104- Akrurji Beholds Krishna’s Divine Form: The Deliverance of the Washerman, and Krishna’s Graces the Tailor, the Florist, and Kubja

After leaving Braj, Shree Krishna, Balramji, and Akrurji rode swiftly on the chariot and soon reached the banks of the Yamunaji. There, they washed their hands and faces and drank the cool, sweet waters of the sacred river. Afterwards, Bhagwan Shree Krishna and Balramji stood near a grove of trees and again sat upon the chariot.

Akrurji then went to a sacred pool of Yamunaji, known as Anant-tirth (Brahma-hrad), to take his bath. After bathing, he dipped beneath the water and began chanting the Gayatri mantra.

At that very moment, Akrurji saw Shree Krishna and Balramji within the waters. Astonished, he quickly lifted his head above the surface and looked toward the chariot. To his surprise, Shree Krishna and Balramji were sitting there exactly as before. This increased his wonder even more. Thinking that what he had seen in the water might have been an illusion, he once again dipped beneath the surface.

When Akrurji submerged himself again, he beheld a most extraordinary divine vision. He saw Anantdev Shree Sheshji seated there, while siddhas, gandharvas, and devtas were offering praises. Sheshji had a thousand hoods, each adorned with a brilliant crown.

Upon the lap of Sheshji sat the beautiful Shyamsundar, Bhagwan Shree Krishna. He was dressed in a yellow garment, and His four-armed form appeared serene and divine. In His hands shone the conch, discus, mace, and lotus. Upon His chest was the Shrivatsa mark, and around His neck hung the Kaustubh jewel and a garland.

Akrurji also saw Brahma, Shiva, Narad, the sages Sanak and others, Prahlad, and many devtas and devotees offering prayers to Bhagwan. Along with them were the many divine powers of Bhagwan, including Lakshmiji, engaged in His service.

Beholding this divine vision, Akrurji’s heart overflowed with bliss. His body trembled with spiritual joy, and tears of love flowed from his eyes. Overwhelmed with devotion, he fell at the lotus feet of Bhagwan and, with folded hands, began offering heartfelt prayers.

Akrurji bowed to Bhagwan and offered his prayers. He said that You alone are the supreme cause of all causes, the eternal and imperishable Purushottam Narayan. Brahma, Prakriti, Mahatattva, the five great elements, the senses, their objects, and all the devtas are but Your manifestations. The entire universe functions by Your power, yet You remain completely detached, the eternal witness of everything.

He continued that through many paths, such as Karma, Jnana, Yog, the Vaishnav path, the path of Shiva, or the worship of other devtas, people ultimately worship only You. Just as all rivers eventually flow into the ocean, in the same way, every path of worship ultimately leads to You.

You are beyond the three gunas, Sattva, Raj, and Tam. The whole creation is bound by these qualities, but You remain untouched by them. The entire universe can be understood as Your Virat form, fire is Your mouth, the sun and moon are Your eyes, and the earth is Your feet.

You appear in many avatars such as Matsya, Kurm, Varah, Narasimha, Vaman, Parashuram, Ram, the Chaturvyuh forms, Buddha, and Kalki to remove the sorrow and delusion of the world.

Akrurji admitted that the jeev, deluded by Your Maya, wanders in the pride of “I” and “mine.” He confessed that he, too, had been caught in ignorance, thinking the body and worldly home to be real. His mind and senses had continually pulled him toward worldly objects.

Finally, he said, “Now I have come to Your lotus feet. You are the embodiment of divine knowledge, the supreme Brahman, and the foundation of all powers. O Prabhu, please protect me.”

Shree Shukadevji tells Parikshit that while Akrurji was offering these prayers, Shree Krishna revealed to him His divine cosmic form within the waters and then withdrew it again, just as an actor hides his costume behind the curtain after completing a performance.

When the divine vision disappeared, Akrurji emerged from the water, filled with wonder. He quickly completed his daily duties and returned to the chariot.

Shree Krishna smiled and asked, “Chachaji, have you seen something extraordinary in the earth, the sky, or the waters? Your expression seems to suggest so.”

With deep humility, Akrurji replied, “Prabhu, whatever wonderful things exist in the earth, sky, water, or the entire universe are all contained within You. You Yourself are the universal form. Once I have seen You, what else remains to be seen? Everything exists within You, so what separate wonder could there be?”

Driving the chariot forward, Akrurji took Shree Krishna and Balramji toward Mathura, and by evening, they reached the city.

Along the way, wherever the chariot passed, people from nearby villages gathered eagerly for darshan. Seeing the beautiful forms of Shree Krishna and Balramji, they became filled with joy and gazed upon Them without blinking, as if unable to turn their eyes away.

Meanwhile, Nandbaba and the other residents of Braj had already reached Mathura and were waiting for Them in a garden outside the city.

Upon reaching there, Shree Krishna said to Akrurji, “Chachaji, you may now take the chariot and enter the city first and go to your home. We will get down here and later come to see Mathura.”

Akrurji replied, “Prabhu, I cannot enter Mathura without You. Please come to my home along with Balramji, the gvalbal, and Nandraiji, and sanctify it with the dust of Your lotus feet.”

Bhagwan then said, “Chachaji, I will certainly come to your home with Dau Bhaiya. But first, I must kill Kans, the enemy of the Yadu dynasty. After that, I will bring joy to all My well-wishers.”

Hearing this, Akrurji felt somewhat reluctant, yet he entered the city, informed Kans that Shree Krishna and Balram had arrived, and then went to his own home.

The next day, in the afternoon, Bhagwan Shree Krishna, along with Balramji and the gvalbal, entered the city of Mathura to see it.

When Bhagwan looked upon Mathura, its grandeur was evident everywhere. Tall gateways made of crystal-like stone, golden gates and arches, copper and brass fortifications, deep moats, gardens, and beautiful groves displayed the splendour of the city. The palaces, markets, and assembly halls were decorated with precious stones such as vaidurya, diamonds, sapphires, and pearls. The streets were sprinkled with water, and at the doorways stood auspicious pots, lamps, flowers, and decorations made from banana and betel trees.

As Shree Krishna and Balramji entered the royal road of the city with the gvalbal, the women of Mathura rushed excitedly to the balconies and terraces to see Them. In their eagerness, some wore their ornaments incorrectly, some came wearing only one bracelet or anklet, some left their meals unfinished, some abandoned their bath midway, and some even set down the infants they were holding. Their minds were filled with only one longing: to behold Bhagwan.

Shree Krishna walked with the graceful, majestic gait of a proud elephant. His loving glances and gentle smile captured the hearts of the women of Mathura. For years, they had heard about His divine leelas, and today, seeing Him directly, the pain of their longing was finally soothed.

From the terraces above, flowers were showered upon Him. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas worshipped Him with curd, rice grains, flowers, and sandalwood paste. The entire city exclaimed, “All glory to Krishna-Balram!”

People wondered in amazement what great austerities the gopis of Braj must have performed, for they were able to behold these enchanting youths every day. 

While entering Mathura, Shree Krishna saw a washerman approaching. He was a servant of King Kans and worked as a royal dyer, washing and colouring the king’s garments.

Bhagwan politely asked him for some fine clothes. He said that if the washerman offered those garments, it would bring him great spiritual benefit.

Although everything in this world already belongs to Bhagwan, He still asked in this humble manner as part of His divine leela. But the washerman, being an arrogant servant of Kans, became filled with pride. Speaking harshly and disrespectfully, he mocked Them as forest-dwellers and warned that the king’s servants would punish Them.

Seeing such insolence, Shree Krishna lightly struck him with His hand. Instantly, the washerman lost his life. Witnessing this, the washerman’s companions fled in fear, abandoning their bundles of clothes.

Shree Krishna and Balramji then selected garments that pleased Them and wore them. The remaining clothes were distributed among the gvalbal, and some were left behind as They continued further into the city.

After the washerman was punished, Bhagwan Shree Krishna and Balramji continued walking through the streets of Mathura. On the way, They met a skilled tailor. The moment his eyes fell upon the two divine youths, one fair and one dark, he became completely captivated by Their extraordinary beauty.

With great love and devotion, the tailor brought out fine, colourful garments and carefully dressed Them in a most elegant way. In this way, the two brothers appeared even more splendid, like beautifully adorned white and dark young elephants prepared for a royal festival.

Bhagwan Shree Krishna was very pleased with the tailor’s simple service and sincere devotion. As a blessing, He granted him wealth, prosperity, strength, sharpness of the senses, constant remembrance of Bhagwan, and ultimately sarupya moksha, the liberation in which one attains a divine form similar to Bhagwan.

Thus, by the grace of Bhagwan, even an ordinary tailor became blessed with both spiritual fulfilment and worldly prosperity. 

Afterwards, the two brothers went to Sudama's house, the florist. Seeing Them arrive, Sudama became overwhelmed with love and immediately offered dandavat pranam. With great respect, he seated Them, washed Their lotus feet, and worshipped Them with fruits, betel leaves, sandalwood paste, and fragrant flower garlands.

His heart overflowed with gratitude, and he said, “Prabhu, today my life has become successful by Your arrival. My family, my ancestors, and my very birth have all become blessed.”

Sudama asked only for one boon: unwavering devotion to the lotus feet of Bhagwan, true friendship toward the devotees of Bhagwan, and causeless compassion for all living beings.

Bhagwan Shree Krishna happily granted his spiritual wish. Along with that, He also blessed him with ever-increasing prosperity, strength, long life, fame, and beauty. In this way, when someone asks Bhagwan only for devotion, Bhagwan lovingly gives not only devotion but everything else as well.

Shree Shukadevji tells Parikshit that as Bhagwan Shree Krishna was walking along the royal lanes with His companions, His glance fell upon a young woman. Her face was very beautiful, but because her body was bent in three places, she was known as Kubja. She was carrying a vessel filled with sandalwood paste and fragrant ointments.

Bhagwan Shree Krishna, the giver of divine love, wished to show mercy to her. Smiling gently, He said, “O beautiful one, who are you, and for whom are you carrying this sandalwood paste? Please give some of this fine ointment to us as well. By doing so, your highest welfare will be achieved.”

Kubja replied humbly, “I am Trivakra, a servant of Kans. I prepare sandalwood paste and perfumes. I am taking this for King Kans. But truly, there is no one more worthy of it than You two.”

Captivated by Bhagwan’s beauty, sweet words, and loving glance, her heart melted with devotion. With great affection, she offered the fragrant paste to the two brothers. Shree Krishna applied the yellow sandal paste upon His dark form, and Balramji applied the red paste upon His fair body.

Pleased with her devotion, Bhagwan Shree Krishna decided to bless her life. He gently pressed her feet with His own and lifted her chin with two fingers, straightening her body. By His divine touch, her crooked form instantly became straight and graceful. She was transformed into a radiant and beautiful young woman. Through Bhagwan’s touch, not only her outward form but also her heart became purified and uplifted.

Filled with gratitude and love, Kubja held the edge of Bhagwan’s cloth and said, “Prabhu, please come to my house.”

Shree Krishna smiled and replied, “O beautiful one, we will surely come after completing our work.” With these sweet words, He reassured her and continued onward.

When Shree Krishna reached the marketplace, the merchants honoured Him with betel leaves, flower garlands, sandalwood paste, and many offerings. Merely by seeing Him, the women of the city were filled with love and joy. They became so absorbed in His beauty that they forgot even their own bodies, standing motionless like painted figures.

Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Shreemad Bhagavat Katha [Hindi]- 02.03.2026