Shloka 1

अक्रूरस्य गोकुलगमनम्—दर्शन-लालसा, अंशावतार-बोधः, विष्णु-स्तुतिः

Devanagari script

अक्रूरो ऽपि विनिष्क्रम्य स्यन्दनेनाशुगामिना कृष्णसंदर्शनाकाङ्क्षी प्रययौ नन्दगोकुलम्

Transliteration

akrūro 'pi viniṣkramya syandanenāśugāminā kṛṣṇasaṃdarśanākāṅkṣī prayayau nandagokulam

Translation

Akrūra too set forth in a swift-moving chariot; yearning for the blessed darśana of Kṛṣṇa, he journeyed to Nanda’s Gokula.

Word by Word

• अक्रूरः: Akrura
• अक्रूरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st case), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha/Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे (also/even)

• विनिष्क्रम्य: having departed, having gone out
• विनिष्क्रम्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-निस्-क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (having gone out)

• स्यन्दनेन: by/with the chariot
• स्यन्दनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्यन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd case), एकवचन (Singular)

• अशुगामिना: swift-moving
• अशुगामिना: Karana (Instrument qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशु-गामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) स्यन्दनेन (agreeing with syandana)

• कृष्णसंदर्शनाकाङ्क्षी: desiring the sight of Krishna
• कृष्णसंदर्शनाकाङ्क्षी: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण-संदर्शन-आकाङ्क्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) अक्रूरः

• प्रययौ: went forth, proceeded
• प्रययौ: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• नन्दगोकुलम्: to Nanda's Gokula
• नन्दगोकुलम्: Karma (Object/Goal/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्द-गोकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd case), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To lighten the earth’s burden by destroying tyrannical forces and to bestow grace through divine līlā in Vraja and Mathurā.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of the righteous and re-establishment of dharmic kingship and safety for devotees

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Akrura
• Krishna
• Nanda
• Gokula

FAQs

What is the significance of Akrura seeking Krishna’s darshan in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Akrura’s journey not merely as travel but as devotion—his primary impulse is the longing to behold Krishna, highlighting darshan as a transformative encounter with the Divine.

How does Sage Parāśara present devotion (bhakti) through narrative action here?

Parāśara shows bhakti as an inner orientation that drives outward action: even while undertaking a mission, Akrura’s heart is fixed on Krishna’s vision, making the journey itself an act of devotion.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu (as Krishna) in this context?

Krishna is approached as the Supreme Lord made accessible; the desire for his sight underscores Vaishnava theology where the transcendent Vishnu is personally encountered through Krishna’s earthly līlā.