Gopala Champu

Chapter Two - Cruelty of Akrūra

[1] At dawn the next day the narration began in the assembly in the presence of the people of Vraja and Nanda.

[2] Madhukaṇṭha said: On the dawn of the day of killing Keśi, Kṛṣṇa for a moment with restless eyes began thinking.

[3] “Ah! This dream in which I drag Kaṁsa from the stage was like actually seeing the event. It will happen soon. Today, Keśi intent on killing me will be killed. Kaṁsa will be killed after that. And for that purpose I will go to Mathurā. It is time that I go there. It is understood that out of fear he will not come here. Without the killing of Kaṁsa, who constantly afflicts the Vṛṣṇis now and has sent rascals to kill me, my parents in Mathurā and Vraja will be filled with fear.

[4] Again he thought. “Oh! Oh! If I delay in doing this, I think it will not be auspicious for the lives of my mother and father --If I leave them and go, I will become insane with disturbance by my internal wind--like moon pushed by the zodiac movements, cloud pushed by the wind and sun pushed by the zodiac movements. I am the moon for the cakora eyes of my mothers who derives nectar from my face. I am the cloud for the cataka eyes of my father who subsists on me, and I am the sun for the people of Gokula, who blossom like lotuses.” ||1||

[5] While Kṛṣṇa lay on his bed, lamenting for a long time, Keśi approached. The previous campū was completed with the description of Keśi’s death.

[6] Protected by Yaśodā and increasing his fame on the pretext of herding cows, Kṛṣṇa met Nārada in private. Nārada consoled Kṛṣṇa, full of doubt and regret, by relating to him his previous and future pastimes while considering all the implications.

[7] The protector of all auspiciousness then dispatched Nārada and returned to Vraja with the cows, still disturbed, but playing with his friends with a happy face.

The devatās worshipped him with garlands made of heavenly flowers. A crowd of brāhmaṇas praised him with Vedic verses. He faced the cows and cowherd boys, calling them by their names. He gave happiness to all by the effulgence of his body. ||2||

[8] The devatās spoke:

By the appearance of the moon, the night lotuses immediately blossoms, the ocean becomes agitated and cakora birds drink its beauty from afar. Look! The cowherds, seeing Kṛṣṇa, attain those conditions unlimitedly with bliss, but also run to him with all their strength because of their desire. ||3||

When he returned home after killing Keśi, his body appeared differently to each person. He was a form of strength to the cowherds like Dāma that he doted on. He was the essence of the heart to the cowherds who served him such as Śrīdāma. He was the life air shining in the heart of his parents. He was the ātmā of the gopīs. ||4||

After killing Keśi, when he came amongst the people of Vraja, who were clamoring blissfully, his mother touched all parts of his body with her hands and Nanda shed tears. All others’ hairs stood on end. The other symptoms cannot be described in words. ||5||

[9] In the morning his parents made him rest for a few moments, caring for him without observing him in detail because of their confusion caused by the incomparable danger. They embraced him as no others could, put him in the house, smothered him with affection, bathed him, dressed him attractively, and applied ointments on him.

[10] Because they thought his body was soft, they considered that at the time of fighting demons he had become endowed with Nārāyaṇa’s power temporarily.

[11] It is time for milking the cows! Gopāla, protector of all happiness, along with Balarāma called the group of servants holding the implements and went to a place to face the cows. On arriving there, his black limbs shone along with Balarāma.

The cows immediately surrounded him, while their mooing drowned out all other sounds. Along with Balarāma, affectionate Kṛṣṇa had calves meet the cows, who were flowing abundantly with milk even without their calves. ||6||

As previously Kṛṣṇa finished all his chores. Though his mind was disturbed by Nārada’s words, by deciding to return to Vraja after leaving, he became steady. ||7||

12] Many thoughts came in his mind.

“I will go off to kill Kaṁsa but the love for my parents is the greatest obstacle. But Nārada’s words are also not untruthful. How will I tolerate the grief of separation in Vraja? Though I can conclude in this way, what is the use of these bad thoughts full of sorrow? But it is necessary to remember the great happiness of meeting again in Vraja.” ||8||

While thinking in this way, he saw some chariot, for whatever is reflected in the hearts of great souls becomes reality. ||9||

[13] Seeing the person riding on the chariot, he began to think.

“If he is without weapons, he must be a messenger.” Many people began to wonder why this person had come from Kaṁsa. ||10||

[14] The sun, coloring the west red, falling low and cooking the ocean water, hid him and the world in darkness.

The sun would certainly rise after four praharas. But Kṛṣṇa with Balarāma destroyed the darkness by spreading their effulgence. ||11||

[15] Though not able to recognize Akrūra from a distance, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma knew him. When the cowherds went to see the chariot and all the cows pricked up their ears, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma desired to see the chariot also.

They went because it is stated that the eye alone gives knowledge of the form. According to the realization of great souls, the power of sight then attracts the ears. (They wanted to question him.) ||12||

The two had such beauty that, on seeing them, the sapphire and the moon desired their beauty. But let that be! When Akrūra from far away saw just their foot prints, attractive as painted pictures, he became completely bewildered. ||13||

[16] Akrūra began to describe their beauty:

Kṛṣṇa is the avatāra of the presiding deity of the wealth of all black luster. Balarāma is the full essence of perfect beauty of pure whiteness. Kṛṣṇa is beautiful with cloth the color of Pārvatī. Balarāma spreads remarkable beauty with his pleasing dark blue cloth mixed with gold like Kṛṣṇa’s cloth. ||14||

The beauty of Kṛṣṇa’s face spreads bliss by conquering a blue lotus. The beauty of Balarāma’s face defeats the white lotus. The beauty of Kṛṣṇa’s eyes defeats the attractive khaṣjana bird. The tips of Balarāma’s eyes defeat piles of red lotuses. ||15||

Kṛṣṇa’s cheeks are illuminated by the joyful light from the makara heads on his earrings. Balarāma continually shines with the rays from his one earring. Kṛṣṇa’s nose is like an arrow made of a sesame flower placed between his bow-like brows. Balarāma occupies the heart of shining Cupid, having conquered him with his beauty, similar to Kṛṣṇa’s. ||16||

Kṛṣṇa is attractive with sparkling jewels on his snake-like arms shining like sapphires. Balarāma is attractive with arms superior to ruby pillars. Kṛṣṇa’s chest increases in beauty by the golden line on his chest made of blue testing stone. Balarāma’s chest conquers the beauty of a jewel mine on Mount Kailāsa. ||17||

Kṛṣṇa has a variety of treasures increased by the praise of poets, including the beauty of his lips, among his various limbs. Balarāma’s constant beauty, similar to Kṛṣṇa’s, is also praised by poets. Kṛṣṇa walks by his feet which surpass lotuses to show the excellence of the royal palace. Balarāma moves his fear-inspiring feet to assist Kṛṣṇa’s feet. ||18||

Kṛṣṇa plays marvelously with his hands, black and tender as creepers. Balarāma uses a branch as a bat to hit a ball. Kṛṣṇa in modesty hides his beauty with the cloth covering his body. Balarāma, similar to Kṛṣṇa, watches for the time when they should return to Vraja. ||19||

Akrūra saw Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa as two young elephants among the calves. One had blue cloth and the other had cloth yellow like lightning. Kṛṣṇa had earrings and Balarāma had an ornament in his left ear. One was named Balarāma, giving happiness to Rohiṇī who came in a great dynasty. The other was excellent in giving happiness to the most splendid cows. They were both attracted to playing with the cows. They exerted power as cowherds, rejecting birth in other families. ||20||

Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa, wearing blue and gold cloth, with horn and flute on their waists, and silk ropes and sticks in their hands, attracted Akrūra’s mind. ||21||

[17-18] As soon as he saw the two boys, which made his journey successful, he jumped down from his chariot, while his hairs stood on end like spikes and he shook to the extreme. He spread his limbs on the ground to offer respects. He offered respects three, six and twelve times even though he was their uncle, since he was completely bewildered.

He did this because one should honor or ignore a person by understanding the person’s power. Otherwise one will think in terms of one’s own identity. ||22||

[19-20] When Akrūra offered unlimited respects, after instructing his friends to gather the remaining cows and take them home for milking, Kṛṣṇa, firm as a lion, with great mercy approached along with Balarāma and raised Akrūra up with his two spread arms. Akrūra, with choked voice, could not even utter his name.

[21-22] When all the cowherd boys were introduced to Akrūra, the two boys, pained by Akrūra’s confusion, forgot to treat him as an uncle and respected him by embracing him. Taking his hands in theirs, they led him to their house. Kṛṣṇa, acting properly, put Balarāma in front.

[23] After welcoming him as the first part of treatment of a guest, Kṛṣṇa along with Balarāma fed him delicious food. After the meal, Kṛṣṇa happily offered him spices to purify his mouth. They then had him meet Nanda.

Meeting respectful Akrūra, Nanda remembered the suffering caused by Kaṁsa, and, praising Akrūra’s qualities, removed all that suffering by his blessings. Though Akrūra and Vasudeva were gentle, on remembering the cruelty of Kaṁsa my mind becomes disturbed and even now burns to ashes. ||23||