Kṛṣṇa Enters Mathurā: City Splendor, Devotees’ Reception, and the Washerman’s Fate
दृष्ट्वा मुहु: श्रुतमनुद्रुतचेतसस्तं तत्प्रेक्षणोत्स्मितसुधोक्षणलब्धमाना: । आनन्दमूर्तिमुपगुह्य दृशात्मलब्धं हृष्यत्त्वचो जहुरनन्तमरिन्दमाधिम् ॥ २८ ॥
dṛṣṭvā muhuḥ śrutam anudruta-cetasas taṁ tat-prekṣaṇotsmita-sudhokṣaṇa-labdha-mānāḥ ānanda-mūrtim upaguhya dṛśātma-labdhaṁ hṛṣyat-tvaco jahur anantam arindamādhim
The women of Mathurā had heard of Kṛṣṇa again and again, and thus the moment they saw Him their hearts melted. They felt honored as He sprinkled them with the nectar of His glances and broad smiles. Drawing Him into their hearts through their eyes, they embraced Him—the very embodiment of bliss—and, their hairs standing on end, O subduer of enemies, they forgot the limitless anguish born of His absence.
This verse says that by repeatedly seeing Krishna and receiving the nectar of His smiling glance, devotees become ecstatic and give up “limitless distress,” showing that His darshan directly dissolves deep inner anguish.
They had long heard about Krishna’s divine qualities, and when they finally saw Him face to face, His affectionate glance and smile made them feel fully accepted; embracing Him, they experienced fulfillment of both sight and soul.
Regularly seek Krishna’s presence through sincere hearing (śravaṇa), chanting, and temple/Deity darshan; the verse emphasizes that steady contemplation and devotional contact gradually replace anxiety with inner joy and relief.