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40 / Krsna Enters Mathura

While Akrira was offering his prayers to the Supreme Personality of God-
head, the Lord disappeared from the water, exactly as an expert dramatic
actor changes his dress and assumes his original feature. After the Visnu-
murti disappeared, Akrira got out of the water. Finishing the rest of his
ritualistic performance, he went near the chariot of Balarama and Krsna and
was struck with wonder. Krsna asked whether he had seen something
wonderful within the water or in space. Akrira said, “My dear Lord, all
wonderful things taht are happening within this world, either in the sky or
in the water or on the land, are factually appearing in Your universal form.
So when I have seen You, what wonderful things have I not seen?” This
statement confirms the Vedic version that one who knows Krsna knows
everything, and one who has seen Krsna has seen everything, regardless of
how wonderful a thing may be. “My dear Lord,” Akrira continued, “there
cannot be anything more wonderful than Your transcendental form. When
I have seen Your transcendental form, what is there left to see?”’

After saying this, Akrira immediately started the chariot. By the end
of the day, they had almost reached the precincts of Mathura. When passing
from Vrndavana to Mathura, all passersby along the way who saw Krsna
and Balarama could not help but look at Them again and again. In the
meantime, the other inhabitants of Vrndavana, headed by Nanda and
Upananda, had already reached Mathura by going through forests and
rivers, and they were awaiting the arrival of Krsna and Balarama. Upon
reaching the entrance to Mathura, Krsna and Balarama got down from the
chariot and shook hands with Akrira. Krsna informed Akrira, ‘You may
go home now because We shall enter Mathura along with Our associates.”
Akrira replied, “My dear Lord, I cannot go to Mathura alone, leaving You
aside. I am Your surrendered servant. Please do not try to avoid me.
Please, come along with me, with Your elder brother and cowherd boy
friends, and sanctify my house. My dear Lord, if You come, my home will

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