Shloka 1
Akrūra’s Journey to Vraja and His Devotional Vision of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma
श्रीशुक उवाच अक्रूरोऽपि च तां रात्रिं मधुपुर्यां महामति: । उषित्वा रथमास्थाय प्रययौ नन्दगोकुलम् ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca akrūro ’pi ca tāṁ rātriṁ madhu-puryāṁ mahā-matiḥ uṣitvā ratham āsthāya prayayau nanda-gokulam
Śukadeva Gosvāmī sprach: Der hochgesinnte Akrūra verbrachte jene Nacht in der Stadt Mathurā; dann bestieg er seinen Wagen und brach nach Nanda Mahārājas Gokula auf.
King Kaṁsa ordered Akrūra to go to Vṛndāvana on the Ekādaśī of the dark fortnight of the Vedic month of Phālguna. After spending the night in Mathurā, Akrūra left early the next day. That morning Nārada offered his prayers to Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana, and in the afternoon the demon Vyoma was killed there. At dusk Akrūra entered the Lord’s village.
FAQs
This verse states that Akrūra stayed the night in Mathurā and then departed by chariot for Nanda’s Gokula, marking the beginning of his mission connected with Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.
In the narrative flow, Akrūra’s departure indicates he is carrying out an important purpose tied to Kṛṣṇa’s unfolding līlā—moving between Mathurā’s royal sphere and Nanda’s pastoral Vraja.
Like Akrūra, a devotee can act with steady, noble intention—resting when needed, then proceeding responsibly toward one’s duty in service to a higher purpose.