Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 30
Akrūra’s Journey to Vraja and His Devotional Vision of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma
ददर्श कृष्णं रामं च व्रजे गोदोहनं गतौ । पीतनीलाम्बरधरौ शरदम्बुरुहेक्षणौ ॥ २८ ॥ किशोरौ श्यामलश्वेतौ श्रीनिकेतौ बृहद्भुजौ । सुमुखौ सुन्दरवरौ बलद्विरदविक्रमौ ॥ २९ ॥ ध्वजवज्राङ्कुशाम्भोजैश्चिह्नितैरङ्घ्रिभिर्व्रजम् । शोभयन्तौ महात्मानौ सानुक्रोशस्मितेक्षणौ ॥ ३० ॥ उदाररुचिरक्रीडौ स्रग्विणौ वनमालिनौ । पुण्यगन्धानुलिप्ताङ्गौ स्नातौ विरजवाससौ ॥ ३१ ॥ प्रधानपुरुषावाद्यौ जगद्धेतू जगत्पती । अवतीर्णौ जगत्यर्थे स्वांशेन बलकेशवौ ॥ ३२ ॥ दिशो वितिमिरा राजन्कुर्वाणौ प्रभया स्वया । यथा मारकत: शैलो रौप्यश्च कनकाचितौ ॥ ३३ ॥
dadarśa kṛṣṇaṁ rāmaṁ ca vraje go-dohanaṁ gatau pīta-nīlāmbara-dharau śarad-amburahekṣaṇau
Akrūra then saw Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma in the village of Vraja, going to milk the cows. Kṛṣṇa wore yellow garments, Balarāma blue, and Their eyes resembled autumnal lotuses. One of those two mighty-armed youths, the shelters of the goddess of fortune, had a dark-blue complexion, and the other’s was white. With Their fine-featured faces They were the most beautiful of all persons. As They walked with the gait of young elephants, glancing about with compassionate smiles, Those two exalted personalities beautified the cow pasture with the impressions of Their feet, which bore the marks of the flag, lightning bolt, elephant goad and lotus. The two Lords, whose pastimes are most magnanimous and attractive, were ornamented with jeweled necklaces and flower garlands, anointed with auspicious, fragrant substances, freshly bathed, and dressed in spotless raiment. They were the primeval Supreme Personalities, the masters and original causes of the universes, who had for the welfare of the earth now descended in Their distinct forms of Keśava and Balarāma. O King Parīkṣit, They resembled two gold-bedecked mountains, one of emerald and the other of silver, as with Their effulgence They dispelled the sky’s darkness in all directions.
FAQs
This verse describes Krishna (with Balarama) as having lotus feet marked with auspicious symbols—flag, thunderbolt, goad, and lotus—signs of divine majesty that beautify Vraja and attract the heart in devotion.
In this chapter Akrura arrives in Vraja and beholds the brothers directly; Śukadeva highlights their divine signs and compassionate smiles to show how their presence sanctifies and glorifies the entire land.
Remembering the Lord’s compassionate, smiling glance and His lotus feet helps steady the mind, soften the heart, and cultivate humility and devotion amidst daily stress.