Bhagavata Purana

इति श्रीमद्‍भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायां दशमस्कन्धे पूर्वार्धे अक्रूरस्तुतिर्नाम चत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the fortieth chapter, named 'Akrura's Praise,' in the first half of the tenth book of the glorious Bhagavata Mahapurana, the scripture of the supreme renunciates.

रामकृष्णयोर्मथुरायां प्रवेशः; रजकवधः वायकमालाकारयोरनुग्रहेणं च श्रीशुक उवाच - ( अनुष्टुप् ) स्तुवतस्तस्य भगवान् दर्शयित्वा जले वपुः । भूयः समाहरत् कृष्णो नटो नाट्यमिवात्मनः

Śrī Śuka said: As he was offering praise, the Lord revealed His form in the water, and then, like an actor concluding his performance, Kṛṣṇa withdrew it once more.

सोऽपि चान्तर्हितं वीक्ष्य जलाद् उन्मज्ज्य सत्वरः । कृत्वा चावश्यकं सर्वं विस्मितो रथमागमत्

Seeing that the vision had vanished, he quickly emerged from the water, completed all his necessary duties, and, astonished, returned to the chariot.

तं अपृच्छद् हृषीकेशः किं ते दृष्टमिवाद्‍भुतम् । भूमौ वियति तोये वा तथा त्वां लक्षयामहे

Hṛṣīkeśa asked him: 'What wondrous thing did you see—on earth, in the sky, or in the water—that you appear so amazed?'

श्रीअक्रूर उवाच - अद्‍भुतानीह यावन्ति भूमौ वियति वा जले । त्वयि विश्वात्मके तानि किं मेऽदृष्टं विपश्यतः

Śrī Akrūra said: '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?'

यत्राद्‍भुतानि सर्वाणि भूमौ वियति वा जले । तं त्वानुपश्यतो ब्रह्मन् किं मे दृष्टमिहाद्‍भुतम्

Wherever all wonders are found—on earth, in the sky, or in the water—seeing You, O Brahman, what marvel could I have witnessed here?

इत्युक्त्वा चोदयामास स्यन्दनं गान्दिनीसुतः । मथुरां अनयद् रामं कृष्णं चैव दिनात्यये

Having spoken thus, the son of Gāndinī urged the chariot onward, and at day's end brought Rāma and Kṛṣṇa to Mathurā.

मार्गे ग्रामजना राजन् तत्र तत्रोपसङ्‌गताः । वसुदेवसुतौ वीक्ष्य प्रीता दृष्टिं न चाददुः

On the way, O King, villagers gathered here and there, and, seeing the sons of Vasudeva, were delighted and could not turn their gaze away.

तावद् व्रजौकसस्तत्र नन्दगोपादयोऽग्रतः । पुरोपवनमासाद्य प्रतीक्षन्तोऽवतस्थिरे

Meanwhile, the residents of Vraja, led by Nanda and the cowherds, arrived at the city's gardens and waited there in anticipation.

तान् समेत्याह भगवान् अक्रूरं जगदीश्वरः । गृहीत्वा पाणिना पाणिं प्रश्रितं प्रहसन्निव

Meeting them, the Lord, master of the universe, greeted Akrūra, taking his extended hand in His own, smiling warmly.

भवान् प्रविशतामग्रे सहयानः पुरीं गृहम् । वयं त्विहावमुच्याथ ततो द्रक्ष्यामहे पुरीम्

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.

श्रीअक्रूर उवाच - नाहं भवद्‍भ्यां रहितः प्रवेक्ष्ये मथुरां प्रभो । त्यक्तुं नार्हसि मां नाथ भक्तं ते भक्तवत्सल

Śrī Akrūra said: '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.'

आगच्छ याम गेहान् नः सनाथान् कुर्वधोक्षज । सहाग्रजः सगोपालैः सुहृद्‌भिश्च सुहृत्तम

Come, let us go to our homes and make them blessed, O Acyuta, together with Your elder brother, the cowherds, and Your dearest friends.

पुनीहि पादरजसा गृहान्नो गृहमेधिनाम् । यच्छौचेनानुतृप्यन्ति पितरः साग्नयः सुराः

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.

अवनिज्याङ्‌घ्रियुगलं आसीत् श्लोक्यो बलिर्महान् । ऐश्वर्यं अतुलं लेभे गतिं चैकान्तिनां तु या

After washing Your pair of feet, the great Bali became worthy of praise, attained incomparable prosperity, and the ultimate devoted path.

आपस्तेऽङ्‌घ्र्यवनेजन्यः त्रींल्लोकान् शुचयोऽपुनन् । शिरसाधत्त याः शर्वः स्वर्याताः सगरात्मजाः

The waters from washing Your feet purified the three worlds; Śiva placed them on his head, and the sons of Sagara ascended to heaven.

देवदेव जगन्नाथ पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तन । यदूत्तमोत्तमःश्लोक नारायण नमोऽस्तु ते

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.

श्रीभगवनुवाच । आयास्ये भवतो गेहं अहमार्यसमन्वितः । यदुचक्रद्रुहं हत्वा वितरिष्ये सुहृत्प्रियम्

The Blessed Lord said: I will come to your house, accompanied by the noble ones. After slaying the wicked Yadu king, I will bring joy to my friends.

श्रीशुक उवाच - एवमुक्तो भगवता सोऽक्रूरो विमना इव । पुरीं प्रविष्टः कंसाय कर्मावेद्य गृहं ययौ

Śuka said: Thus addressed by the Lord, Akrūra, though troubled in mind, entered the city, reported his task to Kaṃsa, and went to his house.

अथापराह्ने भगवान् कृष्णः सङ्‌कर्षणान्वितः । मथुरां प्राविशद् गोपैः दिदृक्षुः परिवारितः

Then, in the afternoon, Lord Kṛṣṇa, accompanied by Saṅkarṣaṇa and surrounded by cowherds eager to see the city, entered Mathurā.

( मिश्र ) ददर्श तां स्फाटिकतुङ्ग गोपुर द्वारां बृहद् हेमकपाटतोरणाम् । ताम्रारकोष्ठां परिखादुरासदां उद्यान रम्योप वनोपशोभिताम्

He saw that 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.

सौवर्णशृङ्‌गाटकहर्म्यनिष्कुटैः श्रेणीसभाभिः भवनैरुपस्कृताम् । वैदूर्यवज्रामलनीलविद्रुमैः मुक्ताहरिद्‌भिर्वलभीषु वेदिषु

It was adorned with palaces having golden spires and balconies, with rows of assembly halls and mansions, and decorated with balustrades and altars inlaid with beryl, diamonds, spotless sapphires, coral, pearls, and emeralds.

जुष्टेषु जालामुखरन्ध्रकुट्टिमेषु आविष्टपारावतबर्हिनादिताम् । संसिक्तरथ्यापणमार्गचत्वरां प्रकीर्णमाल्याङ्‌कुरलाजतण्डुलाम्

The 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.

आपूर्णकुम्भैर्दधिचन्दनोक्षितैः प्रसूनदीपावलिभिः सपल्लवैः । सवृन्दरम्भाक्रमुकैः सकेतुभिः स्वलङ्‌कृतत् द्वारगृहां सपट्टिकैः

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.

तां सम्प्रविष्टौ वसुदेवनन्दनौ वृतौ वयस्यैर्नरदेववर्त्मना । द्रष्टुं समीयुस्त्वरिताः पुरस्त्रियो हर्म्याणि चैवारुरुहुर्नृपोत्सुकाः

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.

काश्चिग् विपर्यग्धृतवस्त्रभूषणा विस्मृत्य चैकं युगलेष्वथापराः । कृतैकपत्रश्रवणैकनूपुरा नाङ्‌क्त्वा द्वितीयं त्वपराश्च लोचनम्

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.

अश्नन्त्य एकास्तदपास्य सोत्सवा अभ्यज्यमाना अकृतोपमज्जनाः । स्वपन्त्य उत्थाय निशम्य निःस्वनं प्रपाययन्त्योऽर्भमपोह्य मातरः

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.

मनांसि तासामरविन्दलोचनः प्रगल्भलीलाहसितावलोकनैः । जहार मत्तद्विरदेन्द्रविक्रमो दृशां ददच्छ्रीरमणात्मनोत्सवम्

With his lotus eyes, bold playful glances, and gentle smiles, he stole the minds of those women, like a proud, intoxicated elephant, giving joy to their eyes and delight to their hearts.

( वसंततिलका ) दृष्ट्वा मुहुः श्रुतमनुद्रुतचेतसस्तं । तत्प्रेक्षणोत्स्मितसुधोक्षणलब्धमानाः । आनन्दमूर्तिमुपगुह्य दृशात्मलब्धं । हृष्यत्त्वचो जहुरनन्तमरिन्दमाधिम्

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.