The Breaking of the Bow in the Sacrificial Arena
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loving service unto Him. Thinking like this, Lord Krṣṇa pressed the feet of the hunchbacked woman with His toes and, capturing her cheeks with His fingers, gave her a jerk in order to make her straight. At once the hunchbacked woman looked like a beautiful straight girl, with broad hips, thin waist and very nice, well shaped breasts. Since Krṣṇa was pleased with the service of the hunchbacked woman, and since she was touched by Krṣṇa's hands, she became the most beautiful girl among women. This incident shows that by serving Krṣṇa the devotee immediately becomes elevated to the most exalted position. In all respects, devotional service is so potent that anyone who takes to it becomes qualified with all godly qualities. Krṣṇa was attracted to the hunchbacked woman not for her beauty but for her service; as soon as she rendered service, she immediately became the most beautiful woman. A Krṣṇa conscious person does not have to be qualified or beautiful; after becoming Krṣṇa conscious and rendering service unto Krṣṇa, he becomes very qualified and beautiful.
When the woman was turned by Krṣṇa's favor into an exquisitely beautiful young girl, she naturally felt very much obliged to Krṣṇa, and she was also attracted by His beauty. Without hesitation, she caught the rear part of His cloth and began to snatch it. She smiled flirtatiously and admitted that she was agitated by lusty desires. She forgot that she was on the street and before the elder brother of Krṣṇa and His friends.
She frankly proposed to Krṣṇa: "My dear hero, I cannot leave You in this way. You must come to my place. I am already very much attracted to Your beauty, so I must receive You well, for You are the best among males. You must also be very kind upon me." In plain words she proposed that Krṣṇa come to her home and satisfy her lusty desires. Krṣṇa, of course, felt a little bit embarassed in front of His elder brother, Balarāma, but He knew that the girl was simple and attracted; therefore He simply smiled at her words. Looking towards His cowherd boy friends, he replied to the girl, "My dear beautiful girl, I am very much pleased by your invitation, and I must come to your home after finishing My other business here. Such a beautiful girl like you is the only means of solace for a person like Me, for I am away from home and not married. Certainly, as a suitable girl friend, you can give us relief from all kinds of mental agitation." Krṣṇa satisfied the girl in this way with sweet words. Leaving her there, He began to proceed down the street of the marketplace where the citizens were prepared to receive Him with various kinds of presentations, especially betel nuts, flowers and sandalwood.
The mercantile men in the market worshiped Krṣṇa and Balarāma with great respect. When Krṣṇa was passing through the street, all the women