Shloka 18
Kṛṣṇa Enters Mathurā: City Splendor, Devotees’ Reception, and the Washerman’s Fate
श्रीशुक उवाच एवमुक्तो भगवता सोऽक्रूरो विमना इव । पुरीं प्रविष्ट: कंसाय कर्मावेद्य गृहं ययौ ॥ १८ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca evam ukto bhagavatā so ’krūro vimanā iva purīṁ praviṣṭaḥ kaṁsāya karmāvedya gṛhaṁ yayau
Śukadeva Gosvāmī sprach: So vom Herrn angesprochen, betrat Akrūra mit schwerem Herzen die Stadt. Er berichtete König Kaṁsa vom Erfolg seines Auftrags und ging dann nach Hause.
FAQs
This verse says Akrūra entered Mathurā, reported his assigned task to Kaṁsa, and then returned to his home—showing the unfolding of Kṛṣṇa’s plan within Kaṁsa’s court.
Akrūra had deep devotion and emotional intensity; after receiving the Lord’s words and approaching Kaṁsa’s dangerous presence, he seemed outwardly dispirited, though he remained faithful to Kṛṣṇa’s purpose.
Do your duty responsibly even in difficult environments: communicate truthfully, complete the entrusted task, and keep your inner devotion steady despite external pressure.