As Krishna—the very heart and essence of the cowherd community—was being taken away, the women of Vraja were plunged into sorrow. They lamented that fate was cruel, and Hari, their beloved, was being abandoned by a heartless, wicked one. Their voices trembled with anguish as they spoke of the city women, whose words, filled with hidden meanings, whose graceful gait and sidelong glances were truly extraordinary. They wondered, with aching hearts, to whom among them would this playful Hari, adorned with village charms, return again. Now, Keshava was mounting the chariot, setting out for Mathura, deceived by the cruel Akrura who seemed bereft of hope. The cowherd women questioned whether this heartless one even knew the depth of their devotion, that he would take Hari—the delight of their eyes—away to another place. They cried that even Govinda, utterly merciless, was departing together with Rama, and urged someone to stop him quickly. Yet, they hesitated to speak before their elders, feeling it improper, for what could elders do for those already burned by the fire of separation? The cowherds, led by Nanda, were ready to depart, but none made any effort to bring Govinda back. The women of Mathura, whose eyes were adorned with collyrium, would now spend a beautiful night, as they would soon drink in the lotus face of Acyuta. Blessed, they thought, were those who could go unhindered on the path with Krishna; seeing him, their bodies would be covered with goosebumps. Today, they mused, would be a great festival for the eyes of the citizens of Mathura, as they would behold the limbs of Govinda. Who among their own people, truly fortunate, had been seen by those blessed women, whose wide-eyed gaze would freely behold the transcendent Lord? With grief, they cried out: Alas! After showing this great treasure to the women of the cowherds, the Creator, whose heart seemed unkind, had now taken their eyes elsewhere. As Hari departed, their affection grew faint, and even the bangles on their hands quickly became loose. Akrura, whose heart was cruel, urged the horses on swiftly; with the women so distressed, who would not feel pity? They watched helplessly as the dust raised by Krishna’s chariot faded from view, carrying Hari far away—even the dust itself was now out of sight. Thus, while the cowherd women gazed on in deep anguish, Keshava departed from the land of Vraja together with Rama. Traveling swiftly by chariot drawn by fast horses, Rama, Akrura, and Krishna reached the bank of the Yamuna at midday. Akrura then turned to Krishna and requested, “Please allow me a moment; I will perform my midday ablutions in the waters of the Kalindi.” Krishna agreed, and the wise Akrura, receiving permission, entered the waters of the Yamuna and meditated on the supreme Brahman. There, in the sacred river, Akrura beheld a wondrous vision: Balabhadra (Balarama), adorned with a garland of a thousand hoods, his body bright as jasmine, his eyes wide open and red as lotus petals. He was surrounded by Vasuki and other great, wind-like serpents, praised by Gandharvas, and adorned with a garland of forest flowers. Clad in dark garments, with a lovely lotus ornament on his head and shining earrings, Balarama stood beneath the surface of the water. On his lap sat a dark-hued one, with coppery, wide eyes, four arms, noble limbs, and adorned with weapons such as the discus. He wore yellow garments and was decorated with various garlands and ornaments, appearing like a raincloud splendidly adorned with a rainbow garland. Krishna’s chest bore the mark of Srivatsa, and he was radiant with armlets and a shining crown, adorned with an unblemished lotus. Akrura saw Krishna being contemplated by Sanandana and other sages, accomplished in yoga and free from impurity, their gaze fixed at the tip of their noses. Astonished, Akrura wondered how Balarama and Krishna had come so swiftly from the chariot to the waters. As he wished to speak, Janardana (Krishna) restrained his words, and Akrura emerged from the water, returning to the chariot. There, he saw Rama and Krishna seated upon the chariot as before, possessing human forms. Immersing himself again in the water, he saw them likewise, being praised by Gandharvas, sages, Siddhas, and great serpents. Realizing their true, divine nature, the lord of gifts, Akrura, praised the infallible Lord, the embodiment of all knowledge. He offered his obeisance: “To you, who are of the form of pure existence, of inconceivable greatness, the supreme self, all-pervading, of many forms and yet of one imperishable form, salutations. To you, O inconceivable one, who are of the form of sattva, who have become the oblation; obeisance to you, Lord, unknowable in your limit, supreme over nature. You are the self of beings, the self of the senses, and also the self of primordial matter; you are both the self and the supreme self, existing singly in fivefold ways. Be gracious, O all, O soul of all, Lord of the perishable and imperishable; you are spoken of through the concepts of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and others. O one whose form, purpose, and name are indescribable! I bow to you, Supreme Lord. Where there are no concepts such as name, class, or the like, that is the supreme, eternal, unchanging Brahman—you are that unborn one. Since all understanding of objects is only through conceptualization, therefore you are praised by the names Krishna, Achyuta, Ananta, and Vishnu.” He continued, “You are all that exists, O unborn one! By these conceptualizations, this entire world, beginning with this, is truly you alone, the universe. You are the soul of the universe, free from all change and modification; in you there is nothing other. You are Brahma, Shiva, Aryaman, the creator, the sustainer, the lord of the gods, the wind, fire, lord of waters, lord of wealth, the ender—alone you protect the world, though its purposes are diverse, by the divisions of your power.” Thus, Akrura, awestruck and full of devotion, praised the supreme Lord, recognizing the divinity that pervades all, and the true nature of Krishna and Balarama, the protectors and essence of the universe.