Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

सुहृत्तमं ज्ञातिमनन्यदैवतं दोर्भ्यां बृहद्‌भ्यां परिरप्स्यतेऽथ माम् । आत्मा हि तीर्थीक्रियते तदैव मे बन्धश्च कर्मात्मक उच्छ्वसित्यत: ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

suhṛttamaṁ jñātim ananya-daivataṁ dorbhyāṁ bṛhadbhyāṁ parirapsyate ’tha mām ātmā hi tīrthī-kriyate tadaiva me bandhaś ca karmātmaka ucchvasity ataḥ

Translation

เมื่อทรงเห็นข้าพเจ้าเป็นมิตรสนิทและญาติ พระศรีกฤษณะจะโอบกอดข้าพเจ้าด้วยพระกรอันยิ่งใหญ่ ในทันทีร่างกายของข้าพเจ้าจะได้รับการชำระให้ศักดิ์สิทธิ์ และพันธนาการทางวัตถุอันเกิดจากกรรมจะสลายสิ้น

Synonyms

• suhṛt-tamam: best friend
• suhṛt-tamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-hṛd (प्रातिपदिक) + tamaP (तमप् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; superlative: ‘best friend’

• jñātim: kinsman
• jñātim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ananya-daivatam: whose only deity (is you)
• ananya-daivatam: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier of jñātim/suhṛttamam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananya (प्रातिपदिक) + daivata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘having no other deity’ (अनन्यदैवत)

• dorbhyām: with (his) arms
• dorbhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dor (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual; ‘with (two) arms’

• bṛhadbhyām: strong
• bṛhadbhyām: Karaṇa (करण) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bṛhat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual; qualifying dorbhyām: ‘with great/strong (arms)’

• parirapsyate: will embrace
• parirapsyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√rabh (रभ्)
• Form: Luṭ/Lṛṭ (Simple Future/लृट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; ‘will embrace’

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction/particle (समुच्चय/अनन्तर)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ātmā: the self
• ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निपात)

• tīrthī-kriyate: is sanctified
• tīrthī-kriyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tīrthī-√kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Present (Laṭ/लट्), Passive (कर्मणि), 3rd Person, Singular; denominative/causative-like formation: ‘is made into a tīrtha/holy’

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (कालवाचक)

• eva: just/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; restrictive particle (निपात)

• me: of me/my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• bandhaḥ: bondage
• bandhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• karma-ātmakaḥ: consisting of action
• karma-ātmakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘of the nature of karma’ qualifying bandhaḥ

• ucchvasiti: is relieved
• ucchvasiti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√śvas (श्वस्)
• Form: Present (Laṭ/लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; ‘breathes out/relaxes/expands’ (here: ‘is relieved’)

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; causal adverb (हेतुवाचक) ‘therefore/from that’

Characters & Entities

• Akrura
• Sri Krishna

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.38.20 say about freedom from karma?

It teaches that direct connection with Krishna—here envisioned as His embracing the devotee—sanctifies the soul and causes karmic bondage to loosen and be cast off.

Why did Akrura speak about Krishna embracing him?

On his journey to bring Krishna to Mathura, Akrura becomes overwhelmed with devotion and anticipates the Lord’s merciful reception, seeing it as the moment his life becomes purified and liberated.

How can this verse be applied in modern life?

Practice exclusive devotion (ananya-bhakti)—remembering Krishna, serving Him, and seeking His grace—so that anxiety and karmic entanglement gradually weaken through sincere spiritual life.