178 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

some presentation for his friend. The wife immediately collected four
palmsful of chipped rice from her neighboring friends and tied it in a
small cloth, like a handkerchief, and gave it to her husband to present to
Krsna. Without waiting any longer, the brahmana took the presentation
and began to proceed toward Dvaraka to see his Lord. While he was pro-
ceeding toward Dvaraka he was absorbed in the thought of how he could
be able to see Lord Krsna. He had no thought within his heart other than
Krsna.

It was of course very difficult to reach the palaces of the kings of the
Yadu dynasty, but brahmanas were allowed to visit, and when the brah-
mana friend of Lord Krsna went there, he, along with other brahmanas,
had to pass through three military encampments. In each camp there were
very big gates, and he also had to pass through them. After the gates and
the camps, there were sixteen thousand big palaces, the residential quar-
ters of the sixteen thousand queens of Lord Krsna. The brahmana entered
one palace which was very gorgeously decorated. When he entered this
beautiful palace, he felt that he was swimming in the ocean of transcen-
dental pleasure. He felt himself constantly diving and surfacing in that
transcendental ocean.

At that time, Lord Krsna was sitting on the bedstead of Queen Rukmini.
Even from a considerable distance He could see the brahmana coming to
His home, and He could recognize him as His friend. Lord Krsna immedi-
ately left His seat and came forward to receive His brahmana friend and,
upon reaching him, embraced the brahmana with His two arms. Lord Krsna
is the reservoir of all transcendental pleasure, and yet He Himself felt
great pleasure upon embracing the poor brahmana because He was meeting
His very dear friend. Lord Krsna had him seated on His own bedstead and
personally brought him all kinds of fruits and drinks to offer him, as is
proper in receiving a worshipable guest. Lord Sri Krsna is the supreme
pure, but because He was playing the role of an ordinary human being, He
immediately washed the brahmana’s feet and, for His own purification,
sprinkled the water onto His head. After this the Lord smeared the body
of the brahmana with different kinds of scented pulp, such as sandalwood,
aguru and saffron. He immediately burned several kinds of scented incense,
and, as is usual, He offered him daratrika with burning lamps. After thus
offering him an adequate welcome and after the brahmana had taken food
and drink, Lord Krsna said, ‘“‘My dear friend, it is a great fortune that you
have come here.”

The brahmana, being very poor, was not dressed nicely; his clothing was
torn and dirty, and his body was also very lean and thin. He appeared not
