Akrūra, filled with devotion and awe, offered heartfelt salutations to the Supreme Lord in His many wondrous forms. He bowed to the vast, shoreless One, the mighty sustainer who had lifted Mandara mountain and who delights in uplifting the earth, honoring Him in the form of the great Boar. He praised the Lord as the wondrous Lion who removes the fear of the virtuous, and as Vāmana, who traversed the three worlds with His steps. Akrūra continued, offering obeisance to the Lord of the Bhṛgus, destroyer of the prideful Kṣatriyas in the forest, and to the best of the Raghus, the one who vanquished Rāvaṇa. He saluted Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha, the Lords of the Sātvatas, and bowed to Buddha, the pure one who deludes the Daityas and Dānavas, and to Kalki, the destroyer of the impure and unrighteous rulers. Reflecting on the nature of existence, Akrūra acknowledged that the world of living beings is bewildered by the Lord’s māyā. Bound by false notions of ‘I’ and ‘mine,’ they wander along the paths of karma. He confessed his own delusion, saying that he roams among things like body, children, home, wealth, and relatives, mistaking them for reality, lost in dreamlike illusions. His mind, confused by opposites and immersed in darkness, fails to recognize what is truly dear to his own self, being attached to impermanent, non-self, and painful things. He likened his pursuit of worldly pleasures to an ignorant person who, leaving water concealed by vegetation, chases after a mirage. Turning away from the Lord, he finds himself chasing illusions. Overwhelmed by desires and actions, his pitiable mind cannot restrain itself, carried away by the senses, which are difficult to control. With humility, Akrūra declared that he had come to the Lord’s feet, which are difficult for the unworthy to attain, and even this he considered to be only by the Lord’s grace. He recognized that liberation from the cycle of birth and death comes when the mind is devoted to proper worship of the Lotus-naveled One. He offered salutations to the One who is pure consciousness, the cause of all certitude, the Lord of Puruṣa and Pradhāna, the Brahman of infinite power. He bowed to Vāsudeva, the destroyer of all beings, and to Hṛṣīkeśa, surrendering himself and seeking protection. Thus concluded the fortieth chapter, named "Akrūra's Praise," in the first half of the tenth book of the glorious Bhagavata Mahapurana, the scripture of the supreme renunciates. Śuka continued the tale: As Akrūra offered his praises, the Lord revealed His divine form in the water, and then, like an actor concluding his performance, Kṛṣṇa withdrew the vision once more. Seeing that the vision had vanished, Akrūra quickly emerged from the water, completed all his necessary duties, and, astonished, returned to the chariot. Hṛṣīkeśa, perceiving Akrūra’s amazement, asked him, “What wondrous thing did you see—on earth, in the sky, or in the water—that you appear so amazed?” Akrūra replied, “Whatever marvels exist here—on earth, in the sky, or in the water—are all found in You, the soul of the universe. What could I have seen that is not already known to me? Wherever all wonders are found, seeing You, O Brahman, what marvel could I have witnessed here?” Having spoken thus, Akrūra, the son of Gāndinī, urged the chariot onward, and at day's end brought Rāma and Kṛṣṇa to Mathurā. Along the way, villagers gathered here and there, and, seeing the sons of Vasudeva, were delighted, unable to turn their gaze away. Meanwhile, the residents of Vraja, led by Nanda and the cowherds, arrived at the city’s gardens and waited there in anticipation. Meeting them, the Lord, master of the universe, greeted Akrūra, taking his extended hand in His own, smiling warmly. The Lord said, “You should enter the city and your house ahead of us, accompanied by your chariot. We will remain here for now, and then come to see the city.” But Akrūra pleaded, “O Lord, I will not enter Mathurā without You both. Do not abandon me, O master, for I am Your devotee and You are fond of Your devotees. Come, let us go to our homes and make them blessed, O Acyuta, together with Your elder brother, the cowherds, and Your dearest friends. Sanctify the homes of us householders with the dust of Your feet; by its purity, even the ancestors, the sacrificial fires, and the gods are never fully satisfied. After washing Your pair of feet, the great Bali became worthy of praise, attained incomparable prosperity, and the ultimate devoted path. The waters from washing Your feet purified the three worlds; Śiva placed them on his head, and the sons of Sagara ascended to heaven. O God of gods, Lord of the universe, whose hearing and praise are holy, O foremost among the Yadus, praised by the best of hymns, O Nārāyaṇa, I bow to You.” The Blessed Lord replied, “I will come to your house, accompanied by the noble ones. After slaying the wicked Yadu king, I will bring joy to my friends.” Thus addressed by the Lord, Akrūra, though troubled in mind, entered the city, reported his task to Kaṃsa, and went to his house. Later, in the afternoon, Lord Kṛṣṇa, accompanied by Saṅkarṣaṇa and surrounded by cowherds eager to see the city, entered Mathurā. Kṛṣṇa gazed upon the city with its lofty crystal gates, grand doorways adorned with golden arches, copper-plated walls, deep moats difficult to cross, and gardens and groves enhancing its beauty. The city was adorned with palaces having golden spires and balconies, rows of assembly halls and mansions, and decorated with balustrades and altars inlaid with beryl, diamonds, spotless sapphires, coral, pearls, and emeralds. Latticed windows, doorways, and floors were filled with the sounds of pigeons and peacocks; the streets, markets, and crossroads were sprinkled with water and strewn with garlands, sandalwood powder, and rice grains. Doorways and houses were beautifully decorated with full pots anointed with yogurt and sandal paste, rows of flowers and lamps with tender leaves, clusters of plantain trees, and festoons with cloth banners. As the two sons of Vasudeva entered, surrounded by their friends and following the royal road, the women of the city, eager to see them, hurried forth and climbed the mansions, filled with excitement. Some, in their haste, put on their clothes and ornaments incorrectly, some forgot to finish dressing, some wore only one earring or one anklet, and others adorned only one eye with collyrium. Some, leaving their meals unfinished and the festival aside, came without bathing; others, rising from sleep at the sound, left their children unweaned and hurried out, even the mothers. Thus, the arrival of Kṛṣṇa and Saṅkarṣaṇa in Mathurā filled the city with wonder, joy, and anticipation, as all hearts turned toward the divine presence.