Shloka 1
Akrūra’s Prayers (Akrūra-stuti): The Lord as Cause of Causes, Virāṭ, and the Goal of All Paths
श्रीअक्रूर उवाच नतोऽस्म्यहं त्वाखिलहेतुहेतुं नारायणं पूरुषमाद्यमव्ययम् । यन्नाभिजातादरविन्दकोषाद् ब्रह्माविरासीद् यत एष लोक: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-akrūra uvāca nato ’smy ahaṁ tvākhila-hetu-hetuṁ nārāyaṇaṁ pūruṣam ādyam avyayam yan-nābhi-jātād aravinda-koṣād brahmāvirāsīd yata eṣa lokaḥ
श्रीअक्रूर उवाच—अखिलहेतुहेतुं त्वां नारायणं पुरुषमाद्यमव्ययम् अहं नतोऽस्मि। यन्नाभिजातादरविन्दकोषाद् ब्रह्मा विरासीद् यत एष लोकः प्रववृते॥
FAQs
In this verse Akrura addresses the Lord as “akhila-hetu-hetu,” affirming that the Supreme Person (Nārāyaṇa) is the ultimate source behind all secondary causes in creation.
Akrura, overwhelmed by devotion upon meeting the Lord, begins his prayers by glorifying Krishna/Nārāyaṇa’s supreme position as the origin of Brahmā and the universe.
It teaches humility and God-centered thinking: begin actions with reverence, and remember a higher source behind life’s outcomes, which steadies the mind and deepens devotion.