As the journey continued, O King, villagers gathered along the road, their hearts brimming with delight as they beheld the sons of Vasudeva. Their eyes, captivated by the sight, could not turn away. Meanwhile, the residents of Vraja, led by Nanda and the cowherds, reached the gardens on the outskirts of the city and waited there, filled with anticipation. There, the Lord of the universe Himself met them. Smiling warmly, He greeted Akrūra, taking his offered hand into His own. The Lord then spoke gently to Akrūra: “You should enter the city and your house ahead of us, accompanied by your chariot. We will remain here for now and later come to see the city.” Akrūra, filled with devotion, replied, “O Lord, I cannot enter Mathurā without You both. Please do not abandon me, O Master, for I am Your devotee and You are ever 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 feet, the great Bali became worthy of praise and attained incomparable prosperity and the path of ultimate devotion. The water that washed Your feet purified the three worlds; Śiva placed it 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.” Śuka then said: Thus addressed by the Lord, Akrūra, though troubled in mind, entered the city. He reported his task to Kaṁsa and then went to his own house. Later, in the afternoon, Lord Kṛṣṇa, accompanied by Saṅkarṣaṇa and surrounded by cowherds eager to see the city, entered Mathurā. He beheld the city’s lofty crystal gates and grand doorways adorned with golden arches. The walls, plated with copper, rose high, moats deep and difficult to cross encircled the city, and gardens and groves enhanced its beauty. The city shone with palaces crowned by golden spires and balconies, with rows of assembly halls and mansions. Balustrades and altars were inlaid with beryl, diamonds, spotless sapphires, coral, pearls, and emeralds. Latticed windows, doorways, and floors echoed with the calls of pigeons and peacocks. The streets, markets, and crossroads were sprinkled with water and strewn with garlands, sandalwood powder, and grains of rice. Doorways and homes were beautifully adorned with full pots anointed with yogurt and sandal paste, rows of flowers and lamps with tender leaves, clusters of plantain trees, and festoons of cloth banners. As Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma entered the city, surrounded by their friends and following the royal road, the women of Mathurā, eager to see them, hurried forth. Filled with excitement, they climbed to the tops of their mansions. In their haste, some put on their clothes and ornaments incorrectly, some forgot to finish dressing, some wore only one earring or anklet, while others adorned only one eye with collyrium. Some, leaving their meals unfinished and the festival aside, came without bathing; others, roused from sleep by the commotion, left their children unweaned and hurried out—even the mothers. With lotus eyes, bold playful glances, and gentle smiles, Kṛṣṇa stole the minds of those women, much like a proud, intoxicated elephant, bringing joy to their eyes and delight to their hearts. Again and again, as they gazed upon Him, their minds drawn as they had heard, the women’s pride was awakened by His smiling glances. They embraced with their eyes the very embodiment of bliss, and their skin bristled with joy as they forgot all their sorrows. Their faces blooming with happiness, the women on the rooftops showered flowers of good wishes upon Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. The delighted brāhmaṇas, at various places, worshipped them with curds, unbroken rice, water vessels, garlands, fragrant substances, and other offerings. The townspeople marveled, saying, “Oh, what great austerity did the cowherd women perform, that they are able to see these two, the great festival of the human world?” As they walked on, Kṛṣṇa, the elder brother of Gadā, saw a washerman approaching—a dyer—and asked him for some fine, clean clothes. He said, “O good man, give us suitable garments, for we are worthy; you will gain the highest good by giving—of this there is no doubt.” But the king’s servant, filled with arrogance, replied with contempt and anger, “Such clothes are only for those who dwell in the forest and mountains; why do you, so bold, desire the king’s property? Go quickly, children; do not ask for such things if you wish to live. The royal households, proud as they are, bind, kill, and plunder.” Thus boasting, the son of Devakī became angry and, with His hand, struck the washerman’s head from his body. All his attendants, abandoning their bundles of garments, fled in every direction, and Acyuta took the clothes. Kṛṣṇa and Saṅkarṣaṇa dressed themselves in garments pleasing to their hearts and gave the remaining clothes to the cowherds, leaving some on the ground. Then a tailor, delighted, prepared attire for the two with garments of various colors and suitable designs. Kṛṣṇa and Rāma shone forth in their diverse attire, adorned like young elephants—one fair and one dark—at a festival. The Lord, pleased with the tailor, granted him likeness to Himself, supreme fortune in the world, strength, sovereignty, memory, and mastery of the senses. Next, they went to the house of Sudāmā, the garland-maker. Seeing them, Sudāmā rose and bowed his head to the ground. He brought seats for them, offered water for their feet, and honored them and their companions with garlands, betel, ointments, and other offerings. With reverence, Sudāmā said, “O Lord, my birth has become meaningful and my lineage purified; my ancestors and gods are pleased with me by your arrival. You two are indeed the supreme cause of the universe, descended in partial form for the welfare and prosperity of the world. Your vision is never partial, O friends and souls of the world; you are equal to all beings, even to those who worship or are worshipped by you.