20210930 Visit of Akrūra to Take Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to Mathurā

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 30th September 2021 in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur, India

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram

Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

Hare Kṛṣṇa! Dear Devotees! today We are continuing with the compilation of Caitanya līlā Book, the chapter entitled today is:

Visit of Akrūra to Take Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to Mathurā
Under the Section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Visit to Śrī Vṛndāvana

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.1

Translation: Kṛṣṇa Dāsa continued, "Thus the Lord enjoys His eternal pastimes (nitya-līlā) in the lands of Vraja. Now hear also of His occasional pastimes (prakaṭa-līlā) that are known as they are narrated.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is visiting His līlā spots when He came as Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. So, some details He is giving and He is experiencing great ecstasy.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.2

Translation: Being sent from Mathurā by Kaṁsa, Akrūra travelled by chariot on the road all the while remembering Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, feeling most eager to see Them.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, although Akrūra was a devotee of Kṛṣṇa but being assigned by King Kaṁsā, he had to go to bring Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma but he would inform Them of the dangers.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.339

mathurāte akrarake kaṁsera ādeśa
seikhāne sandhyākāle nagara praveśa

Translation: In Mathurā, Kaṁsa ordered Akrūra who reached the town in the evening to bring Kṛṣṇa.”

Jayapatākā Swami: King Kaṁsā ordered Akrūra to bring Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.3

Translation: This is the very spot where many thoughts crowded Akrūra’s mind, where tears of love fell from his eyes, and the hairs of his body thrilled with ecstasy as he saw Rāma and Kṛṣṇa’s sacred footprints and the divine signs of Their lotus feet.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Akrūra was a pure devotee of the Lord, when he saw the lotus foot prints of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma, he spontaneously cried in spiritual ecstasy.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.340

pathete āsite nānā manaḥkathā chila
padāravindera cihna dekhi’ siddha haila

Translation: On his way to Vṛndāvana, Akrūra absorbed himself in thoughts of Lord Kṛṣṇa. All his desires became fulfilled when he saw Lord Kṛṣṇa’s footprints.

Jayapatākā Swami: Akrūra had a great desire to see Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma, at first when He saw Their lotus footprints he was overwhelmed with ecstasy.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.4

Translation: Finally seeing Rāma and Keśava, Akrūra rose from the chariot, fell like a rod upon the earth, and took the dust of Vraja on his head.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Akrūra had the heinous task to take Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma to Mathurā and seeing Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma he offered His prostrate obeisnaces to Their lotus feet.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.341

ei goṭhe rāma-kṛṣṇa duhāke dekhiyā
daṇḍavat kare bhūme caraṇe paḍiyā

Translation: In Vṛndāvana, seeing both Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarama, Akrūra fell down on the ground, offering obeisances to Their lotus feet.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.5

Translation: Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma honored Akrūra and with great respect led him to Their own home, where the great soul Nanda Mahārāja also offered him a worshipful welcome as an honored guest, presenting him with palatable food, drink and other pleasing articles.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in accordance with the Vedic custom, Akrūra was offered a honored guest status and He was presented with various palatable dishes and water, etc.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.342

ghara laña gelā tāre kariyā ādara
rajanīte kaṁsa-karma kahila sakala

Translation: Taking Akrūra into the house, They welcomed him with love and affection. In the night, Akrūra told everything about Kaṁsa’s atrocities.

Jayapatākā Swami: Although he was sent by King Kaṁsā to get Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma, he told them how King Kaṁsā is doing various atrocities.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.6

Translation: When Mahārāja Nanda along with Lord Balarāma and Lord Kṛṣṇa heard of King Kamsa’s wish, he called an assembly of all the cowherds to prepare for the journey to Mathurā.”

Jayapatākā Swami: The Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa Kṛṣṇa dāsa is explaining all these pastimes to Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.343

prabhāte ghoṣaṇā nanda dilena sabhāre
ghoṣaṇā paḍila-yāba kaṁse bheṭibāre

Translation: In the morning, Nanda Bābā announced that they would go to Mathurā to meet Kaṁsa.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.7-8

Translation: When everyone heard this, they just gazed upon Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, who bestow supreme happiness. Yaśodā Mātā, who is the essence of maternal affection quickly catching hold of the hands of Lord Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa and sitting Them on her lap spoke to Śrī Hari:

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.9

Translation: Are You two now abandoning me, desiring to go to Mathurā? If I do not see Your lotus faces, how can I continue to live?”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.10

Translation: They replied, ‘It is not so! No! Not so! Mātā, you must understand that We two always stay at your breast. This is the truth! Yes, the truth! Have no doubt of this!’”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.11

Translation: Hearing these words, Yaśodā was overcome by love and kissed the faces of the two boys. Then she composed herself, thinking happily that Lord Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa were always embracing her.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, mother Yaśodā who is the epitome of motherly affection, She was worried that if Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma left, how would she live! But Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma reassured them that They are always with her.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.12

Translation: Then, even while she was thinking in that way, Yaśodā suddenly felt utterly helpless, and her heart burned intensely with grief. Feeling that all the worlds had now become devoid of life, she inquired of her female servants, ‘Who is this messenger of the king come from afar to the door of Nanda Mahārāja? Appearing like Yamarāja, he is now choking the life-breath of all the people of Vraja!’

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Yaśodā mātā was feeling great separation at the thought that Lord Kṛṣṇa Lord Balarāma would leave for Mathurā and she was angry at Akrūra that he had come to take Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.13

Translation: After hearing that Kṛṣṇa was leaving, all the women of Vraja, whose every endeavor was dedicated to Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, exhibited through various ecstatic emotions the auspicious symptoms of divine madness.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this pastime is told by Kṛṣṇa dāsa to Lord Caitanya and Lord Caitanya hearing the madness out of separation must be experiencing restlessness and ecstatic symptoms.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.14

Translation: All the while, these young ladies of Vraja, whose eyebrows were very eloquent, glanced charmingly upon their respective Lords, and their hearts became unsteady out of love.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.15

Translation: Just by seeing Him, Kṛṣṇa’s lovers became completely filled with great bliss. How can their glorious symptoms of prema ever be completely described?”

Jayapatākā Swami: The Murāri Gupta is expressing his inability to describe the pure loving ecstasy of the gopīs of Vraja .

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.16-17

Translation: To all the leaders of the respective groups of gopīs, maidens whose personalities epitomized unalloyed love, Rāma and Kṛṣṇa offered words of comfort, saying, ‘Soon, I shall return.’ Showing submissiveness, They, took the gopīs’ hands in Their hands, and taking pleasure in their company, They kissed and embraced them.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma were trying to pacify the gopīs.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.349

tomarā sakale mora prāṇera samāna
prāṇa chāḍā deha rahe e nahe se pramāṇa

Translation: All of you are My very life. Without life, the body can’t exist.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Kṛṣṇa is personally saying these sweet words to the Vrajavāsīs.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.350

duṣṭagaṇa nāśa kari’ śīghra se āsiba
duḥkha nā bhāviha jāna svarūpe e saba

Translation: After killing the wretched I will come back quickly. Don’t be unhappy. I am telling the truth.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Apparently in spiritual world, Kṛṣṇa comes back in two weeks but in this time, ofcourse, in His unseen form He is always in Vṛndāvana but He didn’t come back for like a hundred years physically.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.18

Translation: Then together with Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, who were the sole source of happiness for the residents of Vraja, Akrūra crossed the Mānasa Gaṅgā lake and went from Vraja-pura toward the city of Mathurā.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, when Akrūra was taking Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma, all the gopīs were holding on their chariot and couldn’t bear that Kṛṣṇa leaves.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.344

eikhāne rāma-kṛṣṇa caḍhilā ta’ rathe
rāja-daraśane cale akrara sahite

Translation: This is the place where Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma boarded the chariot to go with Akrūra to Mathurā to meet King Kamsa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was shown the place where the līlā happened, Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma boarding the chariot.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.345

eikhāne gopīgaṇa maraye kāndiyā
kṛṣṇera virahe kānde—aṅga āchāḍiyā

Translation: Over here, the gopīs almost cried themselves to death when they heard the news. Devastated by strong feelings of separation, they threw themselves down on the ground.

Jayapatākā Swami: The gopīs were almost mad in separation, they would curse Brahmā by their blinking of their eyelids, that He had created such eyes, that forced them not see Kṛṣṇa for a micro second. So, thinking that Kṛṣṇa would leave to Mathurā was unthinkable for them. They were crying, throwing themselves on the ground

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.346

bhūmite paḍiyā kānde-āulāila keśa
basana-bhūṣaṇa saba vyasta bhela veśa

Translation: Falling on the ground, they cried. Their hair, clothes, and ornaments were disheveled.

Jayapatākā Swami: The gopīs were conscious only of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma, they weren’t conscious of their ornaments, clothes anything.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.347

tāhāra kāndanā mukhe kahane ki yāya
prāṇahīna deha yena rahe hātha pāya

Translation: Who can possibly describe the gopīs’ crying at this time? They looked like dead bodies lying on the ground.

Jayapatākā Swami: The separation the gopīs were experiencing was beyond description.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.348

dūta dvāre kṛṣṇa se apane śānta kare
āsitechi āmi katho divasa bhitare

Translation: Lord Kṛṣṇa sent a message to pacify the gopīs. He said, ‘Within a few days I’ll return to Vṛndāvana.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Kṛṣṇa was trying to pacify the gopīs in this way:

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.19-20

Translation: After travelling some distance, Akrūra stopped and entered the Yamunā to take bath, and he saw that Lord Balarāma and Janārdana were both seated on the chariot. But within the water he saw Them again in supremely opulent forms, and he bowed down to Them in great wonder. Then he travelled with Them to Mathurā, all the while hearing many varieties of topics from Them.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma appeared in the Yamunā as Lord Viṣṇu and Ananta Śeṣa so in these way Akrūra saw the opulent forms of the Lords. It says that one form of Kṛṣṇa, it never leaves Vṛndāvana, and other form goes to Mathurā.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.351

ekhāne goyālā saba śakaṭe caḍhila
mānasa-gaṅgāra ghāṭe sabhāi jirāila

Translation: Here on the banks of the Mānasa Gaṅgā, the cowherd men stopped their bullock carts to take rest.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.352

yamunāra ghāṭe gelā āḍāi-prahara
snāna-phalāhāra kailā goyālā sakala

Translation: They went to the Yamunā-ghāṭa after eight hours and then all the cowherd men ate some fruits

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.353

akrūrere-sthāna-kāle vibhūti dekhāye
vikāle nandādi āge–pāche kṛṣṇa yāye

Translation: While Akrūra was taking bath, Lord Kṛṣṇa showed opulence to Akrūra. In the evening Nanda maharaja and others came ahead and Lord Kṛṣṇa came a short time later.

Jayapatākā Swami: So the cowherd men were coming following Lord Kṛṣṇa but He was riding the chariot, and they were riding on bullock carts, that’s why it took longer for them to reach.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.21

Translation: Having slain the washerman named Sudurmukha, Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma appropriated heaps of his cloth and took it to the home of Sudāmā, the garland-maker.”

Jayapatākā Swami: When Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma asked the washerman, for the royal clothes of King Kaṁsā, the washerman scolded them and then Lord Kṛṣṇa slapped the washer man, and his head fell off and They took the cloth they needed and went off.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.22

Translation: Then Sudāmā prepared attire from the cloth for the two brothers Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma and for Their company.Thereafter Kubjā, the hunchback woman, decorated Their bodies with the pulp of sandalwood.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, by taking the life of the washerman he was awarded with liberation but the garland maker was very happy to offer Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma with garlands.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.23

Translation: After transforming Kubjā into a woman filled with exquisite beauty, the Lord broke the sacrificial bow. Then Lord Mādhava went with Lord Balarāma to the cart of His family and was fed by His mother.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So since Kubjā was carrying out sandalwood paste to offer to King Kaṁsā. But since she gave it to Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma, Lord Krsna put His lotus foot on her foot and held her chin and pulled her straight until she became an exquisite beauty. Later He went and took food from Mother Yaśodā.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.24

Translation: That night, Hari and Rāma, who cherish Their devotees, lay at Nanda Rāja’s bosom, and cherished by him They slept happily.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.11.25

Translation: Hearing these narrations of the deeds of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, Śrī Gaurāṅga perceived and experienced each of Their pastimes as it occurred, and thus He became immersed in that particular rasa. Kṛṣṇa Dāsa was mystified to behold this.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya is the rasaśekhara, every pastime has a particular rasas a particular mellow, that He would experience those mellow as Kṛṣṇa dāsa was explaining, so this was amazing to Kṛṣṇa dāsa, he had never seen anyone experience such ecstasy. So, we are very fortunate to be in the movement of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and that He is giving out this appreciation of Kṛṣṇa līlā very freely. Otherwise it is very rare to get such a mercy, but He is giving out without considering who is qualified or unqualified. So, we are very thankful to His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, for bringing the message of Lord Caitanya all over the world.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Visit of Akrūra to Take Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to Mathurā
Under the Section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Visit to Śrī Vṛndāvana