Shloka 39

Akrūra’s Journey to Vraja and His Devotional Vision of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma

Devanagari script

निवेद्य गां चातिथये संवाह्य श्रान्तमादृत: । अन्नं बहुगुणं मेध्यं श्रद्धयोपाहरद् विभु: ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

nivedya gāṁ cātithaye saṁvāhya śrāntam āḍṛtaḥ annaṁ bahu-guṇaṁ medhyaṁ śraddhayopāharad vibhuḥ

Translation

Le Seigneur tout-puissant Balarama offrit à Akrura une vache en cadeau, massa ses pieds pour soulager sa fatigue, puis, avec grand respect et foi, lui servit une nourriture pure et délicieuse aux saveurs variées.

Synonyms

• निवेद्य: having offered/presented
• निवेद्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; उपसर्ग: नि-; धातु: विद् (to know/announce) → ‘निवेद्य’ (having offered/presented)

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अतिथये: to the guest
• अतिथये: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन

• संवाह्य: having massaged/attended
• संवाह्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-वाह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; उपसर्ग: सम्-; धातु: वाह् (to carry/lead; here ‘to massage/attend’)

• श्रान्तम्: the tired (one)
• श्रान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक; √श्रम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the guest)

• आदृतः: respectful
• आदृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदृत (प्रातिपदिक; √दृ/दर् with ā-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण (describing the subject)

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• बहुगुणम्: of many qualities/excellent
• बहुगुणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (बहवः गुणाः यस्य/यत्र) ‘many-qualities’ (qualifying ‘अन्नम्’)

• मेध्यम्: pure/wholesome
• मेध्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘अन्नम्’)

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• उपाहरत्: brought/offered
• उपाहरत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: उप-आ-; धातु: हृ (to bring)

• विभुः: the mighty one (Balarāma)
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

Purport

According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Akrūra went to Kṛṣṇa’s and Balarāma’s house on the twelfth lunar day, on which one should not break a fast at night. However, Akrūra dispensed with this formality because he was eager to receive food in the Lord’s house.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Akrūra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about serving guests (atithi-seva)?

This verse shows the ideal of atithi-seva: honoring the guest with gifts, personal care like massage for fatigue, and offering pure, wholesome food with śraddhā.

Why did Krishna honor Akrura with such hospitality in Canto 10?

Akrūra arrived as a guest in Vṛndāvana, and Kṛṣṇa—though the Supreme Lord—models dharma by receiving him respectfully and caring for his needs.

Practical application of Krishna’s hospitality in modern life?

Welcome guests with respect, attend to their comfort, and offer clean, nourishing food sincerely—turning hospitality into a simple act of devotion and character.