As Akrūra arrived, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the master of the universe, greeted him warmly, smiling as He took Akrūra’s extended hand in His own. With gentle affection, Kṛṣṇa 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, his heart full of devotion, replied, “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.” Kṛṣṇa 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, Akrūra, though troubled in mind, entered the city, reported his task to Kaṃsa, and went to his house. Later that afternoon, Lord Kṛṣṇa, accompanied by Saṅkarṣaṇa and surrounded by cowherds eager to see Mathurā, entered the city. He gazed upon Mathurā’s lofty crystal gates and grand doorways adorned with golden arches. The city’s copper-plated walls, deep moats difficult to cross, and lush gardens and groves heightened its beauty. Mathurā was adorned with palaces crowned with golden spires and balconies, with rows of assembly halls and mansions. Everywhere were balustrades and altars 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, 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 Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma entered, surrounded by their friends and following the royal road, the women of the city, eager to see them, hurried forth. Filled with excitement, they climbed the mansions. 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. With His lotus eyes, bold playful glances, and gentle smiles, Kṛṣṇa stole the minds of those women, like a proud, intoxicated elephant, giving joy to their eyes and delight to their hearts. Seeing Him again and again, their minds drawn to Him as they had heard, the women, their pride awakened by His smiling glances, embraced with their eyes the embodiment of bliss and, their skin bristling with joy, forgot all their sorrows. The women, their faces blooming with joy, climbed to the tops of the mansions and showered flowers of good wishes upon the two boys, 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 exclaimed, “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, Kṛṣṇa, the elder brother of Gadā, saw a washerman approaching—a dyer—and asked him for some fine, clean clothes. “O good man,” He said, “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, full of 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.” Hearing this 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. Acyuta took the clothes. Having dressed in garments pleasing to themselves, both Kṛṣṇa and Saṅkarṣaṇa 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. Then they went to the house of Sudāmā, the garland-maker. Seeing them, Sudāmā rose and bowed his head to the ground. Bringing seats for them, and with water for their feet, offerings, and other honors, he worshipped them along with their companions, with garlands, betel, and ointments. 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. Now command your servant—what shall I do for you? To be instructed by you is the highest favor a person can receive.” Thinking thus, Sudāmā, with a joyful heart, offered garlands made from excellent, fragrant flowers to the Lord and His companions.