Akrura's Vision

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.39.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच सुखोपविष्टः पर्यङ्के रामकृष्णोरुमानितः । लेभे मनोरथान्सर्वान्पथि यन् स चकार ह ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca sukhopaviṣṭaḥ paryaṅke rama-kṛṣṇoru-mānitaḥ lebhe manorathān sarvān pathi yān sa cakāra ha

Shri Shuka said: Seated comfortably on a couch and greatly honored by Rama and Krishna, Akrura found all the desires he had conceived along the road now fulfilled.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.39.2)

किमलभ्यं भगवति प्रसन्ने श्रीनिकेतने । तथापि तत्परा राजन्न हि वाञ्छन्ति किञ्चन ॥ २ ॥

kim alabhyaṁ bhagavati prasanne śrī-niketane tathāpi tat-parā rājan na hi vāñchanti kiñcana

What, indeed, is unattainable for one who has pleased the Lord, the abode of the goddess of fortune? And yet, O King, those devoted to Him desire nothing at all.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.39.3)

सायन्तनाशनं कृत्वा भगवान् देवकीसुतः । सुहृत्सु वृत्तं कंसस्य पप्रच्छान्यच्चिकीर्षितम् ॥ ३ ॥

sāyantanāśanaṁ kṛtvā bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ suhṛtsu vṛttaṁ kaṁsasya papracchānyac cikīrṣitam

Having finished his evening meal, the Lord, Devaki’s son, asked Akrura how Kamsa was behaving toward his well-wishers, and what further he intended.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.39.4)

श्रीभगवानुवाच तात सौम्यागतः कच्च्त्स्विगतं भद्रमस्तु वः । अपि स्वज्ञातिबन्धूनामनमीवमनामयम् ॥ ४ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca tāta saumyāgataḥ kaccit sv-āgataṁ bhadram astu vaḥ api sva-jñāti-bandhūnām anamīvam anāmayam

The Blessed Lord said: ‘Dear gentle uncle, have you arrived safely? May all be well with you. Are our own kinsfolk and relatives free from sorrow and sickness?’

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.39.5)

किं नु नः कुशलं पृच्छे एधमाने कुलामये । कंसे मातुलनाम्नाङ्ग स्वानां नस्तत्प्रजासु च ॥ ५ ॥

kiṁ nu naḥ kuśalaṁ pṛcche edhamāne kulāmaye kaṁse mātula-nāmnāṅga svānāṁ nas tat-prajāsu ca

‘But indeed, my dear one, what use is it for Me to ask about our welfare — of our own people, or of his subjects — so long as Kamsa, that family disease who goes by the name “maternal uncle,” continues to prosper?’

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.39.6)

अहो अस्मदभूद् भूरि पित्रोर्वृजिनमार्ययोः । यद्धेतोः पुत्रमरणं यद्धेतोर्बन्धनं तयोः ॥ ६ ॥

aho asmad abhūd bhūri pitror vṛjinam āryayoḥ yad-dhetoḥ putra-maraṇaṁ yad-dhetor bandhanaṁ tayoḥ

‘Ah, how great has been the suffering My noble, blameless parents have endured because of Me — for My sake their other sons were killed, and for My sake the two of them were bound in chains.’

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.39.7)

दिष्ट्याद्य दर्शनं स्वानां मह्यं वः सौम्य काङ्क्षितम् । सञ्जातं वर्ण्यतां तात तवागमनकारणम् ॥ ७ ॥

diṣṭyādya darśanaṁ svānāṁ mahyaṁ vaḥ saumya kāṅkṣitam sañjātaṁ varṇyatāṁ tāta tavāgamana-kāraṇam

‘By good fortune today I have obtained the sight of you, our own dear kinsman, which I have so longed for, gentle uncle. Now tell Me, dear uncle, what has brought you here.’

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.39.8)

श्रीशुक उवाच पृष्टो भगवता सर्वं वर्णयामास माधवः । वैरानुबन्धं यदुषु वसुदेववधोद्यमम् ॥ ८ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca pṛṣṭo bhagavatā sarvaṁ varṇayām āsa mādhavaḥ vairānubandhaṁ yaduṣu vasudeva-vadhodyamam

Shri Shuka said: Thus questioned by the Lord, Akrura, descendant of Madhu, related everything — the enmity that had taken root against the Yadus, and the plot to murder Vasudeva.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.39.9)

यत्सन्देशो यदर्थं वा दूतः सम्प्रेषितः स्वयम् । यदुक्तं नारदेनास्य स्वजन्मानकदुन्दुभेः ॥ ९ ॥

yat-sandeśo yad-arthaṁ vā dūtaḥ sampreṣitaḥ svayam yad uktaṁ nāradenāsya sva-janmānakadundubheḥ

He told Him what the message was and for what purpose he himself had been sent as messenger, and what Narada had told Kamsa about the birth of Vasudeva’s own son.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.39.10)

श्रुत्वाक्रूरवचः कृष्णो बलश्च परवीरहा । प्रहस्य नन्दं पितरं राज्ञा दिष्टं विजज्ञतुः ॥ १० ॥

śrutvākrūra-vacaḥ kṛṣṇo balaś ca para-vīra-hā prahasya nandaṁ pitaraṁ rājñā diṣṭaṁ vijajñatuḥ

Hearing Akrura’s words, Krishna and Bala, destroyer of enemy heroes, laughed, and then informed Their father Nanda of the King’s decree.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.39.11)

गोपान् समादिशत्सोऽपि गृह्यतां सर्वगोरसः । उपायनानि गृह्णीध्वं युज्यन्तां शकटानि च ॥ ११ ॥

gopān samādiśat so ’pi gṛhyatāṁ sarva-go-rasaḥ upāyanāni gṛhṇīdhvaṁ yujyantāṁ śakaṭāni ca

Nanda in turn instructed the cowherds: ‘Let all the milk products be gathered; bring gifts of tribute; and yoke the wagons.’

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.39.12)

यास्यामः श्वो मधुपुरीं दास्यामो नृपते रसान् । द्रक्ष्यामः सुमहत्पर्व यान्ति जानपदाः किल । एवमाघोषयत् क्षत्रा नन्दगोपः स्वगोकुले ॥ १२ ॥

yāsyāmaḥ śvo madhu-purīṁ dāsyāmo nṛpate rasān drakṣyāmaḥ su-mahat parva yānti jānapadāḥ kila evam āghoṣayat kṣatrā nanda-gopaḥ sva-gokule

‘Tomorrow we shall go to Madhupuri; we shall present our milk products to the King; we shall witness a very great festival — the country folk, too, are indeed going.’ Thus did Nanda-gopa have this announced by the village crier throughout his own settlement.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.39.13)

गोप्यस्तास्तदुपश्रुत्य बभूवुर्व्यथिता भृशम् । रामकृष्णौ पुरीं नेतुमक्रूरं व्रजमागतम् ॥ १३ ॥

gopyas tās tad upaśrutya babhūvur vyathitā bhṛśam rāma-kṛṣṇau purīṁ netum akrūraṁ vrajam āgatam

Hearing this — that Akrura had come to Vraja to take Rama and Krishna away to the city — the gopis became exceedingly distressed.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.39.14)

काश्चित्तत्कृतहृत्तापश्वासम्लानमुखश्रियः । स्रंसद्दुकूलवलयकेशग्रन्थ्यश्च काश्चन ॥ १४ ॥

kāścit tat-kṛta-hṛt-tāpa śvāsa-mlāna-mukha-śriyaḥ sraṁsad-dukūla-valaya keśa-granthyaś ca kāścana

Some, their hearts wrung by that news, felt the beauty of their faces fade with heavy sighing; others found the fine cloth of their dress, their bangles, and the knots of their hair coming loose.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.39.15)

अन्याश्च तदनुध्याननिवृत्ताशेषवृत्तयः । नाभ्यजानन्निमं लोकमात्मलोकं गता इव ॥ १५ ॥

anyāś ca tad-anudhyāna nivṛttāśeṣa-vṛttayaḥ nābhyajānann imaṁ lokam ātma-lokaṁ gatā iva

And others, all their faculties stilled in unbroken meditation on Him, lost all awareness of this world, as though they had entered the very realm of the Self.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.39.16)

स्मरन्त्यश्चापराः शौरेरनुरागस्मितेरिताः । हृदिस्पृशश्चित्रपदा गिरः सम्मुमुहुः स्त्रियः ॥ १६ ॥

smarantyaś cāparāḥ śaurer anurāga-smiteritāḥ hṛdi-spṛśaś citra-padā giraḥ sammumuhuḥ striyaḥ

And other women, remembering Shauri’s affectionate speech, sent with a smile, its wondrous phrases touching the heart, fainted dead away.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.39.17)

गतिं सुललितां चेष्टां स्निग्धहासावलोकनम् । शोकापहानि नर्माणि प्रोद्दामचरितानि च ॥ १७ ॥

gatiṁ su-lalitāṁ ceṣṭāṁ snigdha-hāsāvalokanam śokāpahāni narmāṇi proddāma-caritāni ca

Remembering His graceful gait, His every gesture, His affectionate smiling glances, His sorrow-dispelling jokes, and the boldness of His magnanimous deeds.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.39.18)

चिन्तयन्त्यो मुकुन्दस्य भीता विरहकातराः । समेताः सङ्घशः प्रोचुरश्रुमुख्योऽच्युताशयाः ॥ १८ ॥

cintayantyo mukundasya bhītā viraha-kātarāḥ sametāḥ saṅghaśaḥ procur aśru-mukhyo ’cyutāśayāḥ

Thinking of Mukunda, fearful and distressed at the thought of separation, they gathered together in groups, their faces streaked with tears, their minds fixed wholly on Achyuta, and spoke to one another.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.39.19)

श्रीगोप्य ऊचुः अहो विधातस्तव न क्वचिद् दया संयोज्य मैत्र्या प्रणयेन देहिनः । तांश्चाकृतार्थान् वियुनङ्क्ष्यपार्थकं विक्रीडितं तेऽर्भकचेष्टितं यथा ॥ १९ ॥

śrī-gopya ūcuḥ aho vidhātas tava na kvacid dayā saṁyojya maitryā praṇayena dehinaḥ tāṁś cākṛtārthān viyunaṅkṣy apārthakaṁ vikrīḍitaṁ te ’rbhaka-ceṣṭitaṁ yathā

The gopis said: ‘Ah, Providence, you show mercy nowhere! Having joined embodied beings in friendship and love, you needlessly wrench them apart before their purpose is fulfilled — your sport is just like the fickle games of a child.’

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.39.20)

यस्त्वं प्रदर्श्यासितकुन्तलावृतं मुकुन्दवक्त्रं सुकपोलमुन्नसम् । शोकापनोदस्मितलेशसुन्दरं करोषि पारोक्ष्यमसाधु ते कृतम् ॥ २० ॥

yas tvaṁ pradarśyāsita-kuntalāvṛtaṁ mukunda-vaktraṁ su-kapolam un-nasam śokāpanoda-smita-leśa-sundaraṁ karoṣi pārokṣyam asādhu te kṛtam

‘Having shown us Mukunda’s face — framed by dark locks, fine of cheek, high of nose, made beautiful by even the faintest trace of His sorrow-dispelling smile — you now hide it from our sight; this deed of yours is not good at all.’

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.39.21)

क्रूरस्त्वमक्रूरसमाख्यया स्म न- श्चक्षुर्हि दत्तं हरसे बताज्ञवत् । येनैकदेशेऽखिलसर्गसौष्ठवं त्वदीयमद्राक्ष्म वयं मधुद्विषः ॥ २१ ॥

krūras tvam akrūra-samākhyayā sma naś cakṣur hi dattaṁ harase batājña-vat yenaika-deśe ’khila-sarga-sauṣṭhavaṁ tvadīyam adrākṣma vayaṁ madhu-dviṣaḥ

‘Cruel you are, despite your name “Akrura,” for like a fool, alas, you are snatching back the very eyes you once gave us — the eyes with which we have beheld, gathered in one single form, the excellence of your whole creation: you, enemy of Madhu.’

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.39.22)

न नन्दसूनुः क्षणभङ्गसौहृदः समीक्षते नः स्वकृतातुरा बत । विहाय गेहान् स्वजनान् सुतान्पतीं- स्तद्दास्यमद्धोपगता नवप्रियः ॥ २२ ॥

na nanda-sūnuḥ kṣaṇa-bhaṅga-sauhṛdaḥ samīkṣate naḥ sva-kṛtāturā bata vihāya gehān sva-janān sutān patīṁs tad-dāsyam addhopagatā nava-priyaḥ

‘Nanda’s son, whose affection can break in an instant, will not even look at us — alas, though it is He Himself who has driven us to this misery, we who abandoned our homes, kinsfolk, sons and husbands to enter directly into His service, while His loves are ever new and changing.’

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.39.23)

सुखं प्रभाता रजनीयमाशिषः सत्या बभूवुः पुरयोषितां ध्रुवम् । याः संप्रविष्टस्य मुखं व्रजस्पतेः पास्यन्त्यपाङ्गोत्कलितस्मितासवम् ॥ २३ ॥

sukhaṁ prabhātā rajanīyam āśiṣaḥ satyā babhūvuḥ pura-yoṣitāṁ dhruvam yāḥ saṁpraviṣṭasya mukhaṁ vrajas-pateḥ pāsyanty apāṅgotkalita-smitāsavam

‘Happy indeed will be the dawn that follows this night, and truly fulfilled the hopes of the women of that city — for as the Lord of Vraja enters among them, they shall drink from His very face the nectar of the smile blossoming at the corners of His eyes.’

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.39.24)

तासां मुकुन्दो मधुमञ्जुभाषितै- र्गृहीतचित्तः परवान् मनस्व्यपि । कथं पुनर्नः प्रतियास्यतेऽबला ग्राम्याः सलज्जस्मितविभ्रमैर्भ्रमन् ॥ २४ ॥

tāsāṁ mukundo madhu-mañju-bhāṣitair gṛhīta-cittaḥ para-vān manasvy api kathaṁ punar naḥ pratiyāsyate ’balā grāmyāḥ salajja-smita-vibhramair bhraman

‘With His mind captured by the sweet, honeyed words of those women, how will Mukunda — however wise and dutiful He may be — ever return to us again, O simple girls, once He is bewildered and led astray by their shy, playful smiles?’

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.39.25)

अद्य ध्रुवं तत्र दृशो भविष्यते दाशार्हभोजान्धकवृष्णिसात्वताम् । महोत्सवः श्रीरमणं गुणास्पदं द्रक्ष्यन्ति ये चाध्वनि देवकीसुतम् ॥ २५ ॥

adya dhruvaṁ tatra dṛśo bhaviṣyate dāśārha-bhojāndhaka-vṛṣṇi-sātvatām mahotsavaḥ śrī-ramaṇaṁ guṇāspadaṁ drakṣyanti ye cādhvani devakī-sutam

‘Today, surely, there will be a great festival for the eyes of the Dasharhas, Bhojas, Andhakas, Vrishnis and Satvatas — and for all who behold, even along the road, the son of Devaki, beloved of Shri, the very abode of every virtue.’

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.39.26)

मैतद्विधस्याकरुणस्य नाम भू- दक्रूर इत्येतदतीव दारुणः । योऽसावनाश्वास्य सुदुःखितं जनं प्रियात्प्रियं नेष्यति पारमध्वनः ॥ २६ ॥

maitad-vidhasyākaruṇasya nāma bhūd akrūra ity etad atīva dāruṇaḥ yo ’sāv anāśvāsya su-duḥkhitam janaṁ priyāt priyaṁ neṣyati pāram adhvanaḥ

‘Let the name Akrura never belong to such an unmerciful one as this! He is exceedingly harsh, who, without so much as consoling this deeply grieving people, will carry the Dearest of the dear away, beyond the far end of the road.’

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.39.27)

अनार्द्रधीरेष समास्थितो रथं तमन्वमी च त्वरयन्ति दुर्मदाः । गोपा अनोभिः स्थविरैरुपेक्षितं दैवं च नोऽद्य प्रतिकूलमीहते ॥ २७ ॥

anārdra-dhīr eṣa samāsthito rathaṁ tam anv amī ca tvarayanti durmadāḥ gopā anobhiḥ sthavirair upekṣitaṁ daivaṁ ca no ’dya pratikūlam īhate

‘This hard-hearted one has already mounted his chariot, and behind him these excited fools hurry along; the elders in their carts pay it no mind — today even fate itself is working against us.’

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.39.28)

निवारयामः समुपेत्य माधवं किं नोऽकरिष्यन् कुलवृद्धबान्धवाः । मुकुन्दसङ्गान्निमिषार्धदुस्त्यजाद् दैवेन विध्वंसितदीनचेतसाम् ॥ २८ ॥

nivārayāmaḥ samupetya mādhavaṁ kiṁ no ’kariṣyan kula-vṛddha-bāndhavāḥ mukunda-saṅgān nimiṣārdha-dustyajād daivena vidhvaṁsita-dīna-cetasām

‘Let us go up to Madhava ourselves and stop Him! What, indeed, can our family elders and relatives do to us, whose hearts fate has already shattered — we, for whom even half an instant’s separation from Mukunda’s company is unbearable?’

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.39.29)

यस्यानुरागललितस्मितवल्गुमन्त्र- लीलावलोकपरिरम्भणरासगोष्ठाम् । नीताः स्म नः क्षणमिव क्षणदा विना तं गोप्यः कथं न्वतितरेम तमो दुरन्तम् ॥ २९ ॥

yasyānurāga-lalita-smita-valgu-mantra līlāvaloka-parirambhaṇa-rāsa-goṣṭhām nītāḥ sma naḥ kṣaṇam iva kṣaṇadā vinā taṁ gopyaḥ kathaṁ nv atitarema tamo durantam

‘He whose loving, charming smile, sweet whispered words, playful glances and embraces once drew us into the assembly of the rasa dance, where whole nights passed for us like a single moment — O gopis, how shall we ever cross this insurmountable darkness without Him?’

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.39.30)

योऽह्नः क्षये व्रजमनन्तसखः परीतो गोपैर्विशन् खुररजश्छुरितालकस्रक् । वेणुं क्वणन् स्मितकटाक्षनिरीक्षणेन चित्तं क्षिणोत्यमुमृते नु कथं भवेम ॥ ३० ॥

yo ’hnaḥ kṣaye vrajam ananta-sakhaḥ parīto gopair viśan khura-rajaś-churitālaka-srak veṇuṁ kvaṇan smita-katākṣa-nirīkṣaṇena cittaṁ kṣiṇoty amum ṛte nu kathaṁ bhavema

‘He, the friend of Ananta, who at the close of day, surrounded by the cowherd boys and entering Vraja with His curls and garland dusted by the hooves of the cows, playing His flute, would steal away our minds with His smiling, sidelong glances — without Him, how indeed shall we go on living?’

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.39.31)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं ब्रुवाणा विरहातुरा भृशं व्रजस्त्रियः कृष्णविषक्तमानसाः । विसृज्य लज्जां रुरुदुः स्म सुस्वरं गोविन्द दामोदर माधवेति ॥ ३१ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ bruvāṇā virahāturā bhṛśaṁ vraja-striyaḥ kṛṣṇa-viṣakta-mānasāḥ visṛjya lajjāṁ ruruduḥ sma su-svaraṁ govinda dāmodara mādhaveti

Shri Shuka said: Thus speaking, and thoroughly distraught with the pain of separation, the women of Vraja, their minds fixed on Krishna, cast aside all shame and wept aloud, crying, ‘O Govinda! O Damodara! O Madhava!’

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.39.32)

स्त्रीणामेवं रुदन्तीनामुदिते सवितर्यथ । अक्रूरश्चोदयामास कृतमैत्रादिको रथम् ॥ ३२ ॥

strīṇām evaṁ rudantīnām udite savitary atha akrūraś codayām āsa kṛta-maitrādiko ratham

While the women wept in this way, Akrura, once the sun had risen and he had completed his morning worship and other rites, set the chariot moving.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.39.33)

गोपास्तमन्वसज्जन्त नन्दाद्याः शकटैस्ततः । आदायोपायनं भूरि कुम्भान् गोरससम्भृतान् ॥ ३३ ॥

gopās tam anvasajjanta nandādyāḥ śakaṭais tataḥ ādāyopāyanaṁ bhūri kumbhān go-rasa-sambhṛtān

The cowherd men, headed by Nanda, followed after Him in their carts, carrying abundant offerings — pots filled with milk products.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.39.34)

गोप्यश्च दयितं कृष्णमनुव्रज्यानुरञ्जिताः । प्रत्यादेशं भगवतः काङ्क्षन्त्यश्चावतस्थिरे ॥ ३४ ॥

gopyaś ca dayitaṁ kṛṣṇam anuvrajyānurañjitāḥ pratyādeśaṁ bhagavataḥ kāṅkṣantyaś cāvatasthire

And the gopis, somewhat consoled by His parting glances, followed after their beloved Krishna for a while; then, still hoping for some word in reply from the Lord, they came to a halt and stood there.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.39.35)

तास्तथा तप्यतीर्वीक्ष्य स्वप्रस्थाने यदूत्तमः । सान्त्वयामास सप्रेमैरायास्य इति दौत्यकैः ॥ ३५ ॥

tās tathā tapyatīr vīkṣya sva-prasthāṇe yadūttamaḥ sāntvayām asa sa-premair āyāsya iti dautyakaiḥ

Seeing them so tormented as He set out, the foremost of the Yadus lovingly consoled them, sending word through a messenger: ‘I shall return.’

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.39.36)

यावदालक्ष्यते केतुर्यावद् रेणू रथस्य च । अनुप्रस्थापितात्मानो लेख्यानीवोपलक्षिताः ॥ ३६ ॥

yāvad ālakṣyate ketur yāvad reṇū rathasya ca anuprasthāpitātmāno lekhyānīvopalakṣitāḥ

As long as the flag could be glimpsed, and as long as the dust of the chariot lingered in sight, they stood there, their very selves sent after Him, as motionless as figures painted in a picture.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.39.37)

ता निराशा निववृतुर्गोविन्दविनिवर्तने । विशोका अहनी निन्युर्गायन्त्यः प्रियचेष्टितम् ॥ ३७ ॥

tā nirāśā nivavṛtur govinda-vinivartane viśokā ahanī ninyur gāyantyaḥ priya-ceṣṭitam

Their hope of Govinda’s return now gone, they turned back; and, easing their sorrow, they spent their days and nights singing of their beloved’s deeds.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.39.38)

भगवानपि सम्प्राप्तो रामाक्रूरयुतो नृप । रथेन वायुवेगेन कालिन्दीमघनाशिनीम् ॥ ३८ ॥

bhagavān api samprāpto rāmākrūra-yuto nṛpa rathena vāyu-vegena kālindīm agha-nāśinīm

The Lord too, O King, together with Rama and Akrura, arrived by chariot — swift as the wind — at the river Kalindi, the destroyer of all sin.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.39.39)

तत्रोपस्पृश्य पानीयं पीत्वा मृष्टं मणिप्रभम् । वृक्षषण्डमुपव्रज्य सरामो रथमाविशत् ॥ ३९ ॥

tatropaspṛśya pānīyaṁ pītvā mṛṣṭaṁ maṇi-prabham vṛkṣa-ṣaṇḍam upavrajya sa-rāmo ratham āviśat

There He touched the water and drank of it — sweet and bright as a gem — and then, together with Rama, walked over to a grove of trees before mounting the chariot again.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.39.40)

अक्रूरस्तावुपामन्त्र्य निवेश्य च रथोपरि । कालिन्द्या ह्रदमागत्य स्नानं विधिवदाचरत् ॥ ४० ॥

akrūras tāv upāmantrya niveśya ca rathopari kālindyā hradam āgatya snānaṁ vidhi-vad ācarat

Akrura then, having taken leave of the two of Them and seated Them upon the chariot, went to a pool in the Kalindi and bathed there in accordance with the sacred rite.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.39.41)

निमज्ज्य तस्मिन्सलिले जपन्ब्रह्म सनातनम् । तावेव ददृशेऽक्रूरो रामकृष्णौ समन्वितौ ॥ ४१ ॥

nimajjya tasmin salile japan brahma sanātanam tāv eva dadṛśe ’krūro rāma-kṛṣṇau samanvitau

As he immersed himself in that water, reciting the eternal Vedic mantra, Akrura suddenly beheld those very two, Rama and Krishna, together there before him.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.39.42)

तौ रथस्थौ कथमिह सुतावानकदुन्दुभेः । तर्हि स्वित्स्यन्दने न स्त इत्युन्मज्ज्य व्यचष्ट सः ॥ ४२ ॥

tau ratha-sthau katham iha sutāv ānakadundubheḥ tarhi svit syandane na sta ity unmajjya vyacaṣṭa saḥ

‘How can these two, the sons of Anakadundubhi, be here, when They are also sitting on the chariot? Or perhaps They are not on the chariot at all?’ Thinking this, he rose up out of the water to look.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.10.39.43)

तत्रापि च यथापूर्वमासीनौ पुनरेव सः । न्यमज्जद् दर्शनं यन्मे मृषा किं सलिले तयोः ॥ ४३ ॥

tatrāpi ca yathā-pūrvam āsīnau punar eva saḥ nyamajjad darśanaṁ yan me mṛṣā kiṁ salile tayoḥ

There too he saw Them seated just as before; so once again he sank down into the water, wondering, ‘Was that vision of Them in the water perhaps false?’

Verse 44 (bhagavata.10.39.44)

भूयस्तत्रापि सोऽद्राक्षीत्स्तूयमानमहीश्वरम् । सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वैरसुरैर्नतकन्धरैः ॥ ४४ ॥

bhūyas tatrāpi so ’drākṣīt stūyamānam ahīśvaram siddha-cāraṇa-gandharvair asurair nata-kandharaiḥ

There once more he saw the Lord of the serpents being praised by Siddhas, Charanas and Gandharvas, and by asuras too, all with heads bowed low.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.10.39.45)

सहस्रशिरसं देवं सहस्रफणमौलिनम् । नीलाम्बरं विसश्वेतं शृङ्गैः श्वेतमिव स्थितम् ॥ ४५ ॥

sahasra-śirasaṁ devaṁ sahasra-phaṇa-maulinam nīlāmbaraṁ visa-śvetaṁ śṛṅgaiḥ śvetam iva sthitam

He saw the thousand-headed Lord, wearing a thousand hooded crowns, His garment blue, His body white as a lotus fiber, standing like a white mountain with its many peaks.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.10.39.46)

तस्योत्सङ्गे घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् । पुरुषं चतुर्भुजं शान्तं पद्मपत्रारुणेक्षणम् ॥ ४६ ॥

tasyotsaṅge ghana-syāmaṁ pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam puruṣaṁ catur-bhujaṁ śāntam padma-patrāruṇekṣaṇam

Upon his lap sat one dark as a rain-cloud, clothed in garments of yellow silk, four-armed, serene, His eyes reddish like lotus petals.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.10.39.47)

चारुप्रसन्नवदनं चारुहासनिरीक्षणम् । सुभ्रून्नसं चारुकर्णं सुकपोलारुणाधरम् ॥ ४७ ॥

cāru-prasanna-vadanaṁ cāru-hāsa-nirīkṣaṇam su-bhrūnnasaṁ caru-karṇaṁ su-kapolāruṇādharam

His face was lovely and cheerful, His gaze charming and smiling, His eyebrows fine, His nose high, His ears shapely, His cheeks fine, and His lips reddish.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.10.39.48)

प्रलम्बपीवरभुजं तुङ्गांसोरःस्थलश्रियम् । कम्बुकण्ठं निम्ननाभिं वलिमत्पल्लवोदरम् ॥ ४८ ॥

pralamba-pīvara-bhujaṁ tuṅgāṁsoraḥ-sthala-śriyam kambu-kaṇṭhaṁ nimna-nābhiṁ valimat-pallavodaram

His arms were long and stout, His raised shoulders and chest were beautiful, His throat was like a conch, His navel deep, and His abdomen marked with folds like a tender leaf.

Verse 49 (bhagavata.10.39.49)

बृहत्कटितटश्रोणिकरभोरुद्वयान्वितम् । चारुजानुयुगं चारुजङ्घायुगलसंयुतम् ॥ ४९ ॥

bṛhat-kati-tata-śroṇi karabhoru-dvayānvitam cāru-jānu-yugaṁ cāru jaṅghā-yugala-saṁyutam

His hips and loins were broad, His two thighs like elephant trunks, His knees lovely, and His two shins shapely.

Verse 50 (bhagavata.10.39.50)

तुङ्गगुल्फारुणनखव्रातदीधितिभिर्वृतम् । नवाङ्गुल्यङ्गुष्ठदलैर्विलसत् पादपङ्कजम् ॥ ५० ॥

tuṅga-gulphāruṇa-nakha vrāta-dīdhitibhir vṛtam navāṅguly-aṅguṣṭha-dalair vilasat-pāda-paṅkajam

His ankles were high, ringed with the radiance streaming from His reddish toenails, and His lotus feet gleamed with soft toes, their nails glowing like petals.

Verse 51 (bhagavata.10.39.51)

सुमहार्हमणिव्रातकिरीटकटकाङ्गदैः । कटिसूत्रब्रह्मसूत्रहारनूपुरकुण्डलैः ॥ ५१ ॥

su-mahārha-maṇi-vrāta kirīṭa-kaṭakāṅgadaiḥ kaṭi-sūtra-brahma-sūtra hāra-nūpura-kuṇḍalaiḥ

He was adorned with a crown, bracelets and armlets set with clusters of the most precious gems, and with a waist-cord, a sacred thread, a necklace, anklets and earrings.

Verse 52 (bhagavata.10.39.52)

भ्राजमानं पद्मकरं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् । श्रीवत्सवक्षसं भ्राजत्कौस्तुभं वनमालिनम् ॥ ५२ ॥

bhrājamānaṁ padma-karaṁ śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dharam śrīvatsa-vakṣasaṁ bhrājat kaustubhaṁ vana-mālinam

Resplendent, He held a lotus in one hand and bore the conch, discus and mace in the others; His chest bore the mark of Shrivatsa and shone with the Kaustubha gem, and He wore a garland of forest flowers.

Verse 53 (bhagavata.10.39.53)

सुनन्दनन्दप्रमुखैः पर्षदैः सनकादिभिः । सुरेशैर्ब्रह्मरुद्राद्यैर्नवभिश्च द्विजोत्तमैः ॥ ५३ ॥

sunanda-nanda-pramukhaiḥ parṣadaiḥ sanakādibhiḥ sureśair brahma-rudrādyair navabhiś ca dvijottamaiḥ

He was attended by His personal companions headed by Sunanda and Nanda, by Sanaka and the other Kumaras, by the chief gods headed by Brahma and Rudra, and by the nine foremost brahmanas.

Verse 54 (bhagavata.10.39.54)

प्रह्रादनारदवसुप्रमुखैर्भागवतोत्तमैः । स्तूयमानं पृथग्भावैर्वचोभिरमलात्मभिः ॥ ५४ ॥

prahrāda-nārada-vasu pramukhair bhāgavatottamaiḥ stūyamānaṁ pṛthag-bhāvair vacobhir amalātmabhiḥ

He was being extolled by the foremost of devotees, headed by Prahlada, Narada and Vasu, each pure of heart praising Him in his own distinct mood, with his own words.

Verse 55 (bhagavata.10.39.55)

श्रिया पुष्ट्या गिरा कान्त्या कीर्त्या तुष्ट्येलयोर्जया । विद्ययाविद्यया शक्त्या मायया च निषेवितम् ॥ ५५ ॥

śriyā puṣṭyā girā kāntyā kīrtyā tuṣṭyelayorjayā vidyayāvidyayā śaktyā māyayā ca niṣevitam

He was served by Shri, Pushti, Gir, Kanti, Kirti, Tushti, Ila and Urja — His own divine potencies — and also by Vidya, Avidya, Shakti and Maya.

Verse 56 (bhagavata.10.39.56)

विलोक्य सुभृशं प्रीतो भक्त्या परमया युतः । हृष्यत्तनूरुहो भावपरिक्लिन्नात्मलोचनः ॥ ५६ ॥

vilokya su-bhṛśaṁ prīto bhaktyā paramayā yutaḥ hṛṣyat-tanūruho bhāva- pariklinnātma-locanaḥ

Beholding this, he became exceedingly pleased and filled with supreme devotion, the hairs of his body standing on end, his eyes brimming with tears of ecstasy.

Verse 57 (bhagavata.10.39.57)

गिरा गद्गदयास्तौषीत् सत्त्वमालम्ब्य सात्वतः । प्रणम्य मूर्ध्नावहितः कृताञ्जलिपुटः शनैः ॥ ५७ ॥

girā gadgadayāstauṣīt sattvam ālambya sātvataḥ praṇamya mūrdhnāvahitaḥ kṛtāñjali-puṭaḥ śanaiḥ

With his voice choked with emotion, steadying himself with composure, the great devotee bowed his head, and, attentive and with folded hands, slowly began to offer his praise.