Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 28
Akrūra’s Prayers (Akrūra-stuti): The Lord as Cause of Causes, Virāṭ, and the Goal of All Paths
सोऽहं तवाङ्घ्र्युपगतोऽस्म्यसतां दुरापं तच्चाप्यहं भवदनुग्रह ईश मन्ये । पुंसो भवेद् यर्हि संसरणापवर्ग- स्त्वय्यब्जनाभ सदुपासनया मति: स्यात् ॥ २८ ॥
so ’haṁ tavāṅghry-upagato ’smy asatāṁ durāpaṁ tac cāpy ahaṁ bhavad-anugraha īśa manye puṁso bhaved yarhi saṁsaraṇāpavargas tvayy abja-nābha sad-upāsanayā matiḥ syāt
Thus fallen, I approach Your feet for shelter, O Lord, for though the impure cannot attain them, I believe it becomes possible by Your mercy. O lotus-naveled One, only when the wandering of material life has ceased does consciousness of You arise through true worship—service to Your pure devotees.
FAQs
This verse states that freedom from saṁsāra arises when the mind becomes fixed on the Lord through sincere devotional worship (sad-upāsanā), which is ultimately enabled by His mercy.
Akrura contrasts the asat (those opposed to devotion) with devotees: without bhakti and divine grace, one does not easily approach the Lord’s feet, which are accessed through surrender and worship.
Cultivate steady devotional practice—prayer, remembrance, and sincere worship—while attributing spiritual progress to divine grace rather than ego, and let that reshape daily choices.