Shloka 7
Akrūra’s Journey to Vraja and His Devotional Vision of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma
कंसो बताद्याकृत मेऽत्यनुग्रहं द्रक्ष्येऽङ्घ्रिपद्मं प्रहितोऽमुना हरे: । कृतावतारस्य दुरत्ययं तम: पूर्वेऽतरन् यन्नखमण्डलत्विषा ॥ ७ ॥
kaṁso batādyākṛta me ’ty-anugrahaṁ drakṣye ’ṅghri-padmaṁ prahito ’munā hareḥ kṛtāvatārasya duratyayaṁ tamaḥ pūrve ’taran yan-nakha-maṇḍala-tviṣā
Indeed, today King Kaṁsa has shown me great mercy by sending me to behold the lotus feet of Hari, who has descended into this world. By the radiance of His toenails, many souls in ages past crossed the insurmountable darkness of material existence and attained liberation.
Akrūra noted how ironic it was that the envious, demoniac Kaṁsa had given him an extraordinary blessing by sending him to see the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa.
FAQs
This verse says that merely beholding Lord Hari’s lotus feet—whose toenails shine brilliantly—enables great souls to cross the otherwise insurmountable darkness of ignorance and material bondage.
Although Kaṁsa’s intent is hostile, Akrūra sees divine providence: being sent on Kaṁsa’s order becomes the cause of Akrūra’s blessing—getting darśana of Lord Hari’s lotus feet.
Reframe hardships as opportunities for spiritual progress—use difficult circumstances to move closer to Kṛṣṇa through remembrance, prayer, and sincere devotional practice.