Akrūra’s Mission: The Departure from Vraja and the Yamunā Vision of Viṣṇu-Ananta
मैतद्विधस्याकरुणस्य नाम भू- दक्रूर इत्येतदतीव दारुण: । योऽसावनाश्वास्य सुदु:खितं जनं प्रियात्प्रियं नेष्यति पारमध्वन: ॥ २६ ॥
maitad-vidhasyākaruṇasya nāma bhūd akrūra ity etad atīva dāruṇaḥ yo ’sāv anāśvāsya su-duḥkhitam janaṁ priyāt priyaṁ neṣyati pāram adhvanaḥ
Comment appeler ‘Akrūra’ celui qui agit sans compassion ? Il est d’une cruauté extrême. Sans même consoler les habitants de Vraja accablés de peine, il emmène Śrī Kṛṣṇa, plus cher pour nous que la vie, sur la longue route.
Because he is about to take Kṛṣṇa away from Vraja without first consoling the gopīs and other residents who are overwhelmed by separation.
Akrūra literally means “not cruel,” and the gopīs say the name feels ironic because his mission will cause them intense pain of separation from Kṛṣṇa.
It teaches the depth of loving attachment to God: even separation becomes devotion—remembering Kṛṣṇa intensely, expressing one’s heart honestly, and holding firmly to remembrance when circumstances feel like loss.