Akrur Arrives and Krishna Leaves Vrindavan

Narad had told Kansa that Krishna and Balram were really Vasudev's sons. Kansa made a plan. He announced a bow festival and wrestling contest in Mathura, and sent Akrur, a Yadava elder, to invite the two brothers and bring them. He meant to have them killed there.

Akrur was a great devotee of Krishna. All the way to Vrindavan in his chariot he kept thinking: today I will see the feet that even Brahma and Shiv worship! When he saw Krishna's footprints in the dust of Vrindavan, he jumped down from the chariot and rolled in that dust.

Krishna and Balram embraced him, fed him with respect and heard everything. Krishna agreed to go to Mathura. When the news spread, a storm of grief swept through Vraj. The gopis wept: he is not Akrur, the kind one, but a cruel one, taking our very life away!

Next morning the gopis stood in front of the chariot. Yashoda's grief could not be put into words. Krishna sent them a loving message: I will come back. The chariot moved off, and the gopis stood there as long as even the dust of its wheels could be seen.

On the way, Akrur stopped at the Yamuna to bathe. When he dipped under the water, he saw Krishna and Balram there! He looked up, and they were sitting in the chariot too. He dipped again and had darshan of the four-armed Lord resting on Sheshnag in the water. Overwhelmed, Akrur sang His praises right there.