Akrira’s Return Journey 253
as ‘Akrira,’ which means ‘not cruel.’ In the beginning we appreciated Your
workmanship in giving us these eyes to see the beautiful face of Krsna, but
now, just like a foolish creature, You are trying to take out our eyes so we
may not see Krsna here again. Krsna, the son of Nanda Maharaja, is also
very cruel! He must always have new friends; He does not like to keep
friendship for a long time with anyone. We gopis of Vrndavana, having left
our homes, friends, and relatives, have become Krsna’s maidservants, but
He is neglecting us and going away. He does not even look upon us,
although we are completely surrendered unto Him. Now all the young
girls in Mathura will have the opportunity. They are expecting Krsna’s
arrival, and they will enjoy His sweet smiling face and will drink its honey.
Although we know that Krsna is very steady and determined, we are
threatened that as soon as He sees the beautiful faces of the young girls in
Mathura, He will forget Himself. We fear He will become controlled by
them and will forget us, for we are simple village girls. He will no longer be
kind to us. We therefore do not expect Krsna to return to Vrndavana.
He will not leave the company of the girls in Mathura.”

The gopis began to imagine the great functions in the city of Mathura.
Krsna would pass through the streets, and the ladies and young girls of the
city would see Him from the balconies of their respective houses. Mathura
City contained different communities, known then as Dasarha, Bhoja, An-
dhaka and Satvata. All these communities were different branches of the
same family in which Krsna appeared, namely the Yadu dynasty. They were
also expecting the arrival of Krsna. It had already been ascertained that
Krsna, who is the rest of the goddess of fortune and reservoir of all pleasure
and transcendental qualities, was going to visit Mathura City.

The gopis then began to condemn the activities of Akriira. They stated
that he was taking Krsna, who was more dear than the dearest to them and
who was the pleasure of their eyes. He was being taken from their sight
without their being informed or solaced by Akrira. Akrira should not
have been so merciless but should have taken compassion on them. The
gopis went on to say: “The most.astonishing feature is that Krsna, the son
of Nanda, without consideration, has already seated Himself on the chariot.
From this it appears that Krsna is not very intelligent. Yet He may be very
intelligent—but He is not very civilized. Not only Krsna, but all the cow-
herd men are so callous that they are already yoking the bulls and calves
for the journey to Mathura. The elderly persons in Vrndavana are also
merciless; they do not take our plight into consideration and stop Krsna’s
journey to Mathura. Even the demigods are very unkind to us; they are
not impeding His going to Mathura.”
