Narayaneeyam Dasakam: 74-- Lord Krishna 's Entry into Mathura

Sri Krishna reached the city of Mathura shortly after noon. When Akrura had stopped his chariot on the banks of the Yamuna for bath and oblations, Nanda and other Gopas proceeded directly to Mathura. They reached there in advance and were awaiting Sri Krishna's arrival in the garden on the outskirts of Mathura. Sri Krishna did follow them in due time. Then Akrura exhorted Sri Krishna very humbly, `O Lord! You together with Your Gopa friends should shower grace on me and stay in my home. By contact with the dust on Your feet we all should be made pure.' Hearing this, Sri Krishna did promise him `After the killing of Kamsa, I shall come to your (my paternal uncle's) home together with my brother and fulfil all your wishes.' and thus pacify him. Then He did send Akrura off to Kamsa. Thereafter Sri Krishna remained in the above-said garden and had lunch with His friends, and relatives. Then, eager to see the town, Sri Krishna set out for the main road, along with His friends. We should visualise that, at that time, it was as though Sri Krishna were forcefully dragged by chains made up of the endless meritorious deeds of the people of Mathura who, after hearing since long about Sri Krishna's divine prowess and exploits, were very eager to see Him in person.

When Sri Krishna reached the main street of Mathura, eager to see the beauty of the town. the people of Mathura who, after hearing since long about Sri Krishna's divine prowess and exploits, were very eager to see Him in person. its lovely women began to gather, driven by their thirst to have His darsanam. Sri Krishna's body shone blue in colour like the rain-cloud. he breasts of those women quivered with excitement as they set their eyes on Sri Krishna. The purity of those women was reflected in their minds and bodies just like the innocence and sweetness of Sri Krishna's gentle smile. Their beauty multiplied manifold due to wearing ornaments like necklaces, bracelets, armlets and the like even as the splendor of Sri Krishna's dark tresses was enhanced by the peacock feathers worn on them. Thus they resembled Sri Krishna in many ways. When one saw those women gathered on the main street, very enthusiastic at having Sri Krishna's darsanam.

While Sri Krishna was proceeding along the high street with His friends, making all persons in the town joyous, Sri Krishna saw a washerman coming along with a bundle of washed clothes. Sri Krishna asked him, `will you give us some appropriate clothes? You will thereby attain prosperity.' To which the arrogant washer man replied Do you cowherd boys who live and roam in forests and mountains, eating fruits and vegetables, always wear such royal dresses only? Are you greedy for royal things? This bundle contains King Kamsa's dresses. Who will give them to you? Run away before the king's men, who punish arrogant people, come here.' Hearing these words of insult, Sri Krishna, the destroyer of those blinded by arrogance, severed his head instantly by His hands. Thus by death at Sri Krishna's hands did even that ignorant and arrogant washer man attain liberation which is attainable only by those possessed of innumerable meritorious deeds.

After killing the washer man, Sri Krishna was proceeding further along the main street. Then,  a weaver, happy at seeing Sri Krishna, approached Him and benevolently gave Him new garments to wear. Sri Krishna did confer on him (who had become fully worthy of Sri Krishna's pleasure) the grace of attainment of `Sarupya-mukti' at His abode, Vaikunta-loka, at the end of his tenure in this world. Thereafter, Sri Krishna, with friends, went to a garland maker's shop. He, Sudama by name, became very happy at Sri Krishna's arrival and with His darsanam. He duly honoured Sri Krishna by rising from his seat, offering garland, tambulam smearing Sri Krishna's body with unguents (sandal paste, scent, etc.,) and bouquets made of fragrant flowers. He also praised Sri Krishna with hymns dear to the heart. Delighted with the welcome, Sri Krishna commanded him to ask for his desired boons. But he disdained mundane pleasures and prayed for grant of steady devotion in Sri Krishna, affection towards His devotees and compassion to all beings. In addition to these, Sri Krishna did grant him also the fortune of having children and grand children, abundance of wealth and food grains, strength of body, long life, fame and other things that are the means of Dharma (virtue). Thus did Sri Krishna exhibit, in full measure, His love for Bhaktas (devotees) and keenness in blessing them.

After bestowing blessings on the weaver and garland-maker, Sri Krishna was proceeding along the main street when Sri Krishna came across a woman who was beautiful in every way but for a hunch on her back and was on her way to Kamsa's palace bearing sandal paste and other unguents. After enquiring about her welfare, Sri Krishna asked her, `will you give us some unguents for application on our bodies? If you do so, you will attain great prosperity'. With great delight, she gave what was asked for. As Sri Krishna thought that her body too should reflect the uprightness of her mind, He did, without causing her any pain and in a sportive manner, press her jaw with two fingers of His right hand, grasp her posterior with the left hand, pressing down her feet with His toes and straigten up her body a little. Instantly she became erect and blossomed into a celebrated beauty. Sri Krishna as an extraordinary being with divine powers, they were eager to receive some good or advantage for them by offering some gifts to Sri Krishna like tambulam and garland, according to their capacity.

Bhattatiri says, in "Narayaneeyam"----" I was not among the crowd, holding some offering, At that time, in the path, carrying some flowers, alas, I did not stand with joined palms in salutation, because of which, today, I am experiencing great sorrow or standing with palms joined in salutation. If I had that good fortune, then, would I need to suffer this unbearable affliction in this birth I have come to lead this miserable life, now afflicted by internal and external ailments because of my accumulated karma! (True of each one of us.) What, if those townsfolk of Mathura had committed sins? They were not surely such gross sinners like me. It was on this account that unlike me, they were fortunate to have got the opportunity to make offerings to Sri Krishna though with limited expectations of reward".

Sri Krishna proceeded along the main street, as far as her eyes could see. By the time He reached the entrance gate, Sri Krishna's fame had already reached the interior of the town preceding Him. This showed itself in the guise of the milk that verily started oozing from Devaki's breasts, stimulated by profound motherly love --- she had concluded that Sri Krishna had reached Mathura, from the welcoming invocations of the enthusiastic populace, eager to have His darsanam.

As Sri Krishna, who had entered the main gate, passed through the streets, joyously decorated for the festivities connected with the worship of the bow and headed for the hall where the bow was kept. The great bow lay there decorated with flower garlands and worshipped. Before the gaurds or the caretakers admonished Thee saying 'No no" Thou took hold of the bow, lifted it up, strung it, drew it and also broke it. The breaking of the bow with a terrific sound was like the heralding drum beat to the festival of Kansa's destruction due the next day. O Lord! The sound caused horripilation in the gods. Even Kansa trembled by the sound which increased many fold and overflowed by the shrieks of the gaurds who were severly beaten by Thee with the two pieces of the bow.

Thy greatness was realised by the good people with love and by the wicked people with fear. Thou moved about the city viewing its prosperity and returned to Thy camp in the garden in the evening. Thou talked to Shreedaamaa about Thy sorrow because of the separation from Raadhaa. Thou then went to sleep feeling content and happy at the impending fulfilment of the purpose of his incarnation.

(Cont)