Krsna Enters Mathura 263
been awaiting the arrival of Krsna and Balarama with great anxiety, and
in their extreme eagerness to see Krsna and Balarama, 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 earring. Thus in great haste, not
even decorated properly, they came to see Krsna from the roofs. Some of
them had been taking their lunch, but as soon as they heard that Krsna
and Balarama were in the city, they left their eating 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 Krsna and Balarama.
Passing by very slowly and smiling, Lord Krsna 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 Mathura
had heard about Krsna and Balarama and Their uncommon character-
istics, and they were very much attracted and eager to see Them. Now
when they actually saw Krsna and Balarama 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 Krsna and Balarama
within their hearts and began to embrace Them to their fullest desire.
Their hairs stood up in ecstasy. They had heard of Krsna, but they had
never seen Him, and now their longing was relieved. After going up on the
roofs of the palaces of Mathura, the ladies began to shower flowers upon
Krsna and Balarama. When the brothers were passing through the streets,
all the brahmanas in the neighborhood also went out with sandalwood and
flowers and respectfully welcomed Them to the city. All the residents of
Mathura began to talk among themselves about the elevated and pious
activities of the people of Vrndavana. The residents of Mathura were
surprised at the pious activities the cowherd men in Vrndavana must have
performed in their previous lives to be able to see Krsna and Balarama
daily as cowherd boys.

While Krsna and Balarama were passing in this way, They saw a washer-
man and dyer of clothing. Krsna 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. Krsna was neither beggar nor was He in need of clothing, but by
this request He indicated that everyone should be ready to offer to Krsna
whatever He wants. That is the purpose of Krsna consciousness.

Unfortunately, this washerman was a servant of Kamsa and therefore
could not appreciate the demand of Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. Thisis the effect of bad association. He could have immediately
