Bhagavata Purana

ददर्श कृष्णं रामं च व्रजे गोदोहनं गतौ । पीतनीलाम्बरधरौ शरदम्बुरहेक्षणौ

He saw Krishna and Rama in Vraja, returning from the cow-milking, wearing yellow and blue garments, their eyes like autumn lotuses.

किशोरौ श्यामलश्वेतौ श्रीनिकेतौ बृहद्‍भुजौ । सुमुखौ सुन्दरवरौ बलद्विरदविक्रमौ

They were youthful, one dark and one fair, abodes of beauty, with broad arms, handsome faces, splendid forms, and the strength and gait of young elephants.

ध्वजवज्राङ्‌कुशाम्भोजैः चिह्नितैरङ्‌घ्रिभिर्व्रजम् । शोभयन्तौ महात्मानौ सानुक्रोशस्मितेक्षणौ

The great souls, with feet marked by banners, thunderbolts, goads, and lotuses, adorned Vraja, their glances smiling and full of compassion.

उदाररुचिरक्रीडौ स्रग्विणौ वनमालिनौ । पुण्यगन्धानुलिप्ताङ्‌गौ स्नातौ विरजवाससौ

Noble and charming in play, adorned with garlands and forest wreaths, their bodies were anointed with sacred fragrances, bathed, and clad in spotless garments.

प्रधानपुरुषावाद्यौ जगद्धेतू जगत्पती । अवतीर्णौ जगत्यर्थे स्वांशेन बलकेशवौ

The two, the primeval Purushas, the causes and lords of the world, had descended for the sake of the earth, as Balarama and Keshava, with their own portions.

दिशो वितिमिरा राजन् कुर्वाणौ प्रभया स्वया । यथा मारकतः शैलो रौप्यश्च कनकाचितौ

O King, they dispelled the darkness in all directions with their own radiance, like an emerald mountain and a silver one adorned with gold.

रथात् तूर्णं अवप्लुत्य सोऽक्रूरः स्नेहविह्वलः । पपात चरणोपान्ते दण्डवत् रामकृष्णयोः

Akrura, overwhelmed with affection, swiftly leapt from the chariot and fell prostrate at the feet of Rama and Krishna.

भगवद्दर्शनाह्लाद बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः । पुलकचिताङ्‌ग औत्कण्ठ्यात् स्वाख्याने नाशकन् नृप

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 speak his own name, O King.

भगवान् तमभिप्रेत्य रथाङ्‌गाङ्‌कितपाणिना । परिरेभेऽभ्युपाकृष्य प्रीतः प्रणतवत्सलः

The Lord, approaching him, marked by the chariot wheel upon his hand, embraced him, drawing him near with affection, for he is fond of those who bow before him.

सङ्‌कर्षणश्च प्रणतं उपगुह्य महामनाः । गृहीत्वा पाणिना पाणी अनयत् सानुजो गृहम्

And Sankarshana, of great mind, embraced the one who had bowed, took his hand in his own, and, together with his brother, led him into the house.

पृष्ट्वाथ स्वागतं तस्मै निवेद्य च वरासनम् । प्रक्षाल्य विधिवत् पादौ मधुपर्कार्हणमाहरत्

After asking him about his welfare and offering him a seat of honor, they washed his feet according to custom and brought the honey-mixture as a welcome gift.

निवेद्य गां चातिथये संवाह्य श्रान्तमादृतः । अन्नं बहुगुणं मेध्यं श्रद्धयोपाहरद् विभुः

Presenting a cow to the guest and respectfully massaging his tired limbs, the Lord offered him abundant, pure food with devotion.

तस्मै भुक्तवते प्रीत्या रामः परमधर्मवित् । मखवासैर्गन्धमाल्यैः परां प्रीतिं व्यधात् पुनः

When he had eaten, Rama, the supreme knower of dharma, with great affection, again honored him with scents and garlands used in sacrifices.

पप्रच्छ सत्कृतं नन्दः कथं स्थ निरनुग्रहे । कंसे जीवति दाशार्ह सौनपाला इवावयः

Nanda, having duly honored him, asked: 'How are you faring in this place without kindness, while Kamsa still lives, O Dāśārha? Are we not like cowherds under a cruel master?'

योऽवधीत् स्वस्वसुस्तोकान् क्रोशन्त्या असुतृप् खलः । किं नु स्वित्तत्प्रजानां वः कुशलं विमृशामहे

That wicked one who killed his own nephews, even as their mothers cried out in anguish—how could there be well-being for you and your people, we wonder?

इत्थं सूनृतया वाचा नन्देन सुसभाजितः । अक्रूरः परिपृष्टेन जहावध्वपरिश्रमम्

Thus, honored by Nanda with sincere words, Akrura, being kindly questioned, let go of the fatigue of his journey.

श्रीकृष्णबलरामयोर्मथुरायां प्रति प्रस्थानं विरहकातर गोपीनां करुणोद्‌गारः कालिंद्यां अक्रूरकर्तृकं भगवद्‌धाम दर्शनं च - श्रीशुक उवाच - ( अनुष्टुप् ) सुखोपविष्टः पर्यङ्‌के रमकृष्णोरुमानितः । लेभे मनोरथान् सर्वान् पन्पथि यान् स चकार ह

Śuka said: Comfortably seated on a couch, honored by Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, he attained all the desires he had cherished on the road.

किमलभ्यं भगवति प्रसन्ने श्रीनिकेतने । तथापि तत्परा राजन् न हि वाञ्छन्ति किञ्चन

What is unattainable when the Lord, the abode of fortune, is pleased? Yet, O King, those devoted to Him desire nothing at all.

सायंतनाशनं कृत्वा भगवान् देवकीसुतः । सुहृत्सु वृत्तं कंसस्य पप्रच्छान्यच्चिकीर्षितम्

After taking the evening meal, the Blessed One, son of Devakī, inquired among His friends about Kamsa’s conduct and his latest intentions.

श्रीभगवानुवाच - तात सौम्यागतः कच्चित् स्वागतं भद्रमस्तु वः । अपि स्वज्ञातिबन्धूनां अनमीवमनामयम्

The Blessed Lord said: 'Dear one, gentle Akrura, welcome! May all be well with you. Is everything free from illness and misfortune among your relatives and kin?'

किं नु नः कुशलं पृच्छे एधमाने कुलामये । कंसे मातुलनाम्न्यङ्‌ग स्वानां नस्तत्प्रजासु च

'How can I ask about our own welfare, when our family is afflicted and Kamsa, our maternal uncle, rules over us and our people?'

अहो अस्मदभूद् भूरि पित्रोर्वृजिनमार्ययोः । यद्धेतोः पुत्रमरणं यद्धेतोर्बन्धनं तयोः

'Alas, so much suffering befell my noble parents because of us—on our account, their sons were killed, and on our account, they were imprisoned.'

दिष्ट्याद्य दर्शनं स्वानां मह्यं वः सौम्य काङ्‌क्षितम् । सञ्जातं वर्ण्यतां तात तवागमनकारणम्

'By good fortune, today I see my own people, as I longed, O gentle one. Tell me, dear one, the reason for your coming.'

श्रीशुक उवाच - पृष्टो भगवता सर्वं वर्णयामास माधवः । वैरानुबन्धं यदुषु वसुदेववधोद्यमम्

Śuka said: Thus questioned by the Blessed Lord, Mādhava described everything—the enmity among the Yadus and Kamsa’s intent to kill Vasudeva.

यत्सन्देशो यदर्थं वा दूतः सम्प्रेषितः स्वयम् । यदुक्तं नारदेनास्य स्वजन्मानकदुन्दुभेः

He explained the message and purpose for which he himself had been sent as a messenger, and what Nārada had told Kamsa about the birth of Anakadundubhi’s son.

श्रुत्वाक्रूरवचः कृष्णो बलश्च परवीरहा । प्रहस्य नन्दं पितरं राज्ञा दिष्टं विजज्ञतुः

Hearing Akrura’s words, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, destroyers of enemy heroes, smiled and informed Nanda, their father, of the king’s command.

गोपान् समादिशत् सोऽपि गृह्यतां सर्वगोरसः । उपायनानि गृह्णीध्वं युज्यन्तां शकटानि च

He instructed the cowherds: 'Gather all the milk and dairy products. Collect gifts to present, and yoke the wagons.'

यास्यामः श्वो मधुपुरीं दास्यामो नृपते रसान् । द्रक्ष्यामः सुमहत्पर्व यान्ति जानपदाः किल । एवमाघोषयत्क्षत्रा नन्दगोपः स्वगोकुले

'Tomorrow we will go to Mathurā, offer our produce to the king, and witness the great festival, for people from the countryside are said to be going.' Thus Nanda, the chief cowherd, announced in his settlement.

गोप्यस्तास्तद् उपश्रुत्य बभूवुर्व्यथिता भृशम् । रामकृष्णौ पुरीं नेतुं अक्रूरं व्रजमागतम्

Hearing this, the cowherd women became greatly distressed, for Akrura had come to Vraja to take Rāma and Kṛṣṇa to the city.