Shloka 18

Devanagari script

इत्थं संचिन्तयन् विष्णुं भक्तिनम्रात्ममानसः अक्रूरो गोकुलं प्राप्तः किंचित् सूर्ये विराजति

Transliteration

itthaṃ saṃcintayan viṣṇuṃ bhaktinamrātmamānasaḥ akrūro gokulaṃ prāptaḥ kiṃcit sūrye virājati

Translation

Thus, meditating unbrokenly on Vishnu—with his inner being and mind bowed down by devotion—Akrūra reached Gokula, as the sun still shone a little while longer in the sky.

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• संचिन्तयन्: thinking/reflecting
• संचिन्तयन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-चिन्त् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.)

• भक्तिनम्रात्ममानसः: whose self and mind were humbled by devotion
• भक्तिनम्रात्ममानसः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + नम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—भक्त्या नम्रं आत्ममानसं यस्य (devotion-humbled in self and mind)

• अक्रूरः: Akrura
• अक्रूरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

• गोकुलम्: Gokula
• गोकुलम्: Karma (Goal/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.)

• प्राप्तः: having arrived
• प्राप्तः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle, active sense); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

• किंचित्: a little
• किंचित्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किंचित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाणवाचक (a little/somewhat)

• सूर्ये: when the sun (was)
• सूर्ये: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. sg.)

• विराजति: was shining
• विराजति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-राज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्; परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन (3rd sg.)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To enact Vraja-līlā and draw devotees like Akrura into loving contemplation that culminates in direct darśana.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of the righteous and the unfolding of divine līlā as a vehicle of bhakti

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Single-pointed meditation with a bowed heart (bhakti-namra) carries the devotee toward the Lord’s presence.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice japa or contemplative remembrance while traveling/working—let movement become sādhana through sustained attention and humility.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhakti is not mere cognition but a heart-posture (namratā) directed to the personal Lord, leading to experiential proximity (prāpti).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva (devotional)

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Akrura
• Gokula
• Surya (Sun)

FAQs

What is the significance of Akrura meditating on Vishnu in the Vishnu Purana?

It presents bhakti as continuous inner remembrance: Akrura’s journey becomes a devotional act where Vishnu is contemplated as the Supreme even before the physical meeting in Gokula.

How does Sage Parāśara explain devotion (bhakti) through this scene?

By describing Akrura’s mind and self as “bowed by devotion,” Parāśara frames bhakti as humility and inward surrender that naturally accompanies remembrance of the Lord during worldly actions like travel.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu is treated as the ultimate object of meditation and refuge; even within Krishna’s narrative setting, the text underscores Vishnu’s supreme, all-pervading status as the ground of devotion.