Shloka 24
Akrūra’s Journey to Vraja and His Devotional Vision of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma
श्रीशुक उवाच इति सञ्चिन्तयन्कृष्णं श्वफल्कतनयोऽध्वनि । रथेन गोकुलं प्राप्त: सूर्यश्चास्तगिरिं नृप ॥ २४ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca iti sañcintayan kṛṣṇaṁ śvaphalka-tanayo ’dhvani rathena gokulaṁ prāptaḥ sūryaś cāsta-giriṁ nṛpa
ശ്രീശുകൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ രാജാവേ! വഴിയിൽ ശ്വഫൽക്കപുത്രൻ അക്രൂരൻ ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണനെ ആഴമായി ധ്യാനിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് രഥത്തിൽ ഗോകുലത്തിൽ എത്തി; അപ്പോൾ സൂര്യൻ അസ്തമിക്കുകയായിരുന്നു।
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī comments that although Akrūra did not even notice the road, being deeply absorbed in meditation on Lord Kṛṣṇa, he still reached Gokula on his chariot.
FAQs
This verse shows Akrūra traveling while continuously contemplating Kṛṣṇa, presenting remembrance (smaraṇa) as a natural, constant limb of bhakti even during ordinary activities.
Because Akrūra’s heart is absorbed in Kṛṣṇa as he approaches Vraja; the narration highlights his devotion and the inner mood with which he comes to Gokula.
Use commutes and travel time for Krishna-smaraṇa—quiet japa, listening to kīrtana, or reflecting on Krishna’s names and pastimes—so routine movement becomes devotional practice.