Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 10.39 Summary

This chapter describes how Akrura informed Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama of Kamsa's plans and his activities in Mathura; what the gopis cried out in distress when Krsna left for Mathura; and also the vision of Lord Visnu's abode that Akrura saw within the water of the Yamuna.

When Krsna and Balarama offered Akrura great respect and comfortably seated him on a couch, he felt that all the desires he had reflected on while traveling to Vrndavana were now fulfilled. After the evening meal, Krsna asked Akrura whether his trip had been peaceful and whether he was well. The Lord also inquired about how Kamsa was behaving toward their family members, and finally He asked why Akrura had come.

Akrura described how Kamsa had been persecuting the Yadavas, what Narada had told Kamsa and how Kamsa had been treating Vasudeva cruelly. Akrura also spoke of Kamsa's desire to bring Krsna and Balarama to Mathura to kill Them on the pretext of Their seeing the bow sacrifice and engaging in a wrestling match. Krsna and Balarama laughed out loud when They heard this. They went to Their father, Nanda, and informed him of Kamsa's orders. Nanda then issued an order to all the residents of Vraja that they should collect various offerings for the King and prepare to go to Mathura.

The young gopis were extremely upset to hear that Krsna and Balarama would be going to Mathura. They lost all external awareness and began to remember Krsna's pastimes. Condemning the creator for separating them from Him, they began to lament. They said that Akrura did not deserve his name (a, "not"; krura, "cruel"), since he was so cruel to be taking away their dearmost Krsna. "It must be that fate is against us," they lamented, "because otherwise the elders of Vraja would have forbidden Krsna to leave. So let us forget our shyness and try to stop Lord Madhava from going." With these words the young cowherd girls began to chant Krsna's names and cry.

But even as they wept, Akrura began taking Krsna and Balarama to Mathura in his chariot. The cowherd men of Gokula followed behind on their wagons, and the young gopis also walked behind for some distance, but then they became placated by Krsna's glances and gestures and pacified by a message from Him that said "I will return." With their minds completely absorbed in Krsna, the cowherd girls stood as still as figures in a painting until they could no longer see the chariot's flag or the dust cloud being raised on the road. Then, chanting Krsna's glories all the while, they despondently returned to their homes.

Akrura halted the chariot at the bank of the Yamuna so Krsna and Balarama could perform a ritual of purification and drink some water. After the two Lords had gotten back into the chariot, Akrura took Their permission to bathe in the Yamuna. As he recited Vedic mantras, he was startled to see the two Lords standing in the water. Akrura came out of the river and returned to the chariot -- where he saw the Lords still sitting. Then he returned to the water to find out if the two figures he had seen there were real or not.

What Akrura saw in the water was four-armed Lord Vasudeva. His complexion was dark blue like a fresh raincloud, He wore yellow garments and He lay on the lap of thousand-hooded Ananta Sesa. Lord Vasudeva was receiving the prayers of perfected beings, celestial serpents and demons, and He was encircled by His personal attendants. Serving Him were His many potencies, such as Sri, Pusti and Ila, while Brahma and other demigods sang His praises. Akrura rejoiced at this vision and, joining his palms in supplication, began to pray to the Supreme Lord in a voice choked with emotion.

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Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari