Shloka 1
Kṛṣṇa Enters Mathurā: City Splendor, Devotees’ Reception, and the Washerman’s Fate
श्रीशुक उवाच स्तुवतस्तस्य भगवान् दर्शयित्वा जले वपु: । भूय: समाहरत् कृष्णो नटो नाट्यमिवात्मन: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca stuvatas tasya bhagavān darśayitvā jale vapuḥ bhūyaḥ samāharat kṛṣṇo naṭo nāṭyam ivātmanaḥ
ശ്രീശുകൻ പറഞ്ഞു: അക്രൂരൻ സ്തുതിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കെ, ഭഗവാൻ കൃഷ്ണൻ ജലത്തിൽ വെളിപ്പെടുത്തിയ തന്റെ രൂപം വീണ്ടും പിൻവലിച്ചു; നടൻ തന്റെ നാടകം അവസാനിപ്പിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ.
Lord Kṛṣṇa withdrew from Akrūra’s sight the Viṣṇu form along with the vision of the spiritual sky and its eternal inhabitants.
FAQs
This verse shows that Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa can grant direct darśana—revealing His form—when a devotee offers heartfelt praises, and He may also withdraw that vision according to His divine will.
The comparison highlights līlā: Kṛṣṇa freely manifests and withdraws His visible form, just as an actor displays and then concludes a performance, remaining always in full control.
Practice steady devotion without entitlement—offer sincere prayers and service, and accept both moments of spiritual clarity and apparent withdrawal as part of Kṛṣṇa’s purposeful guidance.