SECTION XVII.Parāçara said:—Having issued out of the house of Kansa, Akrurā being desirous of seeing Krishna, proceeded towards the house of Nanda in a swift-coursing car. He thought within himself. "There is none more fortunate than I, for I shall behold the countenance of a portion of the holder of discus. To-day my life has borne fruit, my night is followed by the dawn of day, for I shall behold the countenance of Vishnu resembling full-blown lotuses. Blessed are my eyes and blessed are my words, for on beholding Vishnu a conversation shall take place between him and me. I shall behold the countenance of Vishnu having lotus eyes, which, when seen only in imagination, removes all sins. I shall behold to-day the mouth of Vishnu—the glory of glories, whence proceeded the Vedas and all their divisions. I shall behold the lord of the universe by whom the world is sustained, who is worshipped as the best Purusha and as the male of sacrifice in sacrificial rites. I shall behold Keseva, who is without beginning or end, by worshipping whom with a hundred sacrifices, Indra obtained the sovereignty over the celestials. That Hari, whose nature is unknown to Brahmā, Indra, Rudra, the Aswins, the Vasus, the Adityas and Maruts, will this day touch my body. He, who is the soul of all omniscient, is identical with everything, omnipresent, permanent, undecaying, all-pervading, shall converse with me. He, the unborn, who has preserved the world in diverse forms of a fish, a tortoise, a boar, a horse, a lion, will this day talk with me. The lord of the universe, who assumes shapes at will, has taken upon him the condition of humanity to satisfy some object of his heart. The endless, who holds the earth upon his crest and who has descended upon earth for its protection, will this day call me by my name. Glory to that being, whose deceptive adoption of father, son, brother, friend, mother, and relative, the world is unable to comprehend. Salutation unto him, who is identical with true knowledge, who is inscrutable and through whom, when seated in his heart the ascetic gets over the worldly ignorance and illusion, I bow to him, who, by the performers of holy rites, is denominated Yajnapurusha (the male of a sacrifice), Vāsudeva, by the devotees and Vishnu by the adepts in Vedānta philosophy. May he, who comprises in himself, cause and effect and the world itself, be pleased with me, through his truth, for I always confide in that unborn and eternal Hari, by meditating on whom man becomes the repository of all auspicious things".Parāçara said:—Thus meditating upon Vishnu, Akrura, having his mind animated by devout faith, reached Gokula a little before sun-set; and there he beheld Krishna amongst the cattle, dark as the leaf of the full-blown lotus; his eyes of the same colour and his breast adorned with Srivatsa mark; long-armed, broad-chested; having a high nose, a graceful countenance with smiles; treading firmly on the ground with feet whose nails were tinted red; dressed in yellow raiments and be-decked with a garland of forest flowers; having a creeper just collected in his hands, and a chaplet of white lotus-flowers on his head. Akrura also saw there Balabhadra, white as a jasmine, a swan or the moon dressed in a blue dress; having large and mighty arms and a countenance as radiant as a blue lotus, like the Kailāsa mountain adorned with a wreath of clouds.When Akrura, beheld these two young men, his countenance expanded with joy and the down of his body stood erect with delight. And he thought—"This is the supreme happiness and repository; this the double manifestation of the divine Vāsudeva; blessed are my eyes for I have seen the protector of the universe and my bodily form shall yield fruit, when by the favour of the deity it shall come in contact with his person. Shall that assumer of infinite forms place his hand on my back by the touch of whose fingers alone all sins are dispelled and imperishable, felicity is secured. And by this hand holding the fierce irresistible discus blazing with all the flames of fire, lightning, and the sun, were slain the Daitya chiefs, and the collyrium from the eyes of their females was washed. Into this hand Bali poured water and obtained enjoyments in the region under the earth and immortality and dominion over the celestials for a whole Manwantara without danger from any enemy. Although I am not sinful, perhaps he will despise me for my connection with the vicious Kansa. If so, cursed is my birth who is counted amongst the wicked. What is there unknown to him who resides in the hearts of all men, who is ever existent, freed from imperfection, the aggregate of the quality of purity and at one with true knowledge? With a heart animated with devout faith I approach the lord of lords, the descended portion of that excellent Purusha, Vishnu, who his without beginning, middle or end".
SECTION XVII.Parāçara said:—Having issued out of the house of Kansa, Akrurā being desirous of seeing Krishna, proceeded towards the house of Nanda in a swift-coursing car. He thought within himself. "There is none more fortunate than I, for I shall behold the countenance of a portion of the holder of discus. To-day my life has borne fruit, my night is followed by the dawn of day, for I shall behold the countenance of Vishnu resembling full-blown lotuses. Blessed are my eyes and blessed are my words, for on beholding Vishnu a conversation shall take place between him and me. I shall behold the countenance of Vishnu having lotus eyes, which, when seen only in imagination, removes all sins. I shall behold to-day the mouth of Vishnu—the glory of glories, whence proceeded the Vedas and all their divisions. I shall behold the lord of the universe by whom the world is sustained, who is worshipped as the best Purusha and as the male of sacrifice in sacrificial rites. I shall behold Keseva, who is without beginning or end, by worshipping whom with a hundred sacrifices, Indra obtained the sovereignty over the celestials. That Hari, whose nature is unknown to Brahmā, Indra, Rudra, the Aswins, the Vasus, the Adityas and Maruts, will this day touch my body. He, who is the soul of all omniscient, is identical with everything, omnipresent, permanent, undecaying, all-pervading, shall converse with me. He, the unborn, who has preserved the world in diverse forms of a fish, a tortoise, a boar, a horse, a lion, will this day talk with me. The lord of the universe, who assumes shapes at will, has taken upon him the condition of humanity to satisfy some object of his heart. The endless, who holds the earth upon his crest and who has descended upon earth for its protection, will this day call me by my name. Glory to that being, whose deceptive adoption of father, son, brother, friend, mother, and relative, the world is unable to comprehend. Salutation unto him, who is identical with true knowledge, who is inscrutable and through whom, when seated in his heart the ascetic gets over the worldly ignorance and illusion, I bow to him, who, by the performers of holy rites, is denominated Yajnapurusha (the male of a sacrifice), Vāsudeva, by the devotees and Vishnu by the adepts in Vedānta philosophy. May he, who comprises in himself, cause and effect and the world itself, be pleased with me, through his truth, for I always confide in that unborn and eternal Hari, by meditating on whom man becomes the repository of all auspicious things".Parāçara said:—Thus meditating upon Vishnu, Akrura, having his mind animated by devout faith, reached Gokula a little before sun-set; and there he beheld Krishna amongst the cattle, dark as the leaf of the full-blown lotus; his eyes of the same colour and his breast adorned with Srivatsa mark; long-armed, broad-chested; having a high nose, a graceful countenance with smiles; treading firmly on the ground with feet whose nails were tinted red; dressed in yellow raiments and be-decked with a garland of forest flowers; having a creeper just collected in his hands, and a chaplet of white lotus-flowers on his head. Akrura also saw there Balabhadra, white as a jasmine, a swan or the moon dressed in a blue dress; having large and mighty arms and a countenance as radiant as a blue lotus, like the Kailāsa mountain adorned with a wreath of clouds.When Akrura, beheld these two young men, his countenance expanded with joy and the down of his body stood erect with delight. And he thought—"This is the supreme happiness and repository; this the double manifestation of the divine Vāsudeva; blessed are my eyes for I have seen the protector of the universe and my bodily form shall yield fruit, when by the favour of the deity it shall come in contact with his person. Shall that assumer of infinite forms place his hand on my back by the touch of whose fingers alone all sins are dispelled and imperishable, felicity is secured. And by this hand holding the fierce irresistible discus blazing with all the flames of fire, lightning, and the sun, were slain the Daitya chiefs, and the collyrium from the eyes of their females was washed. Into this hand Bali poured water and obtained enjoyments in the region under the earth and immortality and dominion over the celestials for a whole Manwantara without danger from any enemy. Although I am not sinful, perhaps he will despise me for my connection with the vicious Kansa. If so, cursed is my birth who is counted amongst the wicked. What is there unknown to him who resides in the hearts of all men, who is ever existent, freed from imperfection, the aggregate of the quality of purity and at one with true knowledge? With a heart animated with devout faith I approach the lord of lords, the descended portion of that excellent Purusha, Vishnu, who his without beginning, middle or end".
SECTION XVII.Parāçara said:—Having issued out of the house of Kansa, Akrurā being desirous of seeing Krishna, proceeded towards the house of Nanda in a swift-coursing car. He thought within himself. "There is none more fortunate than I, for I shall behold the countenance of a portion of the holder of discus. To-day my life has borne fruit, my night is followed by the dawn of day, for I shall behold the countenance of Vishnu resembling full-blown lotuses. Blessed are my eyes and blessed are my words, for on beholding Vishnu a conversation shall take place between him and me. I shall behold the countenance of Vishnu having lotus eyes, which, when seen only in imagination, removes all sins. I shall behold to-day the mouth of Vishnu—the glory of glories, whence proceeded the Vedas and all their divisions. I shall behold the lord of the universe by whom the world is sustained, who is worshipped as the best Purusha and as the male of sacrifice in sacrificial rites. I shall behold Keseva, who is without beginning or end, by worshipping whom with a hundred sacrifices, Indra obtained the sovereignty over the celestials. That Hari, whose nature is unknown to Brahmā, Indra, Rudra, the Aswins, the Vasus, the Adityas and Maruts, will this day touch my body. He, who is the soul of all omniscient, is identical with everything, omnipresent, permanent, undecaying, all-pervading, shall converse with me. He, the unborn, who has preserved the world in diverse forms of a fish, a tortoise, a boar, a horse, a lion, will this day talk with me. The lord of the universe, who assumes shapes at will, has taken upon him the condition of humanity to satisfy some object of his heart. The endless, who holds the earth upon his crest and who has descended upon earth for its protection, will this day call me by my name. Glory to that being, whose deceptive adoption of father, son, brother, friend, mother, and relative, the world is unable to comprehend. Salutation unto him, who is identical with true knowledge, who is inscrutable and through whom, when seated in his heart the ascetic gets over the worldly ignorance and illusion, I bow to him, who, by the performers of holy rites, is denominated Yajnapurusha (the male of a sacrifice), Vāsudeva, by the devotees and Vishnu by the adepts in Vedānta philosophy. May he, who comprises in himself, cause and effect and the world itself, be pleased with me, through his truth, for I always confide in that unborn and eternal Hari, by meditating on whom man becomes the repository of all auspicious things".Parāçara said:—Thus meditating upon Vishnu, Akrura, having his mind animated by devout faith, reached Gokula a little before sun-set; and there he beheld Krishna amongst the cattle, dark as the leaf of the full-blown lotus; his eyes of the same colour and his breast adorned with Srivatsa mark; long-armed, broad-chested; having a high nose, a graceful countenance with smiles; treading firmly on the ground with feet whose nails were tinted red; dressed in yellow raiments and be-decked with a garland of forest flowers; having a creeper just collected in his hands, and a chaplet of white lotus-flowers on his head. Akrura also saw there Balabhadra, white as a jasmine, a swan or the moon dressed in a blue dress; having large and mighty arms and a countenance as radiant as a blue lotus, like the Kailāsa mountain adorned with a wreath of clouds.When Akrura, beheld these two young men, his countenance expanded with joy and the down of his body stood erect with delight. And he thought—"This is the supreme happiness and repository; this the double manifestation of the divine Vāsudeva; blessed are my eyes for I have seen the protector of the universe and my bodily form shall yield fruit, when by the favour of the deity it shall come in contact with his person. Shall that assumer of infinite forms place his hand on my back by the touch of whose fingers alone all sins are dispelled and imperishable, felicity is secured. And by this hand holding the fierce irresistible discus blazing with all the flames of fire, lightning, and the sun, were slain the Daitya chiefs, and the collyrium from the eyes of their females was washed. Into this hand Bali poured water and obtained enjoyments in the region under the earth and immortality and dominion over the celestials for a whole Manwantara without danger from any enemy. Although I am not sinful, perhaps he will despise me for my connection with the vicious Kansa. If so, cursed is my birth who is counted amongst the wicked. What is there unknown to him who resides in the hearts of all men, who is ever existent, freed from imperfection, the aggregate of the quality of purity and at one with true knowledge? With a heart animated with devout faith I approach the lord of lords, the descended portion of that excellent Purusha, Vishnu, who his without beginning, middle or end".
Parāçara said:—Having issued out of the house of Kansa, Akrurā being desirous of seeing Krishna, proceeded towards the house of Nanda in a swift-coursing car. He thought within himself. "There is none more fortunate than I, for I shall behold the countenance of a portion of the holder of discus. To-day my life has borne fruit, my night is followed by the dawn of day, for I shall behold the countenance of Vishnu resembling full-blown lotuses. Blessed are my eyes and blessed are my words, for on beholding Vishnu a conversation shall take place between him and me. I shall behold the countenance of Vishnu having lotus eyes, which, when seen only in imagination, removes all sins. I shall behold to-day the mouth of Vishnu—the glory of glories, whence proceeded the Vedas and all their divisions. I shall behold the lord of the universe by whom the world is sustained, who is worshipped as the best Purusha and as the male of sacrifice in sacrificial rites. I shall behold Keseva, who is without beginning or end, by worshipping whom with a hundred sacrifices, Indra obtained the sovereignty over the celestials. That Hari, whose nature is unknown to Brahmā, Indra, Rudra, the Aswins, the Vasus, the Adityas and Maruts, will this day touch my body. He, who is the soul of all omniscient, is identical with everything, omnipresent, permanent, undecaying, all-pervading, shall converse with me. He, the unborn, who has preserved the world in diverse forms of a fish, a tortoise, a boar, a horse, a lion, will this day talk with me. The lord of the universe, who assumes shapes at will, has taken upon him the condition of humanity to satisfy some object of his heart. The endless, who holds the earth upon his crest and who has descended upon earth for its protection, will this day call me by my name. Glory to that being, whose deceptive adoption of father, son, brother, friend, mother, and relative, the world is unable to comprehend. Salutation unto him, who is identical with true knowledge, who is inscrutable and through whom, when seated in his heart the ascetic gets over the worldly ignorance and illusion, I bow to him, who, by the performers of holy rites, is denominated Yajnapurusha (the male of a sacrifice), Vāsudeva, by the devotees and Vishnu by the adepts in Vedānta philosophy. May he, who comprises in himself, cause and effect and the world itself, be pleased with me, through his truth, for I always confide in that unborn and eternal Hari, by meditating on whom man becomes the repository of all auspicious things".
Parāçara said:—Thus meditating upon Vishnu, Akrura, having his mind animated by devout faith, reached Gokula a little before sun-set; and there he beheld Krishna amongst the cattle, dark as the leaf of the full-blown lotus; his eyes of the same colour and his breast adorned with Srivatsa mark; long-armed, broad-chested; having a high nose, a graceful countenance with smiles; treading firmly on the ground with feet whose nails were tinted red; dressed in yellow raiments and be-decked with a garland of forest flowers; having a creeper just collected in his hands, and a chaplet of white lotus-flowers on his head. Akrura also saw there Balabhadra, white as a jasmine, a swan or the moon dressed in a blue dress; having large and mighty arms and a countenance as radiant as a blue lotus, like the Kailāsa mountain adorned with a wreath of clouds.
When Akrura, beheld these two young men, his countenance expanded with joy and the down of his body stood erect with delight. And he thought—"This is the supreme happiness and repository; this the double manifestation of the divine Vāsudeva; blessed are my eyes for I have seen the protector of the universe and my bodily form shall yield fruit, when by the favour of the deity it shall come in contact with his person. Shall that assumer of infinite forms place his hand on my back by the touch of whose fingers alone all sins are dispelled and imperishable, felicity is secured. And by this hand holding the fierce irresistible discus blazing with all the flames of fire, lightning, and the sun, were slain the Daitya chiefs, and the collyrium from the eyes of their females was washed. Into this hand Bali poured water and obtained enjoyments in the region under the earth and immortality and dominion over the celestials for a whole Manwantara without danger from any enemy. Although I am not sinful, perhaps he will despise me for my connection with the vicious Kansa. If so, cursed is my birth who is counted amongst the wicked. What is there unknown to him who resides in the hearts of all men, who is ever existent, freed from imperfection, the aggregate of the quality of purity and at one with true knowledge? With a heart animated with devout faith I approach the lord of lords, the descended portion of that excellent Purusha, Vishnu, who his without beginning, middle or end".