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1), Bala
iN Kear We
41 / The Breaking of the Bow
in the Sacrificial Arena

After leaving the florist’s place, Krsna and Balarama saw a hunchbacked
young woman carrying a dish of sandalwood pulp through the streets.
Since Krsna is the reservoir of all pleasure, He wanted to make all His
companions joyous by cutting a joke with the hunchbacked woman. Krsna
addressed her, “O tall young woman, who are you? Tell Me, for whom
are you carrying this sandalwood pulp in your hand? I think you should
offer this sandalwood to Me, and if you do so I am sure you will be
fortunate.” Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He knew
everything about the hunchback. By His inquiry He indicated that there
was no use in serving a demon; one had better serve Krsna and Balarama
and get rid of the result of sins.

The woman replied to Krsna, “My dear Syamasundara, dear beautiful
dark boy, You may know that I am engaged as maidservant of Kamsa.
I am supplying him pulp of sandalwood daily. The king is very pleased with
me for supplying this nice thing, but now I see that there is no one who can
better be served by this pulp of sandalwood than You two brothers.”
Being captivated by the beautiful features of Krsna and Balarama, Their
talking, Their smiling, Their glancing and other activities, the hunchbacked
woman began to smear the pulp of sandalwood over Their bodies with
great satisfaction and devotion. The two transcendental beggars, Krsna
and Balarama, were naturally beautiful and had beautiful complexions,
and They were nicely dressed in colorful garments. The upper portions
of Their bodies were already very attractive, and when the hunchbacked
woman smeared Their bodies with sandalwood pulp, They looked even
more beautiful. Krsna was very pleased by this service, and He began to
consider how to reward her. In other words, in order to draw the attention
of the Lord, the Krsna conscious devotee has to serve Him in great love and
devotion. Krsna cannot be pleased by any action other than transcendental

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