In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Bala-Krishna entering inside Mathura city for the first time after ten long years of His divine incarnation. Readers might remember well that Bhagawan Bala-Krishna was taken away from the Mathura jail by His father, Vasudeva overnight immediately after His divine incarnation. Vasudeva took Bhagawan Bala-Krishna all the way to Gokula and came back with a girl child which was born to Mother Yashoda. All of us know this “Charitra” by now. After that, Bhagawan Bala-Krishna spent all His ten years of childhood at Gokula and Vrindavan, which are adjacent to each other. We can worship all these places even today along the banks of the River Yamuna and with this, we can definitely feel the divinity of Bhagawan Krishna resonating in all these places – Provided we have the faith and confidence in Bhagawan Krishna. Thus, in yesterday’s episode we had witnessed Bhagawan Bala-Krishna and Balarama coming along with Akroora on the chariot and the three of them enter Mathura city.
Upon seeing a city for the first time in their lives, the two children were so excited. Afterall, it is Bhagawan Bala-Krishna’s hometown, isn’t it? It was like homecoming after ten long years. We would have that same feeling when we live outside of our hometowns, wouldn’t we? For instance, many of us might be residing abroad, and we wouldn’t have so many opportunities to visit our Bhaarata Desha, isn’t it? If such is the case, the moment we land in India after so many months or years, what would our feeling be? Won’t we feel excited to be back in our own country? Even though we might have all the possible luxuries in whichever country we might be living in, the feeling of being at home in India can never match any of those expensive luxuries that we might possess abroad, isn’t it? This was exactly the same feeling that Bhagawan Bala-Krishna and Balarama were going through. Although they lived a very good life at Gokula for the past ten years, the moment they entered into Mathura, they felt as if they were coming back home after ten long years.
With this feeling of homecoming, Bhagawan Bala-Krishna requested Akroora thus, “Oh Akroora! I feel like this is my hometown and I feel as if I’ve regained something so precious that I had lost for all this while. This city is so dear to me. Hence, I don’t require the chariot anymore. I would love to walk along each street of the city and experience its beauty little by little. Hence, please take the chariot away. I shall reach Kamsa’s palace within sometime!” Saying thus, Bhagawan Krishna and Balarama sent Akroora away and they started walking along the streets of Mathura city. Akroora too acknowledged Bhagawan Bala-Krishna’s words and left the children at a safe place from where they can enjoy the city.
As the children started walking along the streets, the first place they went inside was the house of a “Dhobi”. We should remember that the children were making their way to the king’s palace, and how can they go there without getting properly dressed up? They’ve come from a village and we know how villagers would be dressed up, isn’t it? The children looked seemingly “shabby” with butter all over their faces and with bare minimal clothing. Hence, they enter a dhobi’s house in search of some good and decent attire for themselves, before going to meet the king. As the dhobi sees these two children coming along, he was so impressed and moved with their beauty and gave them the best clothes that he had. The two children wore the clothes given by the dhobi and left that place merrily. Next, Bhagawan Bala-Krishna had another desire – To decorate Himself with some flowers and garlands. Thus, the children’s next stop was a shop wherein the flowers and garlands were being sold. The shopkeeper knew that they were no ordinary children and decorated them with the best of the best flowers and garlands that were available.
Next, the children wanted to get themselves “perfumed”! They wanted to be sweet-smelling when they went in front of the king! Hence, they entered the house of an old lady who was preparing fresh sandalwood. The smell of fresh sandalwood attracted the two children into the old lady’s house. Upon the children’s arrival, the old lady too was very pleased and she did all the beautification processes by herself. With this, Bhagawan Bala-Krishna and Balarama were all ready to enter Kamsa’s palace. They had reached Mathura city, enjoyed the beauty of the place, roamed around the streets, got themselves dressed with some good clothing, got themselves decorated with some sweet-smelling flowers, garlands and sandalwood paste, and with this, they were all set to meet their uncle, Kamsa for the first time.
So for today, let us join hands with the two children as they enter into the palace of Kamsa after ten long years. The children were very excited to see the tall buildings and infrastructure of the palace as they walk through! Let’s wait till the next episode to continue this further. Was Bhagawan Krishna’s entry into Kamsa’s palace smooth? Or, did He counter anything unforeseen? An absorbing accord awaits us tomorrow! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 