And the Gopa girls? Who could measure the depth of their sorrow? Their plaintive strains were most heart-rending. They wept They followed the chariot carrying Râma and Krishna. Krishna to console them sent word that he would come back. At last the chariot became invisible and the Gopis went back to their homes. On reaching the banks of the Yamunâ the brothers took their bath in the river and refreshed themselves with its water. They took their seat again in the chariot. Akrûra asked their permission and went to bathe. He plunged himself in the waters and duly performed the ablution ceremonies. He made a _japa_ (repeated recital) of Veda Mantras. But lo! he found before him Râma and Krishna. They were in the chariot. How could they appear then? He rose and saw the boys were really seated in the chariot. He plunged himself once more and saw in the waters the serpent king Ananta, with a thousand heads and a thousand crowns, dressed in blue clothes, white in body, adored by Siddhas, Châranas, Gandhavas, and Asuras. Embraced by him was the dark Purusha, dressed in yellow clothes, with four hands, adored by the Rishis. Akrûra made salutations and adored the Purusha with folded hands. Krishna then withdrew his form, as a play is withdrawn from the stage. Akrûra got up and took his seat in the chariot. Krishna said: — "Akrûra, you look as if you have seen something unusual." Akrûra replied: — "What is there in the universe that is not in thee. When I have seen thee, I have seen everything." They drove on again and at last reached Mathurâ. MATHURÂ. *SKANDHA X. CHAP. 41-42.* Akrûra asked Krishna and all the Gopas to come to his house. But Krishna would first kill Kansa before doing him this favor. So Akrûra sorrowfully left him and informed Kansa about the performance of his mission. Krishna with Balarâma and the Gopas went out to see the town. The house tops became crowded with females who wanted to have a look at Krishna, whose fame had already preceded him. A washerman passed that way. Krishna begged him to give him some choice clothes. But he was the washerman of Kansa and he arrogantly refused to give any of the King’s clothes. Krishna in anger cut off his head. The attendants left the clothes and fled away. Râma and Krishna took as many as they liked and gave the rest to the Gopas. A weaver came forward of his own accord and gladly dressed the brothers with choice clothes. Krishna rewarded him with great powers and provided for him Sârupya (a kind of Mukti) after death. Then the brothers went to the house of a garland-maker named Sudâmâ. Sudâmâ fell down at their feet and adorned them and the Gopas with the best garlands. The garland-maker prayed for constant devotion, for friendship with the devotees and for love of all beings. Krishna gave him these boons as well as many other blessings. A young girl went that way with fragrant paste in her hand. Though young and beautiful, she was hunch-backed.