Krishna entered the sacrificial hall and observed the golden bow kept in the hall. Although He was a small teenager, in might He was unconquerable. Effortlessly He broke the bow. Angered that the boy had broken the mighty bow, the soldiers and their attendants surrounded him intending to capture him.

Maharishi Śuka continued, “Screaming loudly, ‘Catch the impudent boy who dared to break the bow, catch him, do not spare him who has dared to enter the hall’- the soldiers surrounded him with weapons in their hands. Understanding their evil intentions, Balarama and Krishna were incensed. Taking up the broken pieces of the golden bow they slayed the soldiers present there”.

Rama could break Shiva’s bow because He himself was Shiva. Likewise, Krishna himself was Srihari and Shiva and hence could easily lift and break the bow.

“Meanwhile Kamsa sent a huge battalion of soldiers to tackle the brothers. However, the brothers reduced them to dust. Thereafter, together with the cowherd boys, Balarama and Krishna exited from the main entrance of the sacrificial hall. They wandered through the streets of Mathura admiring its richness and splendour”.

Having caused the biggest impediment to that Yagna, Krishna was now happily walking through the streets of Mathura admiring its grandeur. He ensured that fear had intensified in Kamsa.

“Krishna, the creator of the universe, was awe-struck seeing the grandness of the city and was exclaiming, ‘Aha’, ‘Oho’ as He appreciated it. The citizens of Mathura, who had witnessed His infinite radiance, valour, prowess, courage and splendorous form, believed the two brothers to be some leaders of Gods themselves”.

Their mannerism, their style of walking, talking, moving, sitting, standing- in fact every step of theirs was astonishing! The citizens who watched the actions of these two boys concluded that they were not humans. Although they did not realize them as the Supreme Lord himself, they concluded them to be some prominent Gods, who had descended from some heavenly planets.

“As Balarama and Krishna were wandering freely through the city accompanied by their friends, it was Sunset. They then walked back to the garden where they had parked their bullock-carts and had camped”.

Mathura was an unimaginably vast but well-planned city with beautiful layouts. In that era, there was a well-planned water supply system, garbage disposal system, drainage system. From them, we should learn more about cleanliness. The Mohenjodaro ruins from the Harrapan civilization teaches us the water supply systems they had in place at that time and the steps taken ensured that water was not contaminated.

Those who consider themselves to be true architects should listen to Bhagavatam repeatedly and from there they will be able to get newer architectural ideas for town planning and building planning.

“Krishna’s absence from Brindavan had caused unendurable anguish for the Gopikas. Neither could they stand, sit, rest, sleep or eat. At every moment, they thought of Him alone and agonized”.

In every particle of rice they saw Him. At every step they could see Him. In every action He existed. In dreams they saw Him.

“Those who had seen Him in Mathura, showered their blessings upon Him. His enchanting form had captivated their hearts totally”.

Recently Swamiji had to travel through the villages around Srikakulam distrtict of Andhra Pradesh. These remote villages, which are around 15 to 20 in number, are teeming with devotees. The entrance to every home in these villages was decorated with Rangoli powder. Arches made from mango leaves adorned the main entrances. Purna kumbha, Swamiji’s photo, and an oil lamp were placed outside each home. For a moment Swamiji felt as if He was travelling back in time. It was like the Dwapara yuga, the period of Krishna, and not Kali yuga. Having decorated their entrances thus, they then proceeded to the hall where Swamiji was to address the audience. I can never forget this visit.