ kila satvatānvaye

sva-setu-pālāmara-varya-śarma-kṛt

yaśo vitanvan vraja āsta īśvaro

gāyanti devā yad aśeṣa-mańgalam

 

saḥ — He; ca — and; avatīrṇaḥ — having descended; kila — indeed; sātvata — of the Sātvatas; anvaye — in the dynasty; sva — His own; setu — codes of religion; pāla — who maintain; amara-varya — of the chief demigods; śarma — delight; kṛt — creating; yaśaḥ — His fame; vitanvan — spreading; vraje — in Vraja; āste — is present; īśvaraḥ — the Supreme Lord; gāyanti — sing; devāḥ — the demigods; yat — of which (fame); aśeṣa-mańgalam — all-auspicious.

 

TRANSLATION

 

That same Supreme Lord has descended into the dynasty of the Sātvatas to delight the exalted demigods, who maintain the principles of religion He has created. Residing in Vṛndāvana, He spreads His fame, which the demigods glorify in song and which brings auspiciousness to all.

 

10.38.14

taḿ tv adya nūnaḿ mahatāḿ gatiḿ guruḿ

trailokya-kāntaḿ dṛśiman-mahotsavam

rūpaḿ dadhānaḿ śriya īpsitāspadaḿ

drakṣye mamāsann uṣasaḥ su-darśanāḥ

 

tam — Him; tu — yet; adya — today; nūnam — certainly; mahatām — of great souls; gatim — the destination; gurum — and the spiritual master; trai-lokya — of all the three worlds; kāntam — the real beauty; dṛśi-mat — for all who have eyes; mahā-utsavam — a great festivity; rūpam — His personal form; dadhānam — exhibiting; śriyaḥ — of the goddess of fortune; īpsita — the desired; āspadam — place of shelter; drakṣye — I shall see; mama — my; āsan — have become; uṣasaḥ — the dawns; su-darśanāḥ — auspicious to see.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Today I shall certainly see Him, the goal and spiritual master of the great souls. Seeing Him brings jubilation to all who have eyes, for He is the true beauty of the universe. Indeed, His personal form is the shelter desired by the goddess of fortune. Now all the dawns of my life have become auspicious.

 

10.38.15

athāvarūḍhaḥ sapadīśayo rathāt

pradhāna-puḿsoś caraṇaḿ sva-labdhaye

dhiyā dhṛtaḿ yogibhir apy ahaḿ dhruvaḿ

namasya ābhyāḿ ca sakhīn vanaukasaḥ

 

atha — then; avarūḍhaḥ — getting down; sapadi — at once; īśayoḥ — of the two Lords; rathāt — from my chariot; pradhāna-puḿsoḥ — of the Supreme Personalities; caraṇam — to the feet; sva-labdhaye — for the sake of self-realization; dhiyā — with their intelligence; dhṛtam — held on to; yogibhiḥ — by mystic yogīs; api — even; aham — I; dhruvam — surely; namasye — will bow down; ābhyām — with Them; ca — also; sakhīn — to the friends; vana-okasaḥ — to the residents of the forest.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then I will at once alight from my chariot and bow down to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, the Supreme Personalities of Godhead. Theirs are the same feet that great mystic yogīs striving for self-realization bear within their minds. I will also offer my obeisances to the Lords' cowherd boyfriends and to all the other residents of Vṛndāvana.

 

10.38.16

apy ańghri-mūle patitasya me vibhuḥ

śirasy adhāsyan nija-hasta-pańkajam

dattābhayaḿ kāla-bhujāńga-raḿhasā

prodvejitānāḿ śaraṇaiṣiṇāḿ ṇṛnām

 

api — furthermore; ańghri — of His feet; mūle — at the base; patitasya — who have fallen; me — of me; vibhuḥ — the almighty Lord; śirasi — upon the head; adhāsyat — will place; nija — His own; hasta — hand; pańkajam — lotuslike; datta — which grants; abhayam — fearlessness; kāla — time; bhuja-ańga — of the serpent; raḿhasā — by the swift force; prodvejitānām — who are greatly disturbed; śaraṇa — shelter; eṣiṇām — searching for; nṛṇām — to persons.

 

TRANSLATION

 

And when I have fallen at His feet, the almighty Lord will place His lotus hand upon my head. For those who seek shelter in Him because they are greatly disturbed by the powerful serpent of time, that hand removes all fear.

 

10.38.17

samarhaṇaḿ yatra nidhāya kauśikas

tathā baliś cāpa jagat-trayendratām

yad vā vihāre vraja-yoṣitāḿ śramaḿ

sparśena saugandhika-gandhy apānudat

 

samarhaṇam — the respectful offering; yatra — into which; nidhāya — by placing; kauśikaḥ — Purandara; tathā — as well as; baliḥ — Bali Mahārāja; ca — also; āpa — attained; jagat — of the worlds; traya — three; indratām — rulership (as Indra, the King of heaven); yat — which (lotus hand of the Lord); vā — and; vihāre — during the pastimes (of the rāsa dance); vraja-yoṣitām — of the ladies of Vraja; śramam — the fatigue; sparśena — by their contact; saugandhika — like an aromatic flower; gandhi — fragrant; apānudat — wiped away.

 

TRANSLATION

 

By offering charity to that lotus hand, Purandara and Bali earned the status of Indra, King of heaven, and during the pleasure pastimes of the rāsa dance, when the Lord wiped away the gopīs' perspiration and removed their fatigue, the touch of their faces made that hand as fragrant as a sweet flower.

 

10.38.18

na mayy upaiṣyaty ari-buddhim acyutaḥ

kaḿsasya dūtaḥ prahito 'pi viśva-dṛk

yo 'ntar bahiś cetasa etad īhitaḿ

kṣetra-jña īkṣaty amalena cakṣuṣā

 

na — not; mayi — toward me; upaiṣyati — will He develop; ari — of being an enemy; buddhim — the attitude; acyutaḥ — the infallible Lord; kaḿsasya — of Kaḿsa; dūtaḥ — a messenger; prahitaḥ — sent; api — although; viśva — of everything; dṛk — the witness; yaḥ — who; antaḥ — inside; bahiḥ — and outside; cetasaḥ — of the heart; etat — this; īhitam — whatever is done; kṣetra — of the field (of the material body); jñaḥ — the knower; īkṣati — He sees; amalena — with perfect; cakṣuṣā — vision.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The infallible Lord will not consider me an enemy, even though Kaḿsa has sent me here as his messenger. After all, the omniscient Lord is the actual knower of the field of this material body, and with His perfect vision He witnesses, both externally and internally, all the endeavors of the conditioned soul's heart.

 

10.38.19

apy ańghri-mūle 'vahitaḿ kṛtāñjaliḿ

mām īkṣitā sa-smitam ārdrayā dṛśā

sapady apadhvasta-samasta-kilbiṣo

voḍhā mudaḿ vīta-viśańka ūrjitām

 

api — and; ańghri — of His feet; mūle — at the base; avahitam — fixed; kṛta-añjalim — with joined palms; mām — me; īkṣitā — will look upon; sasmitam — smiling; ārdrayā — with an affectionate; dṛśā — glance; sapadi — immediately; apadhvasta — eradicated; samasta — all; kilbiṣaḥ — contamination; voḍhā — I will achieve; mudam — happiness; vīta — freed; viśańkaḥ — from doubt; ūrjitām — intense.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus He will cast His smiling, affectionate glance upon me as I remain fixed with joined palms, fallen in obeisances at His feet. Then all my contamination will at once be dispelled, and I will give up all doubts and feel the most intense bliss.

 

10.38.20

suhṛttamaḿ jñātim ananya-daivataḿ

dorbhyāḿ bṛhadbhyāḿ parirapsyate 'tha mām

ātmā hi tīrthī-kriyate tadaiva me

bandhaś ca karmātmaka ucchvasity ataḥ

 

suhṛt-tamam — the best of friends; jñātim — a family member; ananya — exclusive; daivatam — (having Him) as my object of worship; dorbhyām — with His two arms; bṛhadbhyām — large; parirapsyate — He will embrace; atha — thereupon; mām — me; ātmā — the body; hi — indeed; tīrthī — sanctified; kriyate — will become; tadā eva — exactly then; me — my; bandhaḥ — the bondage; ca — and; karma-ātmakaḥ — due to fruitive activity; ucchvasiti — will become slackened; ataḥ — as a result of this.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Recognizing me as an intimate friend and relative, Kṛṣṇa will embrace me with His mighty arms, instantly sanctifying my body and diminishing to nil all my material bondage, which is due to fruitive activities.

 

10.38.21

labdhvāńga-sańgam praṇatam kṛtāñjaliḿ

māḿ vakṣyate 'krūra tatety uruśravāḥ

tadā vayaḿ janma-bhṛto mahīyasā

naivādṛto yo dhig amuṣya janma tat

 

labdhvā — having achieved; ańga-sańgam — physical contact; praṇatam — who am standing with head bowed; kṛta-añjalim — with palms joined together in supplication; mām — to me; vakṣyate — He will speak; akrūra — O Akrūra; tata — My dear relative; iti — in such words; uruśravāḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose fame is vast; tadā — then; vayam — we; janma-bhṛtaḥ — our birth becoming successful; mahīyasā — by the greatest of all persons; na — not; eva — indeed; ādṛtaḥ — honored; yaḥ — who; dhik — to be pitied; amuṣya — his; janma — birth; tat — that.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Having been embraced by the all-famous Lord Kṛṣṇa, I will humbly stand before Him with bowed head and joined palms, and He will address me, "My dear Akrūra." At that very moment my life's purpose will be fulfilled. Indeed, the life of anyone whom the Supreme Personality fails to recognize is simply pitiable.

 

10.38.22

na tasya kaścid dayitaḥ suhṛttamo

na cāpriyo dveṣya upekṣya eva vā

tathāpi bhaktān bhajate yathā tathā

sura-drumo yadvad upāśrito 'rtha-daḥ

 

na tasya — He does not have; kaścit — any; dayitaḥ — favorite; suhṛttamaḥ — best friend; na ca — nor; apriyaḥ — unfavored; dveṣyaḥ — hated: upekṣyaḥ — neglected; eva — indeed; vā — or; tathā api — still; bhaktān — with His devotees; bhajate — He reciprocates; yathā — as they are; tathā — accordingly; sura-drumaḥ — a heavenly desire tree; yadvat — just as; upāśritaḥ — taken shelter of; artha — desired benefits; daḥ — giving.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Lord has no favorite and no dearmost friend, nor does He consider anyone undesirable, despicable or fit to be neglected. All the same, He lovingly reciprocates with His devotees in whatever manner they worship Him, just as the trees of heaven fulfill the desires of whoever approaches them.

 

10.38.23

kiḿ cāgrajo māvanataḿ yadūttamaḥ

smayan pariṣvajya gṛhītam añjalau

gṛhaḿ praveṣyāpta-samasta-satkṛtaḿ

samprakṣyate kaḿsa-kṛtaḿ sva-bandhuṣu

 

kim ca — furthermore; agra-jaḥ — His elder brother (Lord Balarāma); mā — me; avanatam — who am standing with head bowed; yadu-uttamaḥ — the most exalted of the Yadus; smayan — smiling; pariṣvajya — embracing; gṛhītam — taken hold of; añjalau — by my joined palms; gṛham — His house; praveṣya — bringing into; āpta — who will have received; samasta — all; sat-kṛtam — signs of respect; samprakṣyate — He will inquire; kaḿsa — by Kaḿsa; kṛtam — what has been done; sva-bandhuṣu — to His family members.

 

TRANSLATION

 

And then Lord Kṛṣṇa's elder brother, the foremost of the Yadus, will grasp my joined hands while I am still standing with my head bowed, and after embracing me He will take me to His house. There He will honor me with all items of ritual welcome and inquire from me about how Kaḿsa has been treating His family members.

 

10.38.24

śrī-śuka uvāca

iti sañcintayan kṛṣṇaḿ

śvaphalka-tanayo 'dhvani

rathena gokulaḿ prāptaḥ

sūryaś cāsta-giriḿ nṛpa

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; sañcintayan — thinking deeply; kṛṣṇam — about Lord Kṛṣṇa; śvaphalka-tanayaḥ — Akrūra, the son of Śvaphalka; adhvani — on the road; rathena — by his chariot; gokulam — the village of Gokula; prāptaḥ — reached; sūryaḥ — the sun; ca — and; asta-girim — the mountain behind which the sun sets; nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit).

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: My dear King, while the son of Śvaphalka, traveling on the road, thus meditated deeply on Śrī Kṛṣṇa, he reached Gokula as the sun was beginning to set.

 

10.38.25

padāni tasyākhila-loka-pāla-

kirīṭa-juṣṭāmala-pāda-reṇoḥ

dadarśa goṣṭhe kṣiti-kautukāni

vilakṣitāny abja-yavāńkuśādyaiḥ

 

padāni — the footprints; tasya — of Him; akhila — all; loka — of the planets; pāla — by the superintendents; kirīṭa — upon their crowns; juṣṭa — placed; amala — pure; pāda — of His feet; reṇoḥ — the dust; dadarśa — he (Akrūra) saw; goṣṭhe — in the cow pasture; kṣiti — the earth; kautakāni — wonderfully decorating; vilakṣitāni — distinguishable; abja — by the lotus; yava — barleycorn; ańkuśa — elephant goad; ādyaiḥ — and so on.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In the cowherd pasture Akrūra saw the footprints of those feet whose pure dust the rulers of all the planets in the universe hold on their crowns. Those footprints of the Lord, distinguished by such marks as the lotus, barleycorn and elephant goad, made the ground wonderfully beautiful.

 

10.38.26

tad-darśanāhlāda-vivṛddha-sambhramaḥ

premṇordhva-romāśru-kalākulekṣaṇaḥ

rathād avaskandya sa teṣv aceṣṭata

prabhor amūny ańghri-rajāḿsy aho iti

 

tat — of Lord Kṛṣṇa's footprints; darśana — from the sight; āhlāda — by the ecstasy; vivṛddha — greatly increased; sambhramaḥ — whose agitation; premṇā — out of pure love; ūrdhva — standing erect; roma — whose bodily hairs; aśru-kalā — with teardrops; ākula — filled; īkṣaṇaḥ — whose eyes; rathāt — from the chariot; avaskandya — getting down; saḥ — he, Akrūra; teṣu — among those (footprints); aceṣṭata — rolled about; prabhoḥ — of my master; amūni — these; ańghri — from the feet; rajāḿsi — particles of dust; aho — ah; iti — with these words.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Increasingly agitated by ecstasy at seeing the Lord's footprints, his bodily hairs standing on end because of his pure love, and his eyes filled with tears, Akrūra jumped down from his chariot and began rolling about among those footprints, exclaiming, "Ah, this is the dust from my master's feet!"

 

10.38.27

dehaḿ-bhṛtām iyān artho

hitvā dambhaḿ bhiyaḿ śucam

sandeśād yo harer lińga-

darśana-śravaṇādibhiḥ

 

deham-bhṛtām — of embodied beings; iyān — this much; arthaḥ — the goal of life; hitvā — giving up; dambham — pride; bhiyam — fear; śucam — and sorrow; sandeśāt — beginning from his being ordered (by Kaḿsa); yaḥ — which; hareḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; lińga — the signs; darśana — with the seeing; śravaṇa — hearing about; ādibhiḥ — and so on.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The very goal of life for all embodied beings is this ecstasy, which Akrūra experienced when, upon receiving Kaḿsa's order, he put aside all pride, fear and lamentation and absorbed himself in seeing, hearing and describing the things that reminded him of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

 

10.38.28-33

dadarśa kṛṣṇaḿ rāmaḿ ca

vraje go-dohanaḿ gatau

pīta-nīlāmbara-dharau

śarad-amburahekṣaṇau

 

kiśorau śyāmala-śvetau

śrī-niketau bṛhad-bhujau

su-mukhau sundara-varau

bala-dvirada-vikramau

 

dhvaja-vajrāńkuśāmbhojaiś

cihnitair ańghribhir vrajam

śobhayantau mahātmānau

sānukrośa-smitekṣaṇau

 

udāra-rucira-krīḍau

sragviṇau vana-mālinau

puṇya-gandhānuliptāńgau

snātau viraja-vāsasau

 

pradhāna-puruṣāv ādyau

jagad-dhetū jagat-patī

avatīrṇau jagaty-arthe

svāḿśena bala-keśavau

 

diśo vitimirā rājan

kurvāṇau prabhayā svayā

yathā mārakataḥ śailo

raupyaś ca kanakācitau

 

dadarśa — he saw; kṛṣṇam rāmam ca — Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma; vraje — in the village of Vraja; go — the cows; dohanam — to the place of milking; gatau — gone; pīta-nīla — yellow and blue; ambara — clothes; dharau — wearing; śarat — of the autumn season; amburuha — like lotuses; īkṣaṇau — whose eyes;

 

kiśorau — the two youths; śyāmala-śvetau — dark-blue and white; śrī-niketau — the shelters of the goddess of fortune; bṛhat — mighty; bhujau — whose arms; su-mukhau — with attractive faces; sundara-varau — the most beautiful; bala — young; dvirada — like an elephant; vikramau — whose walking;

 

dhvaja — by the flag; vajra — lightning bolt; ańkuśa — elephant goad; ambhojaiḥ — and lotus; cihnitaiḥ — marked; ańghribhiḥ — with Their feet; vrajam — the cow pasture; śobhayantau — beautifying; mahā-ātmānau — great souls; sa-anukrośa — compassionate; smita — and smiling; īkṣaṇau — whose glances;

 

udāra — magnanimous; rucira — and attractive; krīḍau — whose pastimes; srak-vinau — wearing jeweled necklaces; vana-mālinau — and wearing flower garlands; puṇya — auspicious; gandha — with fragrant substances; anulipta — anointed; ańgau — whose limbs; snātau — freshly bathed; viraja — spotless; vāsasau — whose garments;

 

pradhāna — the most exalted; puruṣau — two persons; ādyau — primeval; jagat-dhetū — the causes of the universe; jagat-patī — the masters of the universe; avatīrṇau — having descended; jagati-arthe — for the benefit of the universe; sva-aḿśena — in Their distinct forms; bala-keśavau — Balarāma and Keśava;

 

diśaḥ — all the directions; vitimirāḥ — free from darkness; rājan — O King; kurvāṇau — making; prabhayā — with the effulgence; svayā — Their own; yathā — as; mārakataḥ — made of emerald; śailaḥ — a mountain; raupyaḥ — one made of silver; ca — and; kanaka — with gold; acitau — both decorated.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Akrūra then saw Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma in the village of Vraja, going to milk the cows. Kṛṣṇa wore yellow garments, Balarāma blue, and Their eyes resembled autumnal lotuses. One of those two mighty-armed youths, the shelters of the goddess of fortune, had a dark-blue complexion, and the other's was white. With Their fine-featured faces They were the most beautiful of all persons. As They walked with the gait of young elephants, glancing about with compassionate smiles, Those two exalted personalities beautified the cow pasture with the impressions of Their feet, which bore the marks of the flag, lightning bolt, elephant goad and lotus. The two Lords, whose pastimes are most magnanimous and attractive, were ornamented with jeweled necklaces and flower garlands, anointed with auspicious, fragrant substances, freshly bathed, and dressed in spotless raiment. They were the primeval Supreme Personalities, the masters and original causes of the universes, who had for the welfare of the earth now descended in Their distinct forms of Keśava and Balarāma. O King Parīkṣit, They resembled two gold-bedecked mountains, one of emerald and the other of silver, as with Their effulgence They dispelled the sky's darkness in all directions.

 

10.38.34

rathāt tūrṇam avaplutya

so 'krūraḥ sneha-vihvalaḥ

papāta caraṇopānte

daṇḍa-vad rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ

 

rathāt — from his chariot; tūrṇam — quickly; avaplutya — climbing down; saḥ — he; akrūraḥ — Akrūra; sneha — by affection; vihvalaḥ — overcome; papāta — fell; caraṇa-upānte — next to the feet; daṇḍa-vat — flat like a rod; rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ — of Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Akrūra, overwhelmed with affection, quickly jumped down from his chariot and fell at the feet of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma like a rod.

 

10.38.35

bhagavad-darśanāhlāda-

bāṣpa-paryākulekṣaṇaḥ

pulakacitāńga autkaṇṭhyāt

svākhyāne nāśakan nṛpa

 

bhagavat — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; darśana — because of seeing; āhlāda — due to the joy; bāṣpa — with tears; paryākula — overflowing; īkṣaṇaḥ — whose eyes; pulaka — with eruptions; ācita — marked; ańgaḥ — whose limbs; autkaṇṭhyāt — from eagerness; sva-ākhyāne — to announce himself; na aśakat — he was not able; nṛpa — O King.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The joy of seeing the Supreme Lord flooded Akrūra's eyes with tears and decorated his limbs with eruptions of ecstasy. He felt such eagerness that he could not speak to present himself, O King.

 

10.38.36

bhagavāḿs tam abhipretya

rathāńgāńkita-pāṇinā

parirebhe 'bhyupākṛṣya

prītaḥ praṇata-vatsalaḥ

 

bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; tam — him, Akrūra; abhipretya — recognizing; ratha-ańga — with a chariot wheel; ańkita — marked; pāṇinā — by His hand; parirebhe — He embraced; abhyupākṛṣya — pulling near; prītaḥ — pleased; praṇata — to those who are surrendered; vatsalaḥ — who is benignly disposed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Recognizing Akrūra, Lord Kṛṣṇa drew him close with His hand, which bears the sign of the chariot wheel, and then embraced him. Kṛṣṇa felt pleased, for He is always benignly disposed toward His surrendered devotees.

 

10.38.37-38

sańkarṣaṇaś ca praṇatam

upaguhya mahā-manāḥ

gṛhītvā pāṇinā pāṇī

anayat sānujo gṛham

 

pṛṣṭvātha sv-āgataḿ tasmai

nivedya ca varāsanam

prakṣālya vidhi-vat pādau

madhu-parkārhaṇam āharat

 

sańkarṣaṇaḥ — Lord Balarāma; ca — and; praṇatam — who was standing with his head bowed; upaguhya — embracing; mahā-manāḥ — magnanimous; gṛhītvā — taking hold of; pāṇinā — with His hand; pāṇī — his two hands; anayat — He took; sa-anujaḥ — with His younger brother (Lord Kṛṣṇa); gṛham — to His residence;

 

pṛṣṭvā — inquiring; atha — then; su-āgatam — about the comfort of his trip; tasmai — to him; nivedya — offering; ca — and; vara — excellent; āsanam — a seat; prakṣālya — washing; vidhi-vat — in accordance with scriptural injunctions; pādau — his feet; madhu-parka — honey mixed with milk; arhaṇam — as a respectful offering; āharat — He brought.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As Akrūra stood with his head bowed, Lord Sańkarṣaṇa [Balarāma] grasped his joined hands, and then Balarāma took him to His house in the company of Lord Kṛṣṇa. After inquiring from Akrūra whether his trip had been comfortable, Balarāma offered him a first-class seat, bathed his feet in accordance with the injunctions of scripture and respectfully served him milk with honey.

 

10.38.39

nivedya gāḿ cātithaye

saḿvāhya śrāntam āḍṛtaḥ

annaḿ bahu-guṇaḿ medhyaḿ

śraddhayopāharad vibhuḥ

 

nivedya — presenting in charity; gām — a cow; ca — and; atithaye — to the guest; saḿvāhya — massaging; śrāntam — who was tired; adṛtaḥ — with great respect; annam — cooked food; bahu-guṇam — of various tastes; medhyam — suitable for offering; śraddhayā — faithfully; upāharat — offered; vibhuḥ — the almighty Lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The almighty Lord Balarāma presented Akrūra with the gift of a cow, massaged his feet to relieve him of fatigue and then with great respect and faith fed him suitably prepared food of various fine tastes.

 

10.38.40

tasmai bhuktavate prītyā

rāmaḥ parama-dharma-vit

makha-vāsair gandha-mālyaiḥ

parāḿ prītiḿ vyadhāt punaḥ

 

tasmai — to him; bhuktavate — who had finished eating; prītyā — affectionately; rāmaḥ — Lord Balarāma; parama — the supreme; dharma-vit — knower of religious principles; mukha-vāsaiḥ — with aromatic herbs for sweetening the mouth; gandha — with perfume; mālyaiḥ — and flower garlands; parām — the highest; prītim — satisfaction; vyadhāt — arranged; punaḥ — further.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Akrūra had eaten to his satisfaction,, Lord Balarāma, the supreme knower of religious duties, offered him aromatic herbs for sweetening his mouth, along with fragrances and flower garlands. Thus Akrūra once again enjoyed the highest pleasure.

 

10.38.41

papraccha sat-kṛtaḿ nandaḥ

kathaḿ stha niranugrahe

kaḿse jīvati dāśārha

sauna-pālā ivāvayaḥ

 

papraccha — asked; sat-kṛtam — who had been honored; nandaḥ — Nanda Mahārāja; katham — how; stha — you are living; niranugrahe — the merciless; kaḿse — Kaḿsa; jīvati — while he is alive; dāśārha — O descendant of Daśārha; sauna — an animal slaughterer; pālāḥ — whose keeper; iva — just like; avayaḥ — sheep.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nanda Mahārāja asked Akrūra: O descendant of Daśārha, how are all of you maintaining yourselves while that merciless Kaḿsa remains alive? You are just like sheep under the care of a butcher.

 

10.38.42

yo 'vadhīt sva-svasus tokān

krośantyā asu-tṛp khalaḥ

kiḿ nu svit tat-prajānāḿ vaḥ

kuśalaḿ vimṛśāmahe

 

yaḥ — who; avadhīt — killed; sva — of his own; svasuḥ — sister; tokān — the babies; krośantyāḥ — who was crying; asu-tṛp — self-indulgent; khalaḥ — cruel; kim nu — what then; svit — indeed; tat — his; prajānām — of the subjects; vaḥ — you; kuśalam — well-being; vimṛśāmahe — we should conjecture.

 

TRANSLATION

 

That cruel, self-serving Kaḿsa murdered the infants of his own sister in her presence, even as she cried in anguish. So why should we even ask about the well-being of you, his subjects?

 

10.38.43

itthaḿ sūnṛtayā vācā

nandena su-sabhājitaḥ

akrūraḥ paripṛṣṭena

jahāv adhva-pariśramam

 

ittham — thus; sū-nṛtayā — very true and pleasing; vācā — with words; nandena — by Nanda Mahārāja; su — well; sabhājitaḥ — honored; akrūraḥ — Akrūra; paripṛṣṭena — by the inquiry; jahau — put aside; adhva — of the road; pariśramam — his fatigue.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Honored by Nanda Mahārāja with these true and pleasing words of inquiry, Akrūra forgot the fatigue of his journey.