The Breaking of the Bow in the Sacrificial Arena 267

loving service unto Him. Thinking like this, Lord Krsna pressed the
feet of the hunchbacked woman with His toes and, capturing her cheeks
with His fingers, gave her a jerk in order to make her straight. At once the
hunchbacked woman looked like a beautiful straight girl, with broad hips,
thin waist and very nice, well shaped breasts. Since Krsna was pleased with
the service of the hunchbacked woman, and since she was touched by
Krsna’s hands, she became the most beautiful girl among women. This
incident shows that by serving Krsna the devotee immediately becomes
elevated to the most exalted position. In all respects, devotional service is
so potent that anyone who takes to it becomes qualified with all godly
qualities. Krsna was attracted to the hunchbacked woman not for her
beauty but for her service; as soon as she rendered service, she immediately
became the most beautiful woman. A Krsna conscious person does not
have to be qualified or beautiful; after becoming Krsna conscious and
rendering service unto Krsna, he becomes very qualified and beautiful.

When the woman was turned by Krsna’s favor into an exquisitely
beautiful young girl, she naturally felt very much obliged to Krsna, and
she was also attracted by His beauty. Without hesitation, she caught the
rear part of His cloth and began to snatch it. She smiled flirtatiously and
admitted that she was agitated by lusty desires. She forgot that she was on
the street and before the elder brother of Krsna and His friends.

She frankly proposed to Krsna: “My dear hero, I cannot leave You in
this way. You must come to my place. I am already very much attracted
to Your beauty, so I must receive You well, for You are the best among
males. You must also be very kind upon me.” In plain words she proposed
that Krsna come to her home and satisfy her lusty desires. Krsna, of course,
felt a little bit embarassed in front of His elder brother, Balarama, but He
knew that the girl was simple and attracted; therefore He simply smiled
at her words. Looking towards His cowherd boy friends, he replied to the
girl, “My dear beautiful girl, I am very much pleased by your invitation,
and I must come to your home after finishing My other business here.
Such a beautiful girl like you is the only means ef solace for a person
like Me, for I am away from home and not married. Certainly, as a suitable
girl friend, you can give us relief from all kinds of mental agitation.”
Krsna satisfied the girl in this way with sweet words. Leaving her there,
He began to proceed down the street of the marketplace where the
citizens were prepared to receive Him with various kinds of presentations,
especially betel nuts, flowers and sandalwood.

The mercantile men in the market worshiped Krsna and Balarama with
great respect. When Krsna was passing through the street, all the women
