As Akrura entered the sacred waters, his vision was transformed. There, before him, he beheld the resplendent form of Balabhadra—Balarama—adorned with a garland woven from a thousand serpent hoods. His body shone with the pure brilliance of jasmine, and his wide, lotus-red eyes glowed with divine radiance. Around him gathered Vasuki and other mighty serpents, their forms swift as the wind, and the air was filled with the melodious praises of Gandharvas. Balarama was further adorned with a garland of forest flowers, his attire dark and elegant, a lovely lotus ornament crowning his head, and beautiful earrings catching the watery light as he stood beneath the surface. Upon Balarama’s lap sat a figure of deep, dark hue, his eyes broad and coppery, his noble form graced with four arms and powerful weapons, including the discus. This was Krishna, clad in yellow garments, radiant with various garlands and ornaments, his appearance like a raincloud splendidly adorned with a rainbow’s arc. Krishna’s chest bore the mark of Srivatsa, and he shone with armlets and a lustrous crown, a flawless lotus as his ornament. Sanandana and other great sages, accomplished in yoga and pure of heart, sat nearby, their gaze fixed in contemplation at the tips of their noses, meditating upon Krishna. Witnessing these wondrous forms, Akrura was overwhelmed with astonishment. He wondered, “How did Rama and Krishna arrive here so swiftly from the chariot?” As he prepared to speak, Krishna, the Lord Janardana, restrained his words with a gentle glance. Emerging from the depths, Akrura returned to the chariot and was amazed to find Rama and Krishna seated there as before, in their human forms. Unable to contain his wonder, he immersed himself again in the Yamuna’s waters and once more beheld the divine vision: Rama and Krishna, surrounded by Gandharvas, sages, Siddhas, and great serpents, all offering their praises. Realizing their true, unfathomable nature, Akrura, the noble giver, bowed low and offered heartfelt praises to the infallible Lord, the embodiment of all knowledge: “Obeisance to you, whose form is pure existence, whose greatness is inconceivable, the supreme self, all-pervading, of many forms yet one imperishable essence. Salutations to you, O incomprehensible one, embodiment of sattva, who have become the very oblation; Lord unknowable in your limit, supreme over nature! You are the self of all beings, the senses, and primordial matter; you are both the self and the supreme self, existing singly in fivefold ways. Be gracious, O soul of all, Lord of the perishable and imperishable, spoken of as Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and others. Your form, purpose, and name are beyond description—Supreme Lord, I bow to you. Where all concepts of name and class fall away, that is the supreme, eternal, unchanging Brahman—and you are that unborn one. Since all understanding arises through names and forms, you are praised as Krishna, Achyuta, Ananta, and Vishnu. All that exists, O unborn one, is truly you alone; you are the universe, its changeless soul, with nothing apart from you. You are Brahma, Shiva, Aryaman, the creator, sustainer, lord of the gods, wind, fire, lord of waters, lord of wealth, the ender—you alone protect the world in many forms through your power’s divisions. You create the universe as the rays of the sun, and all the world is pervaded by your qualities. That supreme, imperishable form is existence itself; I bow to you, the soul of knowledge, the real and the unreal. Salutations to Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha.” Immersed in devotion, Akrura worshipped Vishnu in the waters, offering flowers and incense to the Lord of all. Withdrawing his mind from all else, he remained absorbed in meditation on Brahman for a long time, until, feeling his purpose accomplished, he emerged from the Yamuna and returned to the chariot. There, he found Rama and Krishna as before, standing on the chariot. His eyes wide with wonder, Akrura was addressed by Krishna, who smiled and said, “Surely, Akrura, you have seen something marvelous in the waters of the Yamuna, for your eyes are wide with astonishment.” Akrura replied, “O Achyuta, whatever wonder I saw in the water, I see that very form standing here before me as well. By your supreme power, Krishna, I am united with you, whose wondrous form is the very essence of the universe. Then what remains for me to do? Shall we go to Mathura, O Madhusudana? I fear Kamsa—alas for the fate of those who depend on others for their livelihood!” With these words, Akrura urged the swift horses onward and brought the chariot to the city of Mathura as evening approached. Upon seeing Mathura, Akrura said to Krishna and Rama, “With great strength, I have brought you here alone by chariot. It is right for you to go to Vasudeva’s house, not mine, for that elder has been cast out by Kamsa on your account.” Having said this, Akrura entered Mathura, while Rama and Krishna proceeded along the royal road. The two heroes, strong as young elephants, walked with playful ease, drawing joyful gazes from all the men and women of the city. As they wandered, their faces radiant, Krishna and Rama encountered a washerman and a dyer. They asked for beautiful garments, but the washerman—servant of Kamsa—responded with harsh words, his pride and astonishment evident. Without hesitation, Krishna struck him down with a blow of his palm, ending the washerman’s arrogance. Clad now in yellow and blue garments, Krishna and Rama joyfully made their way to the house of the garland-maker, whose eyes widened in amazement as he wondered, “Who are these two? Where have they come from?