Krṣna Enters Mathurā
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been awaiting the arrival of Krṣṇa and Balarāma with great anxiety, and in their extreme cagerness to see Krṣṇa and Balarāma, the ladies did not dress themselves very properly. Some of them placed their dress in the wrong place. Some annointed their eyes on one side only, and some wore ankle bells only on one leg or only one carring. Thus in great haste, not even decorated properly, they came to see Krṣṇa from the roofs. Some of them had been taking their lunch, but as soon as they heard that Krṣṇa and Balarāma were in the city, they left their cating and ran to the roof. Some of them were in the bathroom, taking their baths, but without properly finishing their baths, they came to see Krṣṇa and Balarāma. Passing by very slowly and smiling, Lord Krṣṇa immediately stole their hearts. He who is the husband of the goddess of fortune passed through the street like an elephant. For a very long time the women of Mathurā had heard about Krṣṇa and Balarāma and Their uncommon characteristics, and they were very much attracted and cager to see Them. Now when they actually saw Krṣṇa and Balarāma passing on the street and saw Them sweetly smiling, the ladies' joy reached the point of ecstasy. When they actually saw Them with their eyes, they took Krṣṇa and Balarāma within their hearts and began to embrace Them to their fullest desire. Their hairs stood up in ecstasy. They had heard of Krṣṇa, but they had never seen Him, and now their longing was relieved. After going up on the roofs of the palaces of Mathurā, the ladies began to shower flowers upon Krṣṇa and Balarāma. When the brothers were passing through the streets, all the  brāhmanas  in the neighborhood also went out with sandalwood and flowers and respectfully welcomed Them to the city. All the residents of Mathurā began to talk among themselves about the elevated and pious activities of the people of Vṛndāvana. The residents of Mathurā were surprised at the pious activities the cowherd men in Vṛndāvana must have performed in their previous lives to be able to see Krṣṇa and Balarāma daily as cowherd boys.
While Krṣṇa and Balarāma were passing in this way, They saw a washerman and dyer of clothing. Krṣṇa was pleased to ask him for some nice clothing. He also promised that if the washerman would deliver the nicest dyed cloth to Him, he would be very happy, and all good fortune would be his. Krṣṇa was neither beggar nor was He in need of clothing, but by this request He indicated that everyone should be ready to offer to Krṣṇa whatever He wants. That is the purpose of Krṣṇa consciousness.
Unfortunately, this washerman was a servant of Kaṁsa and therefore could not appreciate the demand of Lord Krṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the effect of bad association. He could have immediately