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
遍く名高い主クリシュナに抱擁され、私は頭を垂れ合掌して御前に立つ。すると主は「愛しきアクルーラよ」と呼びかけてくださる。その瞬間、我が生の目的は成就する。至上主に顧みられぬ者の生は、まことに哀れである。
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.