Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 19

Akrūra’s Journey to Vraja and His Devotional Vision of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma

Devanagari script

अप्यङ्‍‍‍‍‍घ्रिमूलेऽवहितं कृताञ्जलिं मामीक्षिता सस्मितमार्द्रया द‍ृशा । सपद्यपध्वस्तसमस्तकिल्बिषो वोढा मुदं वीतविशङ्क ऊर्जिताम् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

apy aṅghri-mūle ’vahitaṁ kṛtāñjaliṁ mām īkṣitā sa-smitam ārdrayā dṛśā sapady apadhvasta-samasta-kilbiṣo voḍhā mudaṁ vīta-viśaṅka ūrjitām

Translation

As I remain at His lotus feet, fallen in obeisance with joined palms and steady mind, the Lord will glance upon me with a smiling, affectionate, mercy-softened gaze. In that very instant all my taint will be dispelled, my doubts will vanish, and I will taste the most intense supreme bliss.

Synonyms

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) = ‘also/even’

• aṅghri-mūle: at the feet
• aṅghri-mūle: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅghri (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘at the root of the feet’ (पादमूल-स्थाने)

• avahitam: fixed/attentive
• avahitam: Karma (कर्म) (as predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-√dhā (धा) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/क्तप्रत्यय), Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agreeing with implied ‘manas’/state: ‘placed/fixed’

• kṛta-añjalim: with folded hands
• kṛta-añjalim: Karma (कर्म) (object describing person)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘having made (joined) hands’ (कृताञ्जलि)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• īkṣitā: having looked (at)
• īkṣitā: Karta (कर्ता) (agent implied)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īkṣ (ईक्ष्) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; used predicatively: ‘having looked/seen’

• sa-smitam: smilingly
• sa-smitam: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + smita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adverbial accusative: ‘with a smile’

• ārdrayā: with moist/tearful
• ārdrayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; qualifying dṛśā

• dṛśā: with a glance
• dṛśā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛś (दृश्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘with (his) glance/eyes’

• sapadi: immediately
• sapadi: Kāla (काल/temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sapadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• apadhvasta-samasta-kilbiṣaḥ: with all sins destroyed
• apadhvasta-samasta-kilbiṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apadhvasta (कृदन्त) + samasta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + kilbiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘whose all sins are destroyed’ (समस्तकिल्बिष-अपध्वस्त)

• voḍhā: will carry/bring
• voḍhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vah (वह्) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Agent noun/participle (तृच्/तृन्), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘bearer/one who carries’

• mudam: joy
• mudam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vīta-viśaṅkaḥ: free of doubt
• vīta-viśaṅkaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīta (कृदन्त) + viśaṅka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘free from doubt/apprehension’

• ūrjitām: mighty/intense
• ūrjitām: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrjita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying mudam

Characters & Entities

• Akrura
• Sri Krishna

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.38.19 say about Krishna’s glance and mercy?

It teaches that even a single compassionate, smiling glance from Śrī Kṛṣṇa—received in humble surrender at His lotus feet—can immediately destroy all sins and awaken powerful, fearless joy in the devotee.

Why is Akrura praying like this before meeting Krishna in Vrindavana?

Akrūra is approaching Kṛṣṇa with deep humility, feeling unworthy; he longs for Kṛṣṇa’s merciful darśana and believes that Kṛṣṇa’s compassionate look will purify him and remove all anxiety.

Practical application: how can I cultivate this mood of surrender today?

Approach prayer and worship with folded hands and humility, seek Kṛṣṇa’s presence through sincere bhakti (hearing, chanting, remembrance), and trust that divine grace purifies the heart and replaces anxiety with steady spiritual joy.