Shloka 17
Akrūra’s Journey to Vraja and His Devotional Vision of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma
समर्हणं यत्र निधाय कौशिक- स्तथा बलिश्चाप जगत्त्रयेन्द्रताम् । यद्वा विहारे व्रजयोषितां श्रमं स्पर्शेन सौगन्धिकगन्ध्यपानुदत् ॥ १७ ॥
samarhaṇaṁ yatra nidhāya kauśikas tathā baliś cāpa jagat-trayendratām yad vā vihāre vraja-yoṣitāṁ śramaṁ sparśena saugandhika-gandhy apānudat
Dengan mempersembahkan sedekah kepada tangan teratai itu, Purandara (Indra) dan Kauśika, demikian juga Bali, memperoleh kedudukan Indra bagi tiga alam. Dan dalam lila rāsa, tangan yang sama—menjadi harum oleh sentuhan wajah para gopī Vraja—mengusap peluh mereka dan menghilangkan keletihan.
The Purāṇas call the lotus found in the Mānasa-sarovara Lake a saugandhika. Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus hand acquired the fragrance of this flower by coming in contact with the beautiful faces of the gopīs. This specific incident, which occurred during the rāsa-līlā, is described in the Thirty-third Chapter of the Tenth Canto.
FAQs
It says Krishna, during His playful pastimes in Vraja, dispelled the gopis’ fatigue simply by His touch, emphasizing His intimate, compassionate sweetness in Vṛndāvana-līlā.
Akrura glorifies Vraja as supremely sacred by recalling that even the Lord’s earlier līlā as Vāmana—granting Bali lordship—occurred through accepting offerings; yet Vraja is even more astonishing because Krishna personally serves devotees there with intimate affection.
It teaches that sincere devotion draws the Lord’s mercy: remembering Krishna’s loving care for His devotees inspires trust, steady bhakti practice, and a desire to serve rather than merely seek worldly outcomes.