మధుర నగర streets, గల్లీలు, చౌరస్తాలు—all were adorned with joy and festivity. Everywhere, pigeons and peacocks filled the latticed windows, doorways, and floors with their melodious sounds. The streets and markets sparkled, sprinkled with cool water and decorated with sandalwood powder, rice grains, and beautiful garlands. Each house, doorway, and entrance was magnificently decorated. Full pots, anointed with yogurt and sandal paste, stood proudly. Rows of fresh flowers and lamps were arranged with tender leaves. Clusters of plantain trees and festoons with cloth banners added to the festive atmosphere. Into this glorious city entered Vasudeva’s two sons, Krishna and Balarama, surrounded by their friends, following the royal road. The women of Mathura, eager to see them, rushed forth. Filled with excitement, they climbed to the rooftops of their mansions, longing for a glimpse. In their haste, some women wore their clothes and ornaments incorrectly, some forgot to finish dressing, while others adorned only one ear with an earring or one ankle with an anklet. Some applied collyrium only to one eye. Many left their meals unfinished, forgot the festival, and came without bathing. Others, awakened by the commotion, left their children unweaned and hurried out—even mothers did so. Krishna, with his lotus eyes, bold playful glances, and gentle smiles, stole the hearts of these women. Like a proud, intoxicated elephant, he gave joy to their eyes and delight to their hearts. Seeing him again and again, as they had heard of him before, their minds were drawn to him. Their pride was awakened by his smiling glances, and they embraced him with their eyes—the embodiment of bliss. Their skin bristled with joy, and all their sorrows vanished. Faces blooming with happiness, the women climbed to the tops of the mansions and showered flowers of good wishes upon Krishna and Balarama. The delighted Brahmanas, 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, Krishna, the elder brother of Gada, saw a washerman approaching—a dyer—and asked him for some fine, clean clothes. Krishna said, “O good man, give us suitable garments, for we are worthy. You will gain the highest good by giving—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 such boasting, Krishna, the son of Devaki, became angry and struck the washerman’s head from his body with his hand. All his attendants, abandoning their bundles of garments, fled in every direction. Acyuta took the clothes. Krishna and Sankarshana dressed in garments pleasing to themselves and gave the remaining clothes to the cowherds, leaving some on the ground. Then, a delighted tailor prepared attire for the two—garments of various colors and suitable designs. Krishna and Rama shone forth in their diverse attire, adorned like young elephants—one fair, 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 Sudama, the garland-maker. Seeing them, Sudama 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. Sudama 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, Sudama, with a joyful heart, offered garlands made from excellent, fragrant flowers. Adorned with those garlands, pleased, Krishna and Rama, along with their companions, granted boons to Sudama, who had bowed and surrendered. He chose unwavering devotion to that all-pervading Self, friendship with His devotees, and supreme compassion for all beings. Thus, granting him the boon and wealth that would increase his lineage, along with strength, long life, fame, and splendor, the Lord departed with His elder brother. ఇలా, “నగర ప్రవేశం” అనే అధ్యాయము, శ్రీమద్ భాగవతం లో మొదటి భాగంలో, పదవ స్కంధంలో, ముగిసింది. తర్వాత, శుకుడు చెప్పాడు: తరువాత, కుబ్జకి అనుగ్రహం చూపడం, ధనుర్భంగం, మల్లయుద్ధానికి ఏర్పాట్లు చేయడం జరుగుతుంది. ఇప్పుడు, మాధవుడు రాజమార్గం ద్వారా వెళ్తున్నప్పుడు, ఒక స్త్రీ—కుబ్జా—ఒక కుండలో ఉంగరము తీసుకెళ్తున్నదాన్ని చూశాడు. ఆమె యువతి, అందమైన ముఖము కలిగి ఉంది. ముదుసరంగా, ఆనందంగా, కృష్ణుడు ఆమెను అడిగాడు. “అమ్మా! నీవు ఎవరు? ఈ సుగంధ ఉంగరము ఏమిటి? నీవు ఎవరి పనిమనిషి? స్పష్టంగా చెప్పు. ఈ ఉత్తమ ఉంగరాన్ని మా అవయవాలకు అప్లై చేయు; దీనివల్ల నీకు త్వరలో శుభం కలుగుతుంది.” సైరంధ్రీ (కుబ్జా) సమాధానమిచ్చింది: “ఓ అందమైనవాడా! నేను కంసుని ఆమోదించిన పనిమనిషిని. నా పేరు త్రివక్రా. నా పని ఉంగరాలు తయారు చేయడం; నేను చేసే ఉంగరాలు బోజ రాజుకు చాలా ప్రీతికరం. మీ ఇద్దరిని తప్ప, మరెవరు దీనికి అర్హులు?” కుబ్జా, వారి అందం, ఆకర్షణ, మధురమైన చిరునవ్వు, మాటలు, చూపులు—all captivated her. ఆమె, సంపన్నమైన ఉంగరాన్ని ఇద్దరికి అప్లై చేసింది. ఆ ఉంగరంతో, వారి స్వభావానికి భిన్నమైన రంగులో మెరిసిపోయారు. ఇతరుల నుంచి భాగం పొందినట్లు, వారు మరింత ఆకర్షణీయంగా కనిపించారు. ప్రభువు, సంతోషంతో, కుబ్జా యొక్క వంకరైన శరీరాన్ని సరిచేయాలని నిర్ణయించారు—తన సన్నిధి ఫలితం చూపిస్తూ. తన పాదాలను ఆమె పాదాలపై ఉంచి, తన చేతి వేళ్లతో ఆమె మెంటిని పైకి లేపి, కుబ్జా శరీరాన్ని సరిచేశారు. ఆమె శరీరం నేరుగా, అందంగా మారింది; విస్తృతమైన నడుము, సంపూర్ణమైన వక్షోజాలు కలిగి, ముఖుందుని స్పర్శతో, క్షణంలోనే అతి మధురమైన స్త్రీగా మారింది. అందం, గుణాలు, దాతృత్వం కలిగి, ఆమె కృష్ణుని పై వస్త్రాన్ని పట్టుకొని, చిరునవ్వుతో, కలిగిన కోరికతో, కేశవుని అడిగింది.