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.
काश्चित् तत्कृतहृत्ताप श्वासम्लानमुखश्रियः । स्रंसद्दुद्दुकूलवलय केशग्रंथ्यश्च काश्चन
Some, afflicted in heart by this, had faces pale from sighing; some let their garments, bangles, and hair-braids slip loose.
अन्याश्च तदनुध्यान निवृत्ताशेषवृत्तयः । नाभ्यजानन् इमं लोकं आत्मलोकं गता इव
Others, absorbed in thoughts of Him, ceased all their usual activities, unaware of this world, as if they had entered their own inner realm.
स्मरन्त्यश्चापराः शौरेः अनुरागस्मितेरिताः । हृदिस्पृशश्चित्रपदा गिरः संमुमुहुः स्त्रियः
Other women, recalling Śauri’s loving smiles and words, were overwhelmed; the charming phrases that touched their hearts left them bewildered.
गतिं सुललितां चेष्टां स्निग्धहासावलोकनम् । शोकापहानि नर्माणि प्रोद्दामचरितानि च
They remembered his graceful walk, his gestures, his affectionate smiles and glances, his jokes that dispelled sorrow, and his playful deeds.
चिन्तयन्त्यो मुकुन्दस्य भीता विरहकातराः । समेताः सङ्घशः प्रोचुः अश्रुमुख्योऽच्युताशयाः
Thinking of Mukunda, fearful and distressed by separation, they gathered together in groups, their faces wet with tears, and spoke, their hearts fixed on Acyuta.
श्रीगोप्य ऊचुः - ( मिश्र ) अहो विधातस्तव न क्वचिद् दया संयोज्य मैत्र्या प्रणयेन देहिनः । तांश्चाकृतार्थान् वियुनङ्क्ष्यपार्थकं विक्रीडितं तेऽर्भकचेष्टितं यथा
The gopīs said: O Creator, how merciless you are! After uniting embodied beings in friendship and love, you separate them before their desires are fulfilled, just as children’s playthings are taken away.
यस्त्वं प्रदर्श्यासितकुन्तलावृतं मुकुन्दवक्त्रं सुकपोलमुन्नसम् । शोकापनोदस्मितलेशसुन्दरं करोषि पारोक्ष्यमसाधु ते कृतम्
You showed us Mukunda’s face, framed by dark curls, with lovely cheeks and raised nose, beautiful with a hint of a smile that dispels sorrow—then you make him distant from us; this is not right.
क्रूरस्त्वमक्रूरसमाख्यया स्म नः चक्षुर्हि दत्तं हरसे बताज्ञवत् । येनैकदेशेऽखिलसर्गसौष्ठवं त्वदीयमद्राक्ष्म वयं मधुद्विषः
You are cruel, truly living up to the name Akrūra! You gave us sight, but now you take it away like a tyrant, for through you we saw the beauty of the enemy of Madhu, the perfection of all creation, in one place.
न नन्दसूनुः क्षणभङ्गसौहृदः समीक्षते नः स्वकृतातुरा बत । विहाय गेहान् स्वजनान् तान् पतीन् तद्दास्यमद्धोपगता नवप्रियः
The son of Nanda, whose affection is fleeting, no longer looks upon us, though we are tormented by our own actions. Having left home, family, and husbands, we came to serve him, but now he has found new beloveds.
सुखं प्रभाता रजनीयमाशिषः सत्या बभूवुः पुरयोषितां ध्रुवम् । याः संप्रविष्टस्य मुखं व्रजस्पतेः पास्यन्त्यपाङ्गोत् कलितस्मितासवम्
Surely, for the women of that city, the night passed happily and their wishes came true, for they will drink in the face of the Lord of Vraja, as he enters, tasting the nectar of his sidelong, smiling glances.