> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 10
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda his pupils
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > *******

> > Canto 10: 'Summum Bonum'

> > *******

> > Chapter Thirty-eight: Akrûra's Arrival in Vrindâvana

> > ******

> > TEXT 1

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > akrûro 'pi ca tâm râtrim

> > madhu-puryâm mahâ-matih

> > ushitvâ ratham âsthâya

> > prayayau nanda-gokulam

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; akrûrah - Akrûra; api ca - and; tâm - that; râtrim - night; madhu-puryâm - in the city of Mathurâ; mahâ- matih - high-minded; ushitvâ - remaining; ratham - his chariot; âsthâya - mounting; prayayau - he set off; nanda-gokulam - for the cowherd village of Nanda Mahârâja.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: After passing the night in the city of Mathurâ, the high-minded Akrûra mounted his chariot and set off for the cowherd village of Nanda Mahârâja.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > gacchan pathi mahâ-bhâgo

> > bhagavaty ambujekshane

> > bhaktim parâm upagata

> > evam etad acintayat

> > gacchan - traveling; pathi - along the road; mahâ-bhâgah - the greatly fortunate; bhagavati - for the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ambuja-îkshane - the lotus- eyed Lord; bhaktim - devotion; parâm - exceptional; upagatah - he experienced; evam - thus; etat - this (as follows); acintayat - he thought.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As he traveled on the road, the great soul Akrûra felt tremendous devotion for the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead, and thus he began to consider as follows.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > kim mayâcaritam bhadram

> > kim taptam paramam tapah

> > kim vâthâpy arhate dattam

> > yad drakshyâmy adya kes'avam

> > kim - what; mayâ - by me; âcaritam - has been performed; bhadram - good works; kim - what; taptam - suffered; paramam - severe; tapah - austerity; kim - what; vâ - or else; atha api - otherwise; arhate - worship performed; dattam - charity given; yat - by which; drakshyâmi - I am going to see; adya - today; kes'avam - Lord Krishna.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [S'rî Akrûra thought:] What pious deeds have I done, what severe austerities undergone, what worship performed or charity given so that today I will see Lord Kes'ava?

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > mamaitad durlabham manya

> > uttamah-s'loka-dars'anam

> > vishayâtmano yathâ brahma-

> > kîrtanam s'ûdra-janmanah

> > mama - my; etat - this; durlabham - difficult to achieve; manye - I consider; uttamah-s'loka - of the Supreme Lord, who is praised in the best poetry; dars'anam - the audience; vishaya-âtmanah - for one who is absorbed in sense gratification; yathâ - just as; brahma - of the Vedas; kîrtanam - chanting; s'ûdra - as a low-class man; janmanah - by one who has taken his birth.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Since I am a materialistic person absorbed simply in sense gratification, I think it is as difficult for me to have gotten this opportunity to see Lord Uttamahs'loka as it would be for one born a s'ûdra to be allowed to recite the Vedic mantras.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > maivam mamâdhamasyâpi

> > syâd evâcyuta-dars'anam

> > hriyamânah kala-nadyâ

> > kvacit tarati kas'cana

> > mâ evam - I should not think like this; mama - for me; adhamasya - who am most fallen; api - even; syât - it may come about; eva - certainly; acyuta - of the infallible Lord; dars'anam - the sight; hriyamânah - being pulled along; kâla - of time; nadyâ - by the river; kvacit - sometimes; tarati - crosses to the shore; kas'cana - someone.

> > TRANSLATION

> > But enough of such thoughts! After all, even a fallen soul like me can have the chance to behold the infallible Supreme Lord, for one of the conditioned souls being swept along in the river of time may sometimes reach the shore.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > mamâdyâmangalam nashtham

> > phalavâms' caiva me bhavah

> > yan namasye bhagavato

> > yogi-dhyeyânghri-pankajam

> > mama - my; adya - today; amangalam - inauspicious sinful reactions; nashtham - eradicated; phala-vân - fruitful; ca - and; eva - indeed; me - my; bhavah - birth; yat - since; namasye - I am going to offer obeisances; bhagavatah - of the Supreme Lord; yogi-dhyeya - meditated upon by yogîs; anghri - to the feet; pankajam - lotuslike.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Today all my sinful reactions have been eradicated and my birth has become worthwhile, since I will offer my obeisances to the Supreme Lord's lotus feet, which mystic yogîs meditate upon.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > kamso batâdyâkrita me 'ty-anugraham

> > drakshye 'nghri-padmam prahito 'munâ hareh

> > kritâvatârasya duratyayam tamah

> > pûrve 'taran yan-nakha-mandala-tvishâ

> > kamsah - King Kamsa; bata - indeed; adya - today; akrita - has done; me - toward me; ati-anugraham - an act of extreme kindness; drakshye - I will see; anghri- padmam - the lotus feet; prahitah - sent; amunâ - by him; hareh - of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; krita - who has enacted; avatârasya - His descent to this world; duratyayam - insurmountable; tamah - the darkness of material existence; pûrve - persons in the past; ataran - transcended; yat - whose; nakha- mandala - of the orb of the toenails; tvishâ - by the effulgence.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Indeed, today King Kamsa has shown me extreme mercy by sending me to see the lotus feet of Lord Hari, who has now appeared in this world. Simply by the effulgence of His toenails, many souls in the past have transcended the insurmountable darkness of material existence and achieved liberation.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > yad arcitam brahma-bhavâdibhih suraih

> > s'riyâ ca devyâ munibhih sa-sâtvataih

> > go-câranâyânucarais' carad vane

> > yad gopikânâm kuca-kunkumânkitam

> > yat - which (lotus feet); arcitam - worshiped; brahma-bhava - by Brahmâ and S'iva; âdibhih - and other; suraih - demigods; s'riyâ - by S'rî; ca - also; devyâ - the goddess of fortune; munibhih - by the sages; sa-sâtvataih - along with the devotees; go - the cows; câranâya - for tending; anucaraih - together with His companions; carat - moving about; vane - in the forest; yat - which; gopikânâm - of the cowherd girls; kuca - from the breasts; kunkuma - by the red kunkuma powder; ankitam - marked.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Those lotus feet are worshiped by Brahmâ, S'iva and all the other demigods, by the goddess of fortune, and also by the great sages and Vaishnavas. Upon those lotus feet the Lord walks about the forest while herding the cows with His companions, and those feet are smeared with the kunkuma from the gopîs' breasts.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > drakshyâmi nûnam su-kapola-nâsikam

> > smitâvalokâruna-kan'ja-locanam

> > mukham mukundasya gudâlakâvritam

> > pradakshinam me pracaranti vai mrigâh

> > drakshyâmi - I am going to see; nûnam - for certain; su - beautiful; kapola - whose cheeks; nâsikam - and nose; smita - smiling; avaloka - with glances; aruna - reddish; kan'ja - lotuslike; locanam - the eyes; mukham - the face; mukundasya - of Lord Krishna; guda - twisting; alaka - with hair; âvritam - framed; pradakshinam - clockwise circumambulation; me - of me; pracaranti - are performing; vai - indeed; mrigâh - the deer.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Surely I shall see the face of Lord Mukunda, since the deer are now walking past me on my right. That face, framed by His curly hair, is beautified by His attractive cheeks and nose, His smiling glances and His reddish lotus eyes.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > apy adya vishnor manujatvam îyusho

> > bhârâvatârâya bhuvo nijecchayâ

> > lâvanya-dhâmno bhavitopalambhanam

> > mahyam na na syât phalam an'jasâ dris'ah

> > api - furthermore; adya - today; vishnoh - of the Supreme Lord Vishnu; manujatvam - the form of a human being; îyushah - who has assumed; bhâra - the burden; avatârâya - for diminishing; bhuvah - of the earth; nija - by His own; icchayâ - desire; lâvanya - of beauty; dhâmnah - of the abode; bhavitâ - there will be; upalambhanam - the perceiving; mahyam - for me; na - it is not the case; na syât - that it will not happen; phalam - the fruit; an'jasâ - directly; dris'ah - of sight.

> > TRANSLATION

> > I am going to see the Supreme Lord Vishnu, the reservoir of all beauty, who by His own sweet will has now assumed a humanlike form to relieve the earth of her burden. Thus there is no denying that my eyes will achieve the perfection of their existence.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > ya îkshitâham-rahito 'py asat-satoh

> > sva-tejasâpâsta-tamo-bhidâ-bhramah

> > sva-mâyayâtman racitais tad-îkshayâ

> > prânâksha-dhîbhih sadaneshv abhîyate

> > yah - who; îkshitâ - the witness; aham - false ego; rahitah - devoid of; api - nevertheless; asat-satoh - of material products and causes; sva-tejasâ - by His personal potency; apâsta - having dispelled; tamah - the darkness of ignorance; bhidâ - the idea of being separate; bhramah - and bewilderment; sva- mâyayâ - by His material creative energy; âtman - within Himself; racitaih - by those who are produced (the living entities); tat-îkshayâ - by His glancing upon that Mâyâ; prâna - by the vital airs; aksha - the senses; dhîbhih - and intelligence; sadaneshu - within the bodies of the living beings; abhîyate - His presence is surmised.

> > TRANSLATION

> > He is the witness of material cause and effect, yet He is always free from false identification with them. By His internal potency He dispels the darkness of separation and confusion. The individual souls in this world, who are manifested here when He glances upon His material creative energy, indirectly perceive Him in the activities of their life airs, senses and intelligence.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > yasyâkhilâmîva-habhih su-mangalaih

> > vâco vimis'râ guna-karma-janmabhih

> > prânanti s'umbhanti punanti vai jagat

> > yâs tad-viraktâh s'ava-s'obhanâ matâh

> > yasya - of whom; akhila - all; amîva - sins; habhih - which destroy; su- mangalaih - most auspicious; vâcah - words; vimis'râh - joined; guna - with the qualities; karma - activities; janmabhih - and incarnations; prânanti - they give life; s'umbhanti - make beautiful; punanti - and purify; vai - indeed; jagat - the entire universe; yâh - which (words); tat - of these; viraktâh - devoid; s'ava - of a corpse; s'obhanâh - (like) the decorating; matâh - considered.

> > TRANSLATION

> > All sins are destroyed and all good fortune created by the Supreme Lord's qualities, activities and appearances, and words that describe these three things animate, beautify and purify the world. On the other hand, words bereft of His glories are like the decorations on a corpse.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > sa câvatîrnah kila satvatânvaye

> > sva-setu-pâlâmara-varya-s'arma-krit

> > yas'o vitanvan vraja âsta îs'varo

> > gâyanti devâ yad as'esha-mangalam

> > sah - He; ca - and; avatîrnah - having descended; kila - indeed; sâtvata - of the Sâtvatas; anvaye - in the dynasty; sva - His own; setu - codes of religion; pâla - who maintain; amara-varya - of the chief demigods; s'arma - delight; krit - creating; yas'ah - His fame; vitanvan - spreading; vraje - in Vraja; âste - is present; îs'varah - the Supreme Lord; gâyanti - sing; devâh - the demigods; yat - of which (fame); as'esha-mangalam - all-auspicious.

> > TRANSLATION

> > That same Supreme Lord has descended into the dynasty of the Sâtvatas to delight the exalted demigods, who maintain the principles of religion He has created. Residing in Vrindâvana, He spreads His fame, which the demigods glorify in song and which brings auspiciousness to all.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > tam tv adya nûnam mahatâm gatim gurum

> > trailokya-kântam dris'iman-mahotsavam

> > rûpam dadhânam s'riya îpsitâspadam

> > drakshye mamâsann ushasah su-dars'anâh

> > tam - Him; tu - yet; adya - today; nûnam - certainly; mahatâm - of great souls; gatim - the destination; gurum - and the spiritual master; trai-lokya - of all the three worlds; kântam - the real beauty; dris'i-mat - for all who have eyes; mahâ-utsavam - a great festivity; rûpam - His personal form; dadhânam - exhibiting; s'riyah - of the goddess of fortune; îpsita - the desired; âspadam - place of shelter; drakshye - I shall see; mama - my; âsan - have become; ushasah - the dawns; su-dars'anâh - auspicious to see.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Today I shall certainly see Him, the goal and spiritual master of the great souls. Seeing Him brings jubilation to all who have eyes, for He is the true beauty of the universe. Indeed, His personal form is the shelter desired by the goddess of fortune. Now all the dawns of my life have become auspicious.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > athâvarûdhah sapadîs'ayo rathât

> > pradhâna-pumsos' caranam sva-labdhaye

> > dhiyâ dhritam yogibhir apy aham dhruvam

> > namasya âbhyâm ca sakhîn vanaukasah

> > atha - then; avarûdhah - getting down; sapadi - at once; îs'ayoh - of the two Lords; rathât - from my chariot; pradhâna-pumsoh - of the Supreme Personalities; caranam - to the feet; sva-labdhaye - for the sake of self-realization; dhiyâ - with their intelligence; dhritam - held on to; yogibhih - by mystic yogîs; api - even; aham - I; dhruvam - surely; namasye - will bow down; âbhyâm - with Them; ca - also; sakhîn - to the friends; vana-okasah - to the residents of the forest.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > apy anghri-mûle patitasya me vibhuh

> > s'irasy adhâsyan nija-hasta-pankajam

> > dattâbhayam kâla-bhujânga-ramhasâ

> > prodvejitânâm s'aranaishinâm nrinâm

> > api - furthermore; anghri - of His feet; mûle - at the base; patitasya- - who have fallen; me - of me; vibhuh - the almighty Lord; s'irasi - upon the head; adhâsyat - will place; nija - His own; hasta - hand; pankajam - lotuslike; datta - which grants; abhayam - fearlessness; kâla - time; bhuja-anga - of the serpent; ramhasâ - by the swift force; prodvejitânâm - who are greatly disturbed; s'arana - shelter; eshinâm - searching for; nrinâm - to persons.

> > TRANSLATION

> > And when I have fallen at His feet, the almighty Lord will place His lotus hand upon my head. For those who seek shelter in Him because they are greatly disturbed by the powerful serpent of time, that hand removes all fear.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > samarhanam yatra nidhâya kaus'ikas

> > tathâ balis' câpa jagat-trayendratâm

> > yad vâ vihâre vraja-yoshitâm s'ramam

> > spars'ena saugandhika-gandhy apânudat

> > samarhanam - the respectful offering; yatra - into which; nidhâya - by placing; kaus'ikah - Purandara; tathâ - as well as; balih - Bali Mahârâja; ca - also; âpa - attained; jagat - of the worlds; traya - three; indratâm - rulership (as Indra, the King of heaven); yat - which (lotus hand of the Lord); vâ - and; vihâre - during the pastimes (of the râsa dance); vraja-yoshitâm - of the ladies of Vraja; s'ramam - the fatigue; spars'ena - by their contact; saugandhika - like an aromatic flower; gandhi - fragrant; apânudat - wiped away.

> > TRANSLATION

> > By offering charity to that lotus hand, Purandara and Bali earned the status of Indra, King of heaven, and during the pleasure pastimes of the râsa dance, when the Lord wiped away the gopîs' perspiration and removed their fatigue, the touch of their faces made that hand as fragrant as a sweet flower.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > na mayy upaishyaty ari-buddhim acyutah

> > kamsasya dûtah prahito 'pi vis'va-drik

> > yo 'ntar bahis' cetasa etad îhitam

> > kshetra-jn'a îkshaty amalena cakshushâ

> > na - not; mayi - toward me; upaishyati - will He develop; ari - of being an enemy; buddhim - the attitude; acyutah - the infallible Lord; kamsasya - of Kamsa; dûtah - a messenger; prahitah - sent; api - although; vis'va - of everything; drik - the witness; yah - who; antah - inside; bahih - and outside; cetasah - of the heart; etat - this; îhitam - whatever is done; kshetra - of the field (of the material body); jn'ah - the knower; îkshati - He sees; amalena - with perfect; cakshushâ - vision.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The infallible Lord will not consider me an enemy, even though Kamsa has sent me here as his messenger. After all, the omniscient Lord is the actual knower of the field of this material body, and with His perfect vision He witnesses, both externally and internally, all the endeavors of the conditioned soul's heart.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > apy anghri-mûle 'vahitam kritân'jalim

> > mâm îkshitâ sa-smitam ârdrayâ dris'â

> > sapady apadhvasta-samasta-kilbisho

> > vodhâ mudam vîta-vis'anka ûrjitâm

> > api - and; anghri - of His feet; mûle - at the base; avahitam - fixed; krita- an'jalim - with joined palms; mâm - me; îkshitâ - will look upon; sasmitam - smiling; ârdrayâ - with an affectionate; dris'â - glance; sapadi - immediately; apadhvasta - eradicated; samasta - all; kilbishah - contamination; vodhâ - I will achieve; mudam - happiness; vîta - freed; vis'ankah - from doubt; ûrjitâm - intense.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus He will cast His smiling, affectionate glance upon me as I remain fixed with joined palms, fallen in obeisances at His feet. Then all my contamination will at once be dispelled, and I will give up all doubts and feel the most intense bliss.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > suhrittamam jn'âtim ananya-daivatam

> > dorbhyâm brihadbhyâm parirapsyate 'tha mâm

> > âtmâ hi tîrthî-kriyate tadaiva me

> > bandhas' ca karmâtmaka ucchvasity atah

> > suhrit-tamam - the best of friends; jn'âtim - a family member; ananya - exclusive; daivatam - (having Him) as my object of worship; dorbhyâm - with His two arms; brihadbhyâm - large; parirapsyate - He will embrace; atha - thereupon; mâm - me; âtmâ - the body; hi - indeed; tîrthî - sanctified; kriyate - will become; tadâ eva - exactly then; me - my; bandhah - the bondage; ca - and; karma-âtmakah - due to fruitive activity; ucchvasiti - will become slackened; atah - as a result of this.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Recognizing me as an intimate friend and relative, Krishna will embrace me with His mighty arms, instantly sanctifying my body and diminishing to nil all my material bondage, which is due to fruitive activities.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > labdhvânga-sangam pranatam kritân'jalim

> > mâm vakshyate 'krûra tatety urus'ravâh

> > tadâ vayam janma-bhrito mahîyasâ

> > naivâdrito yo dhig amushya janma tat

> > labdhvâ - having achieved; anga-sangam - physical contact; pranatam - who am standing with head bowed; krita-an'jalim - with palms joined together in supplication; mâm - to me; vakshyate - He will speak; akrûra - O Akrûra; tata - My dear relative; iti - in such words; urus'ravâh - Lord Krishna, whose fame is vast; tadâ - then; vayam - we; janma-bhritah - our birth becoming successful; mahîyasâ - by the greatest of all persons; na - not; eva - indeed; âdritah - honored; yah - who; dhik - to be pitied; amushya - his; janma - birth; tat - that.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Having been embraced by the all-famous Lord Krishna, I will humbly stand before Him with bowed head and joined palms, and He will address me, "My dear Akrûra." At that very moment my life's purpose will be fulfilled. Indeed, the life of anyone whom the Supreme Personality fails to recognize is simply pitiable.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > na tasya kas'cid dayitah suhrittamo

> > na câpriyo dveshya upekshya eva vâ

> > tathâpi bhaktân bhajate yathâ tathâ

> > sura-drumo yadvad upâs'rito 'rtha-dah

> > na tasya - He does not have; kas'cit - any; dayitah - favorite; suhrittamah - best friend; na ca - nor; apriyah - unfavored; dveshyah - hated: upekshyah - neglected; eva - indeed; vâ - or; tathâ api - still; bhaktân - with His devotees; bhajate - He reciprocates; yathâ - as they are; tathâ - accordingly; sura-drumah - a heavenly desire tree; yadvat - just as; upâs'ritah - taken shelter of; artha - desired benefits; dah - giving.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Lord has no favorite and no dearmost friend, nor does He consider anyone undesirable, despicable or fit to be neglected. All the same, He lovingly reciprocates with His devotees in whatever manner they worship Him, just as the trees of heaven fulfill the desires of whoever approaches them.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > kim câgrajo mâvanatam yadûttamah

> > smayan parishvajya grihîtam an'jalau

> > griham praveshyâpta-samasta-satkritam

> > samprakshyate kamsa-kritam sva-bandhushu

> > kim ca - furthermore; agra-jah - His elder brother (Lord Balarâma); mâ - me; avanatam - who am standing with head bowed; yadu-uttamah - the most exalted of the Yadus; smayan - smiling; parishvajya - embracing; grihîtam - taken hold of; an'jalau - by my joined palms; griham - His house; praveshya - bringing into; âpta - who will have received; samasta - all; sat-kritam - signs of respect; samprakshyate - He will inquire; kamsa - by Kamsa; kritam - what has been done; sva- bandhushu - to His family members.

> > TRANSLATION

> > And then Lord Krishna's elder brother, the foremost of the Yadus, will grasp my joined hands while I am still standing with my head bowed, and after embracing me He will take me to His house. There He will honor me with all items of ritual welcome and inquire from me about how Kamsa has been treating His family members.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > iti san'cintayan krishnam

> > s'vaphalka-tanayo 'dhvani

> > rathena gokulam prâptah

> > sûryas' câsta-girim nripa

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; iti - thus; san'cintayan - thinking deeply; krishnam - about Lord Krishna; s'vaphalka-tanayah - Akrûra, the son of S'vaphalka; adhvani - on the road; rathena - by his chariot; gokulam - the village of Gokula; prâptah - reached; sûryah - the sun; ca - and; asta-girim - the mountain behind which the sun sets; nripa - O King (Parîkchit).

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued: My dear King, while the son of S'vaphalka, traveling on the road, thus meditated deeply on S'rî Krishna, he reached Gokula as the sun was beginning to set.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > padâni tasyâkhila-loka-pâla-

> > kirîtha-jushthâmala-pâda-renoh

> > dadars'a goshthhe kshiti-kautukâni

> > vilakshitâny abja-yavânkus'âdyaih

> > padâni - the footprints; tasya - of Him; akhila - all; loka - of the planets; pâla - by the superintendents; kirîtha - upon their crowns; jushtha - placed; amala - pure; pâda - of His feet; renoh - the dust; dadars'a - he (Akrûra) saw; goshthhe - in the cow pasture; kshiti - the earth; kautakâni - wonderfully decorating; vilakshitâni - distinguishable; abja - by the lotus; yava - barleycorn; ankus'a - elephant goad; âdyaih - and so on.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In the cowherd pasture Akrûra saw the footprints of those feet whose pure dust the rulers of all the planets in the universe hold on their crowns. Those footprints of the Lord, distinguished by such marks as the lotus, barleycorn and elephant goad, made the ground wonderfully beautiful.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > tad-dars'anâhlâda-vivriddha-sambhramah

> > premnordhva-româs'ru-kalâkulekshanah

> > rathâd avaskandya sa teshv aceshthata

> > prabhor amûny anghri-rajâmsy aho iti

> > tat - of Lord Krishna's footprints; dars'ana - from the sight; âhlâda - by the ecstasy; vivriddha - greatly increased; sambhramah - whose agitation; premnâ - out of pure love; ûrdhva - standing erect; roma - whose bodily hairs; as'ru- kalâ - with teardrops; âkula - filled; îkshanah - whose eyes; rathât - from the chariot; avaskandya - getting down; sah - he, Akrûra; teshu - among those (footprints); aceshthata - rolled about; prabhoh - of my master; amûni - these; anghri - from the feet; rajâmsi - particles of dust; aho - ah; iti - with these words.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Increasingly agitated by ecstasy at seeing the Lord's footprints, his bodily hairs standing on end because of his pure love, and his eyes filled with tears, Akrûra jumped down from his chariot and began rolling about among those footprints, exclaiming, "Ah, this is the dust from my master's feet!"

> > ******

> > TEXT 27

> > deham-bhritâm iyân artho

> > hitvâ dambham bhiyam s'ucam

> > sandes'âd yo harer linga-

> > dars'ana-s'ravanâdibhih

> > deham-bhritâm - of embodied beings; iyân - this much; arthah - the goal of life; hitvâ - giving up; dambham - pride; bhiyam - fear; s'ucam - and sorrow; sandes'ât - beginning from his being ordered (by Kamsa); yah - which; hareh - of Lord Krishna; linga - the signs; dars'ana - with the seeing; s'ravana - hearing about; âdibhih - and so on.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The very goal of life for all embodied beings is this ecstasy, which Akrûra experienced when, upon receiving Kamsa's order, he put aside all pride, fear and lamentation and absorbed himself in seeing, hearing and describing the things that reminded him of Lord Krishna.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 28 - 33

> > dadars'a krishnam râmam ca

> > vraje go-dohanam gatau

> > pîta-nîlâmbara-dharau

> > s'arad-amburahekshanau

> > kis'orau s'yâmala-s'vetau

> > s'rî-niketau brihad-bhujau

> > su-mukhau sundara-varau

> > bala-dvirada-vikramau

> > dhvaja-vajrânkus'âmbhojais'

> > cihnitair anghribhir vrajam

> > s'obhayantau mahâtmânau

> > sânukros'a-smitekshanau

> > udâra-rucira-krîdau

> > sragvinau vana-mâlinau

> > punya-gandhânuliptângau

> > snâtau viraja-vâsasau

> > pradhâna-purushâv âdyau

> > jagad-dhetû jagat-patî

> > avatîrnau jagaty-arthe

> > svâms'ena bala-kes'avau

> > dis'o vitimirâ râjan

> > kurvânau prabhayâ svayâ

> > yathâ mârakatah s'ailo

> > raupyas' ca kanakâcitau

> > dadars'a - he saw; krishnam râmam ca - Lord Krishna and Lord Balarâma; vraje - in the village of Vraja; go - the cows; dohanam - to the place of milking; gatau - gone; pîta-nîla - yellow and blue; ambara - clothes; dharau - wearing; s'arat - of the autumn season; amburuha - like lotuses; îkshanau - whose eyes;

> > kis'orau - the two youths; s'yâmala-s'vetau - dark-blue and white; s'rî-niketau - the shelters of the goddess of fortune; brihat - mighty; bhujau - whose arms; su-mukhau - with attractive faces; sundara-varau - the most beautiful; bala - young; dvirada - like an elephant; vikramau - whose walking;

> > dhvaja - by the flag; vajra - lightning bolt; ankus'a - elephant goad; ambhojaih - and lotus; cihnitaih - marked; anghribhih - with Their feet; vrajam - the cow pasture; s'obhayantau - beautifying; mahâ-âtmânau - great souls; sa- anukros'a - compassionate; smita - and smiling; îkshanau - whose glances;

> > udâra - magnanimous; rucira - and attractive; krîdau - whose pastimes; srak- vinau - wearing jeweled necklaces; vana-mâlinau - and wearing flower garlands; punya - auspicious; gandha - with fragrant substances; anulipta - anointed; angau - whose limbs; snâtau - freshly bathed; viraja - spotless; vâsasau - whose garments;

> > pradhâna - the most exalted; purushau - two persons; âdyau - primeval; jagat-dhetû - the causes of the universe; jagat-patî - the masters of the universe; avatîrnau - having descended; jagati-arthe - for the benefit of the universe; sva-ams'ena - in Their distinct forms; bala-kes'avau - Balarâma and Kes'ava;

> > dis'ah - all the directions; vitimirâh - free from darkness; râjan - O King; kurvânau - making; prabhayâ - with the effulgence; svayâ - Their own; yathâ - as; mârakatah - made of emerald; s'ailah - a mountain; raupyah - one made of silver; ca - and; kanaka - with gold; acitau - both decorated.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Akrûra then saw Krishna and Balarâma in the village of Vraja, going to milk the cows. Krishna wore yellow garments, Balarâma blue, and Their eyes resembled autumnal lotuses. One of those two mighty-armed youths, the shelters of the goddess of fortune, had a dark-blue complexion, and the other's was white. With Their fine-featured faces They were the most beautiful of all persons. As They walked with the gait of young elephants, glancing about with compassionate smiles, Those two exalted personalities beautified the cow pasture with the impressions of Their feet, which bore the marks of the flag, lightning bolt, elephant goad and lotus. The two Lords, whose pastimes are most magnanimous and attractive, were ornamented with jeweled necklaces and flower garlands, anointed with auspicious, fragrant substances, freshly bathed, and dressed in spotless raiment. They were the primeval Supreme Personalities, the masters and original causes of the universes, who had for the welfare of the earth now descended in Their distinct forms of Kes'ava and Balarâma. O King Parîkchit, They resembled two gold-bedecked mountains, one of emerald and the other of silver, as with Their effulgence They dispelled the sky's darkness in all directions.

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > rathât tûrnam avaplutya

> > so 'krûrah sneha-vihvalah

> > papâta caranopânte

> > danda-vad râma-krishnayoh

> > rathât - from his chariot; tûrnam - quickly; avaplutya - climbing down; sah - he; akrûrah - Akrûra; sneha - by affection; vihvalah - overcome; papâta - fell; carana- upânte - next to the feet; danda-vat - flat like a rod; râma-krishnayoh - of Balarâma and Krishna.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Akrûra, overwhelmed with affection, quickly jumped down from his chariot and fell at the feet of Krishna and Balarâma like a rod.

> > ******

> > TEXT 35

> > bhagavad-dars'anâhlâda-

> > bâshpa-paryâkulekshanah

> > pulakacitânga autkanthhyât

> > svâkhyâne nâs'akan nripa

> > bhagavat - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; dars'ana - because of seeing; âhlâda - due to the joy; bâshpa - with tears; paryâkula - overflowing; îkshanah - whose eyes; pulaka - with eruptions; âcita - marked; angah - whose limbs; autkanthhyât - from eagerness; sva-âkhyâne - to announce himself; na as'akat - he was not able; nripa - O King.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The joy of seeing the Supreme Lord flooded Akrûra's eyes with tears and decorated his limbs with eruptions of ecstasy. He felt such eagerness that he could not speak to present himself, O King.

> > ******

> > TEXT 36

> > bhagavâms tam abhipretya

> > rathângânkita-pâninâ

> > parirebhe 'bhyupâkrishya

> > prîtah pranata-vatsalah

> > bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; tam - him, Akrûra; abhipretya - recognizing; ratha- anga - with a chariot wheel; ankita - marked; pâninâ - by His hand; parirebhe - He embraced; abhyupâkrishya - pulling near; prîtah - pleased; pranata - to those who are surrendered; vatsalah - who is benignly disposed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Recognizing Akrûra, Lord Krishna drew him close with His hand, which bears the sign of the chariot wheel, and then embraced him. Krishna felt pleased, for He is always benignly disposed toward His surrendered devotees.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 37 - 38

> > sankarshanas' ca pranatam

> > upaguhya mahâ-manâh

> > grihîtvâ pâninâ pânî

> > anayat sânujo griham

> > prishthvâtha sv-âgatam tasmai

> > nivedya ca varâsanam

> > prakshâlya vidhi-vat pâdau

> > madhu-parkârhanam âharat

> > sankarshanah - Lord Balarâma; ca - and; pranatam - who was standing with his head bowed; upaguhya - embracing; mahâ-manâh - magnanimous; grihîtvâ - taking hold of; pâninâ - with His hand; pânî - his two hands; anayat - He took; sa-anujah - with His younger brother (Lord Krishna); griham - to His residence;

> > prishthvâ - inquiring; atha - then; su-âgatam - about the comfort of his trip; tasmai - to him; nivedya - offering; ca - and; vara - excellent; âsanam - a seat; prakshâlya - washing; vidhi-vat - in accordance with scriptural injunctions; pâdau - his feet; madhu- parka - honey mixed with milk; arhanam - as a respectful offering; âharat - He brought.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As Akrûra stood with his head bowed, Lord Sankarshana [Balarâma] grasped his joined hands, and then Balarâma took him to His house in the company of Lord Krishna. After inquiring from Akrûra whether his trip had been comfortable, Balarâma offered him a first-class seat, bathed his feet in accordance with the injunctions of scripture and respectfully served him milk with honey.

> > ******

> > TEXT 39

> > nivedya gâm câtithaye

> > samvâhya s'rântam âdritah

> > annam bahu-gunam medhyam

> > s'raddhayopâharad vibhuh

> > nivedya - presenting in charity; gâm - a cow; ca - and; atithaye - to the guest; samvâhya - massaging; s'rântam - who was tired; adritah - with great respect; annam - cooked food; bahu-gunam - of various tastes; medhyam - suitable for offering; s'raddhayâ - faithfully; upâharat - offered; vibhuh - the almighty Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The almighty Lord Balarâma presented Akrûra with the gift of a cow, massaged his feet to relieve him of fatigue and then with great respect and faith fed him suitably prepared food of various fine tastes.

> > ******

> > TEXT 40

> > tasmai bhuktavate prîtyâ

> > râmah parama-dharma-vit

> > makha-vâsair gandha-mâlyaih

> > parâm prîtim vyadhât punah

> > tasmai - to him; bhuktavate - who had finished eating; prîtyâ - affectionately; râmah - Lord Balarâma; parama - the supreme; dharma-vit - knower of religious principles; mukha-vâsaih - with aromatic herbs for sweetening the mouth; gandha - with perfume; mâlyaih - and flower garlands; parâm - the highest; prîtim - satisfaction; vyadhât - arranged; punah - further.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Akrûra had eaten to his satisfaction,, Lord Balarâma, the supreme knower of religious duties, offered him aromatic herbs for sweetening his mouth, along with fragrances and flower garlands. Thus Akrûra once again enjoyed the highest pleasure.

> > ******

> > TEXT 41

> > papraccha sat-kritam nandah

> > katham stha niranugrahe

> > kamse jîvati dâs'ârha

> > sauna-pâlâ ivâvayah

> > papraccha - asked; sat-kritam - who had been honored; nandah - Nanda Mahârâja; katham - how; stha - you are living; niranugrahe - the merciless; kamse - Kamsa; jîvati - while he is alive; dâs'ârha - O descendant of Das'ârha; sauna - an animal slaughterer; pâlâh - whose keeper; iva - just like; avayah - sheep.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Nanda Mahârâja asked Akrûra: O descendant of Das'ârha, how are all of you maintaining yourselves while that merciless Kamsa remains alive? You are just like sheep under the care of a butcher.

> > ******

> > TEXT 42

> > yo 'vadhît sva-svasus tokân

> > kros'antyâ asu-trip khalah

> > kim nu svit tat-prajânâm vah

> > kus'alam vimris'âmahe

> > yah - who; avadhît - killed; sva - of his own; svasuh - sister; tokân - the babies; kros'antyâh - who was crying; asu-trip - self-indulgent; khalah - cruel; kim nu - what then; svit - indeed; tat - his; prajânâm - of the subjects; vah - you; kus'alam - well-being; vimris'âmahe - we should conjecture.

> > TRANSLATION

> > That cruel, self-serving Kamsa murdered the infants of his own sister in her presence, even as she cried in anguish. So why should we even ask about the well-being of you, his subjects?

> > ******

> > TEXT 43

> > ittham sûnritayâ vâcâ

> > nandena su-sabhâjitah

> > akrûrah pariprishthena

> > jahâv adhva-paris'ramam

> > ittham - thus; sû-nritayâ - very true and pleasing; vâcâ - with words; nandena - by Nanda Mahârâja; su - well; sabhâjitah - honored; akrûrah - Akrûra; pariprishthena - by the inquiry; jahau - put aside; adhva - of the road; paris'ramam - his fatigue.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Honored by Nanda Mahârâja with these true and pleasing words of inquiry, Akrûra forgot the fatigue of his journey.

> > Back to the running text