Shloka 21
Akrūra’s Journey to Vraja and His Devotional Vision of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma
लब्ध्वाङ्गसङ्गं प्रणतं कृताञ्जलिं मां वक्ष्यतेऽक्रूर ततेत्युरुश्रवा: । तदा वयं जन्मभृतो महीयसा नैवादृतो यो धिगमुष्य जन्म तत् ॥ २१ ॥
labdhvāṅga-saṅgam praṇatam kṛtāñjaliṁ māṁ vakṣyate ’krūra tatety uruśravāḥ tadā vayaṁ janma-bhṛto mahīyasā naivādṛto yo dhig amuṣya janma tat
Après avoir été étreint par le Seigneur Kṛṣṇa, célèbre en tous lieux, je me tiendrai devant Lui, la tête inclinée et les mains jointes. Alors Il me dira : « Mon cher Akrūra ». À cet instant même, le but de ma vie sera accompli ; vraiment, la vie de celui que le Suprême ne daigne pas reconnaître est pitoyable.
FAQs
This verse teaches that meeting and honoring a great devotee like Akrūra makes one’s life successful, and that failing to respect such a mahātmā makes one’s birth shameful.
Akrūra is portrayed as a great devotee coming to Vṛndāvana; Kṛṣṇa emphasizes the spiritual value of a devotee’s association and the duty to receive him with honor.
Seek saintly association, receive sincere devotees with respect, and cultivate humility—treating devotion and devotees as sacred rather than ordinary social contacts.