As Akrura journeyed toward Gokula, his heart brimmed with anticipation and devotion. He reflected, “Today, Kaṁsa has, in truth, bestowed upon me the greatest favor, for I shall behold with my own eyes the lotus feet of Lord Hari—He who has descended to earth as an incarnation. Once, even the sages of old could not cross the darkness that those radiant toenails dispelled.” He thought of those divine feet—worshipped by Brahmā, Śiva, and all the gods, by the goddess Śrī herself, by sages, and by the Sātvatas. Those same feet wander the forest paths, moving among the cows and His companions, marked with the saffron from the gopīs’ loving embrace. Akrura’s mind soared at the prospect: “Surely, I will gaze upon Mukunda’s beautiful face, with its graceful cheeks and nose, His gentle smile and sidelong glances, His lotus-red eyes framed by curling locks, around which even deer seem to circumambulate in awe.” He yearned, “Perhaps today my eyes will finally attain their true purpose: to see Viṣṇu Himself, who has assumed a human form by His own will, to relieve the earth’s burden, and who is the very embodiment of beauty.” Akrura’s reverence deepened as he pondered: “He whom I am about to see is beyond ego and duality, yet by His own radiance, He dispels the darkness of ignorance. Through His māyā, He is perceived in the homes of beings—through their life, senses, and intellect.” He recalled, “His words, His auspicious qualities, His deeds and birth—these destroy all inauspiciousness, enliven, purify, and sanctify the world. Those who remain indifferent to Him are like beautiful corpses, alive in form but dead in spirit.” Akrura marveled, “He has descended in the lineage of the Sātvatas, delighting the greatest of gods who guard their realms. His fame spreads through Vraja, where even the gods sing of His all-auspicious deeds.” With hope, he thought, “Today I shall see Him—the supreme goal of the great, the teacher, the delight of the three worlds, a festival for the eyes, and the very abode desired by Śrī. At dawn, my own eyes will be blessed.” He imagined, “As He descends from the chariot, I shall finally bow before those feet, which even yogis hold in their minds. I shall bow alongside His friends and the forest-dwellers, and perhaps the Lord will place His own lotus hand upon my head as I fall at His feet, granting fearlessness to those terrified by the serpent of Time, to all who seek refuge.” Akrura recalled the power of that touch: “By His touch, Kauśika (Viśvāmitra) and Bali attained lordship over the three worlds; and in playful affection, He would relieve the fatigue of the women of Vraja with His fragrant hand.” He trusted, “Acyuta, who sees all, will not regard me with enmity, even though I am Kaṁsa’s messenger. He, the knower of all hearts, perceives with pure vision every deed, both within and without, done by the mind.” He prayed, “Perhaps He will look upon me, fallen at His feet with folded hands, with a gentle, smiling, compassionate gaze. Then, all my sins will be destroyed, and I shall be filled with great, fearless joy.” He longed, “The best of friends, my kinsman, my only deity, will embrace me with His broad arms. In that instant, He sanctifies me, and my bondage, born of karma, is dispelled.” Akrura resolved, “When I, bowing with folded hands, attain the touch of His limbs, and He speaks to me, then—if we, though born as humans, are not honored by Him—such a birth is indeed to be lamented.” He reflected on the Lord’s impartial love: “He has no dearest, no best friend, nor anyone unloved, hated, or neglected. Yet, just as the wish-fulfilling tree gives to all who approach, so does He favor His devotees.” Meanwhile, in Gokula, the eldest and foremost among the Yadus, smiling, embraced the one who had bowed to him, led him into the house where all honors were prepared, and inquired about the troubles Kaṁsa had caused among his kin. Śuka then narrated: As Akrura’s heart overflowed with thoughts of Krishna, he arrived at Gokula by chariot, just as the sun reaches the western mountain at day’s end. There, in the cowherd settlement, he saw the footprints of the Lord—whose dust is worn by the rulers of the worlds upon their crowns—distinguished by marks of the lotus, barleycorn, and goad. Flooded with joy and reverent excitement, his eyes brimming with tears and his hair standing on end in loving ecstasy, Akrura descended from his chariot and moved among those blessed footprints, exclaiming, “Ah! This is the dust of the Lord’s feet!” For embodied beings, he knew, the greatest blessing is to abandon pride, fear, and sorrow—achieved first by seeing, hearing, or contacting the signs of Hari. Then he saw Krishna and Rama in Vraja, returning from the milking of the cows, adorned in yellow and blue garments, their eyes like autumn lotuses. They were youthful—one dark, one fair—abodes of beauty, with broad arms, handsome faces, splendid forms, and the strength and gait of young elephants. These great souls, with feet marked by banners, thunderbolts, goads, and lotuses, adorned Vraja with their presence, their glances brimming with compassion and gentle smiles. Noble and charming in their play, adorned with garlands and forest wreaths, their bodies anointed with sacred fragrances, bathed and clad in spotless garments, they shone. The two, the primeval Purushas, causes and lords of the world, had descended as Balarama and Keshava—manifesting their own divine portions for the sake of the earth. Their radiance dispelled darkness in all directions, like an emerald and a silver mountain adorned with gold. Overwhelmed with affection, Akrura leapt from the chariot and fell prostrate at the feet of Rama and Krishna. Overjoyed at the sight of the Lord, his eyes streaming with tears and his body covered with goosebumps, he was so eager that he could not even speak his own name. The Lord, marked by the chariot wheel upon His hand, approached and embraced Akrura, drawing him near with loving affection, for He delights in those who bow before Him. Sankarshana, of great mind, also embraced Akrura, took his hand, and together with Krishna, led him into the house. After inquiring about his welfare and offering him an honored seat, they washed his feet and brought him the traditional honey-mixture as a welcome. They presented a cow to their guest and respectfully massaged his tired limbs. The Lord then offered him abundant, pure food with heartfelt devotion. When Akrura had eaten, Rama, the supreme knower of dharma, again honored him with scents and garlands used in sacrifice. Nanda, too, having honored him, asked, “How are you faring in this unkind place while Kaṁsa still lives, O Dāśārha? Are we not like cowherds under a cruel master?” He lamented, “That wicked one, who killed his own nephews as their mothers cried out in anguish—how could there be well-being for you and your people?” Thus, honored by Nanda’s sincere words and kind inquiries, Akrura let go of the fatigue of his journey. Śuka continued: Seated comfortably upon a couch, honored by Rama and Krishna, Akrura attained all the desires he had cherished along the road. For what is unattainable when the Lord, the abode of fortune, is pleased? Yet, O King, those devoted to Him desire nothing at all. After the evening meal, the Blessed One, son of Devakī, inquired among His friends about Kaṁsa’s conduct and his latest intentions.