Akrūra’s Journey to Vraja and His Devotional Vision of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma
द्रक्ष्यामि नूनं सुकपोलनासिकं स्मितावलोकारुणकञ्जलोचनम् । मुखं मुकुन्दस्य गुडालकावृतं प्रदक्षिणं मे प्रचरन्ति वै मृगा: ॥ ९ ॥
drakṣyāmi nūnaṁ su-kapola-nāsikaṁ smitāvalokāruṇa-kañja-locanam mukhaṁ mukundasya guḍālakāvṛtaṁ pradakṣiṇaṁ me pracaranti vai mṛgāḥ
Surely I shall see the face of Lord Mukunda, since the deer are now walking past me on my right. That face, framed by His curly hair, is beautified by His attractive cheeks and nose, His smiling glances and His reddish lotus eyes.
Akrūra saw an auspicious omen — the passing of the deer on his right — and thus felt sure he would see the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa.
This verse describes Akrūra’s intense longing for Kṛṣṇa’s darśana—His smiling glance and lotus-like reddish eyes—showing how remembrance and desire for the Lord’s beauty deepen devotion.
Akrūra reads the deer’s movement as a शुभ-लक्षण (auspicious omen): keeping him to their right suggests pradakṣiṇā, indicating he is nearing the blessed meeting with Kṛṣṇa.
Cultivate focused remembrance—through japa, kīrtana, and reading Kṛṣṇa-līlā—so that daily signs and events strengthen faith and orient the mind toward the Lord.