Bhagavatham Stories

In the days following Kamsa's death, Mathura experienced a profound transformation. The atmosphere of fear and oppression that had characterized the kingdom under Kamsa's rule gradually lifted, replaced by a sense of possibility and hope. People emerged from their homes with a lightness they had not felt in years, freed from the constant anxiety of living under a tyrant's rule. The soldiers and officials of Kamsa's regime, who had been forced to serve a master whose ambitions were purely destructive, now had the opportunity to serve a kingdom and a rightful king whose authority was based on dharma (righteous principles) rather than on force and intimidation. Ugrasena, the legitimate king, began immediately to implement policies designed to heal the wounds that Kamsa's regime had inflicted on the kingdom and to establish a foundation for genuine prosperity and spiritual development.

Krishna and Balarama, though now honored guests in Mathura and recognized by all as divine beings of extraordinary power, did not attempt to dominate the affairs of the kingdom or to impose their will on the administration and governance of Mathura. Instead, they worked behind the scenes to support Ugrasena's efforts to restore justice and establish righteous principles of governance. They advised the king on matters of administration and policy, they mediated disputes between different factions within the kingdom, they ensured that the demonic sympathizers within Kamsa's former regime were identified and neutralized without causing unnecessary suffering or disruption to the population. More importantly, they established a spiritual foundation for the kingdom, teaching the people of Mathura the principles of dharma and the nature of the divine so that the kingdom's prosperity would be based not merely on efficient administration but on genuine spiritual understanding.

One of the first acts of Krishna and Balarama in their role as spiritual teachers in Mathura was to reunite the family of Devaki and Vasudeva, the biological parents of Krishna. Devaki, who had been imprisoned by Kamsa for so many years, was released from captivity and restored to her proper place as the wife of Vasudeva and a member of the royal household. The reunion between Krishna, Devaki, and Vasudeva was deeply moving and was filled with profound significance. For Devaki and Vasudeva, who had been separated from their son in his infancy and had lived for many years in uncertainty about whether he was alive or dead, the encounter with Krishna was the fulfillment of a hope that had sustained them through years of captivity. For Krishna, the encounter with his biological parents represented an acknowledgment of the role they had played in his manifestation in the material world, and it allowed him to express his love and gratitude for their sacrifice.

The relationship between Krishna and his different parents—his biological parents Devaki and Vasudeva, and his earthly parents Nanda and Yashoda—became a teaching about the nature of parenthood and the bonds that connect souls to each other across different dimensions of relationship. Devaki understood that though Krishna was her biological son and would always honor her in that capacity, he was also the Supreme Lord and her teaching would be different from that of Yashoda, who had raised him from infancy and whose love and devotion had been channeled into the most intimate forms of service. Vasudeva understood that though he had played a role in Krishna's manifestation in the material world, his relationship to Krishna was fundamentally different from that of Nanda, who had raised Krishna and served as his guide through the formative years of childhood.

Krishna also used this period in Mathura to provide more formal teachings about the nature of the divine and the proper relationship between the individual soul and the Supreme consciousness. He established regular gatherings where he spoke to the people of Mathura about the principles of dharma, the nature of karma (action and its consequences), the proper way to live according to one's nature and position in society, and the ultimate goal of life—the cultivation of love for the divine and the development of a consciousness that transcends fear, attachment, and delusion. These teachings, though delivered orally to the people of Mathura, would eventually be recorded and preserved, becoming part of the spiritual wisdom that would guide civilization for ages to come.

During this period, Krishna also continued the process of integrating his brother Balarama into his cosmic mission in a more explicit way. Balarama, though recognized as a powerful divine being, had not been as directly involved in the earlier Vrindavan pastimes that had captured the hearts of the people. In Mathura, Krishna and Balarama worked together to establish the spiritual foundation of the kingdom, and through this collaboration, Balarama's role as a complementary expression of divine power became increasingly clear. Balarama represented the principle of strength and stability, the capacity to maintain order and to uphold the structures of society, while Krishna represented the principle of love, wisdom, and the capacity to transcend all limitations and transform consciousness itself.

One significant teaching that Krishna offered during his time in Mathura was about the nature of justice and the proper response to demonic forces. Krishna explained that the elimination of Kamsa was not an act of vengeance but was a necessary intervention to restore the proper cosmic order. He taught that those who have received repeated opportunities to reform their behavior and who persistently choose to oppose the divine order must eventually face the consequences of their choices. At the same time, Krishna emphasized that the destruction of demonic beings should not involve cruelty or the cultivation of hatred in the hearts of those who must enforce divine justice. Justice, Krishna taught, must be administered with both firmness and compassion, with a recognition that even the most demonic being is ultimately part of the divine creation and that the purpose of all divine action is ultimately the elevation of consciousness and the expansion of love.

As the weeks and months passed, Mathura gradually settled into a new rhythm. The kingdom was no longer characterized by fear and oppression but by a sense of possibility and growth. Ugrasena proved to be a wise and compassionate king, implementing policies that ensured the welfare of all citizens regardless of their social status or economic position. The spiritual teachings of Krishna and Balarama began to take root in the hearts of the people, and a culture of devotion and righteous living began to develop. Young people of the kingdom, inspired by the presence of Krishna and Balarama and by the teachings they offered, began to dedicate their lives to spiritual practice and the cultivation of love for the divine. The kingdom became known throughout the region as a place of justice, prosperity, and spiritual realization.

Yet even as Mathura was being established as a center of righteous order and spiritual development, Krishna understood that his cosmic mission extended far beyond a single kingdom. There were other regions that were still under the control of demonic forces, other populations that still needed to receive the teachings and the grace of the divine. Balarama understood this as well, and both brothers recognized that their time in Mathura, though essential and meaningful, would ultimately be temporary. They had come to establish righteous order in Mathura and to restore proper authority to its rightful place, and they had accomplished this mission. Soon, they would need to move on to the next phase of their cosmic purpose, carrying with them the experience and understanding they had gained in Mathura and bringing their transformative presence to other regions and populations who awaited the light of divine consciousness and the opportunity to participate in the cosmic play of the Supreme Lord.