Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

देहंभृतामियानर्थो हित्वा दम्भं भियं शुचम् । सन्देशाद् यो हरेर्लिङ्गदर्शनश्रवणादिभि: ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

dehaṁ-bhṛtām iyān artho hitvā dambhaṁ bhiyaṁ śucam sandeśād yo harer liṅga- darśana-śravaṇādibhiḥ

Translation

身を持つすべての者の究極の目的はこの法悦である。驕り・恐れ・悲嘆を捨て、ハリ（主クリシュナ）を想起させる事柄の拝観・聴聞・讃歌に心を没入すること——カンサの命を受けた時、アクルーラが味わったように。

Synonyms

• देहं-भृताम्: of embodied beings
• देहं-भृताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + भृत् (कृदन्त, √भृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (देहं भृतः = देहधारिणः)

• इयान्: so great/this much
• इयान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इयत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक विशेषण

• अर्थः: benefit/purpose
• अर्थः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हित्वा: having abandoned
• हित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• दम्भम्: hypocrisy/pride
• दम्भम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भियम्: fear
• भियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भि (स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक: भिया/भि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शुचम्: grief/sorrow
• शुचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुच्/शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सन्देशात्: from the message
• सन्देशात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लिङ्ग-दर्शन-श्रवण-आदिभिः: by seeing the signs (marks), hearing, etc.
• लिङ्ग-दर्शन-श्रवण-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (seeing the signs, hearing, etc.)

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that Akrūra gave up fear by openly showing his love and reverence for Kṛṣṇa, even though he or his family might have been punished by the angry Kaṁsa. Akrūra gave up his pride in being an aristocratic member of society and worshiped the cowherd residents of the simple village of Vṛndāvana. And he gave up lamenting for his house, wife and family, which were in danger from King Kaṁsa. Giving up all these things, he rolled in the dust of the lotus feet of God.

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about overcoming fear and sorrow?

This verse teaches that embodied beings can give up hypocrisy, fear, and grief by receiving and engaging with news and indications of Lord Hari—especially through hearing and seeing related to Him.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 10.38.27?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse while narrating the events surrounding Akrūra’s arrival and the devotional impact of contact with anything connected to Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

How can I apply śravaṇa and darśana in modern life according to this shloka?

Regularly hear authentic Hari-kathā (scripture, kīrtana, discourses) and seek darśana of the Lord through deity worship, sacred imagery, and remembrance—using these to replace anxiety and sadness with devotion.