Shloka 40

Akrūra’s Mission: The Departure from Vraja and the Yamunā Vision of Viṣṇu-Ananta

Devanagari script

अक्रूरस्तावुपामन्‍त्र्य निवेश्य च रथोपरि । कालिन्द्या ह्रदमागत्य स्‍नानं विधिवदाचरत् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

akrūras tāv upāmantrya niveśya ca rathopari kālindyā hradam āgatya snānaṁ vidhi-vad ācarat

Translation

استأذن أكرورا الربَّين أن يجلسا على العربة، ثم بعد أن نال إذنهما مضى إلى غديرٍ في نهر يامونا واغتسل وفق ما تقضي به الشريعة والكتب المقدسة.

Synonyms

• akrūraḥ: Akrura
• akrūraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akrūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• tau: those two (them)
• tau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम (refers to Kṛṣṇa and Rāma)

• upāmantrya: having taken leave (of them)
• upāmantrya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upa+ā+√mantr (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), "having taken leave / having addressed"

• niveśya: having seated (them)
• niveśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ni+√viś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), causative sense: "having seated/placed"

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ratha-upari: upon the chariot
• ratha-upari: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + upari (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास: "upon the chariot"; उपरि = अव्यय (adverb/postposition)

• kālindyāḥ: of the Kālindī (Yamunā)
• kālindyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kālindī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• hradam: to the lake / pool
• hradam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hrada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• āgatya: having come
• āgatya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā+√gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), "having come"

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• vidhi-vat: properly / as prescribed
• vidhi-vat: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): "according to rule" (वत्-प्रत्ययान्त)

• ācarat: performed
• ācarat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+√car (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Akrūra
• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma
• Kālindī (Yamunā)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about bathing in the Yamuna (Kālindī)?

This verse shows Akrūra bathing in the Kālin̄dī according to scriptural rules, highlighting the Yamunā as a sacred river connected with Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes and dharmic purification.

Why did Akrura stop at the Kālindī lake before continuing the journey?

While traveling with Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, Akrūra paused to perform a proper ritual bath (vidhivat snāna), demonstrating adherence to Vedic conduct even amid intense devotional events.

Practical application of vidhivat (properly performed) spiritual habits in modern life?

The verse teaches disciplined devotion: keep spiritual practices regular and respectful—such as prayer, cleanliness, and mindful routine—so bhakti is supported by steady dharma.