Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

यदर्चितं ब्रह्मभवादिभि: सुरै: श्रिया च देव्या मुनिभि: ससात्वतै: । गोचारणायानुचरैश्चरद्वने यद् गोपिकानां कुचकुङ्कुमाङ्कितम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

yad arcitaṁ brahma-bhavādibhiḥ suraiḥ śriyā ca devyā munibhiḥ sa-sātvataiḥ go-cāraṇāyānucaraiś carad vane yad gopikānāṁ kuca-kuṅkumāṅkitam

Translation

ആ പദ്മപാദങ്ങൾ ബ്രഹ്മാവും ഭവനും (ശിവൻ) മുതലായ ദേവന്മാരും, ശ്രീദേവിയായ ലക്ഷ്മിയും, മഹർഷികളും വൈഷ്ണവരും ആരാധിക്കുന്നു. അതേ പാദങ്ങളാൽ പ്രഭു സഖാക്കളോടൊപ്പം വനത്തിൽ പശുക്കളെ മേയിച്ച് സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്നു; അവ ഗോപികമാരുടെ കുചകുങ്കുമം പുരണ്ടവയാണ്.

Synonyms

यत्that which / which

अर्चितम्worshipped

ब्रह्मभवादिभिःby Brahmā, Śiva, and others

सुरैःby the gods

श्रियाby Śrī (Lakṣmī)

चand

देव्याby the Goddess

मुनिभिःby sages

ससात्वतैःtogether with the Sātvatas (devotees)

गोचारणायfor grazing the cows

अनुचरैःby attendants

चरद्roaming

वनेin the forest

यत्which

गोपिकानाम्of the cowherd women

कुचकुङ्कुमाङ्कितम्marked with the saffron from (their) breasts

Characters & Entities

Brahmā

Śiva (Bhava)

Śrī/Lakṣmī

Kṛṣṇa

Gopīs

Sātvatas (Vaiṣṇavas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the glory of Krishna’s lotus feet?

This verse says Kṛṣṇa’s feet are worshiped by Brahmā, Śiva, Lakṣmī, sages, and devotees—yet in Vṛndāvana they are intimately marked by the gopīs’ kuṅkuma, revealing the highest sweetness of bhakti.

Why does Akrura mention Brahma, Shiva, and Lakshmi while thinking of Krishna in Vrindavana?

Akrūra contrasts the Lord’s universal worship (by the greatest devas and Lakṣmī) with His intimate Vraja-līlā, showing that Kṛṣṇa who is supreme to all is still conquered by the love of His devotees.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Honor God’s greatness, but cultivate personal devotion—serve with sincerity and love, not merely ritual prestige—because intimate bhakti is portrayed as the highest spiritual achievement.