262 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

be sanctified by the dust of Your lotus feet. The water emanating from the
perspiration of Your lotus feet, namely the Ganges, purifies everyone,
including the forefathers, the fire-god and all other demigods. King Bali
Maharaja has become famous simply by washing Your lotus feet, and all
his relatives have achieved the heavenly planet due to his contact with the
Ganges water. Bali Maharaja himself enjoyed all material opulences and
later on was elevated to the highest exalted position of liberation. The
Ganges water not only sanctifies the three worlds but is carried on the
head of Lord Siva. O Supreme Lord of all lords! O master of the universe!
I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.”

On hearing this, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, replied,
“Akrura, I shall surely come to your home with My elder brother
Balarama, but only after killing all the demons who are envious of the
Yadu dynasty. In this way I shall please all My relatives.” Akriira became
a little disappointed by these words of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, but he could not disregard the order. He therefore entered
Mathura and informed Kamsa about the arrival of Krsna, and then he
entered his own home.

After the departure of Akriira, Lord Krsna, Balarama and the cowherd
boys entered Mathura to see the city. They observed that the gate of
Mathura was made of first-class marble, very well constructed, and the
doors were made of pure gold. There were gorgeous gardens all around,
and the whole city was encircled by cannons so that no enemy could
enter very easily. They saw that all the crossings of the roads were
decorated with gold. And there were many richmen’s houses, all appearing
symmetrical, as if constructed by one engineer. The houses were decorated
with costly jewels, and each and every house had nice compounds of
trees, fruits and flowers. The gardens, corridors and verandas of the houses
were decorated with silk cloth and embroidery work in jewels and pearls.
In front of the balcony windows were pigeons and peacocks walking and
cooing. All the grain dealers’ shops within the city were decorated with
different kinds of flowers and garlands, newly grown grass and blossoming
roses. The central doors of the houses were decorated with water pots
filled with water, and a mixture of water and yogurt was sprinkled all
around. There were flowers decorated with burning lamps of different
sizes over the doors, and there were also decorations of fresh mango
leaves and silk festoons on all the doors of the houses.

When the news spread that Krsna, Balarama and the cowherd boys were
within Mathura City, all the inhabitants gathered, and the ladies and girls
immediately went up to the roofs of the houses to see Them. They had
