Tweet
Narayaneeyam Dasakam: 72 -- Akrura's JourneyThe time for Kamsa's death was fast approaching.Narada, the divine sage, who ever acts as the instrument to carry out Lord'swishes, went to Kamsa and said, "O Kamsa, you have been tricked. Devaki's eighth son still lives in the house of Nanda, in Vraja. The female child that yousought to kill was Yasoda's baby. The two were exchanged on the night ofKrishna's birth. Krishna and his brother Balarama have killed all the asuras you sent to kill them."
Kamsa was terribly agitated and angered by this news. He drew out his sword andrushed to kill Vasudeva. But Narada stopped him and explained that Vasudeva was quite innocent. Kamsa sent for Akroora, one of the chiefs of the Yadava clan. "Akroora, my dearfriend," he said. "You are trusted wherever you go. Please go to Vraja. Takethis chariot with you. Bring back the two sons of Vasudeva. Tell them that they have been invited by me to witness the Dhanur-Yagna and to see the sights of the town.
Akrura was requested by Kamsa to arrive in Vrndavana by evening. After receiving instruction from Kamsa, Akrura started the next morning via chariot for Vrndavana. Because Akrura himself was a great devotee of the Lord, while going to Vrndavana he began to praise to the Lord. Devotees are always absorbed in thoughts of Krishna, and Akrura was constantly thinking of Lord Krishna,'s lotus eyes.
Akrura was afraid, however, of being deputed by Kamsa, the enemy of Krsna. He thought, "I am going to see Krsna as a messenger of the enemy." And at the same time, he thought, "Krsna is in each and everyone's heart as the Supersoul, so He must know my heart." Although Akrura was trusted by the enemy of Krsna, his heart was clear. He was a pure devotee of Krsna. He risked Kamsa's wrath just to meet Krsna. He was certain that although he was going as a representative of Kamsa, Krsna would not accept him as an enemy.
He did not know what sort of pious activities he must have done to gain an opportunity to go see Lord Krishna,. Akrura thought that if Krishna,willed, he would be able to see Him. Akrura considered him most fortunate that he was going to see Krishna, whom great mystic yogis desire to see. He was confident that on that day all the sinful reactions of his past life would be finished and his fortunate human form of life would be successful. Akrura also considered that he was very much favored by Kamsa, who was sending him to bring back Krishna,and Balarama and thus enabling him to see the Lord.
Akrura continued to consider that formerly great sages and saintly persons were liberated from the material world simply by seeing the shining nails of the lotus feet of Krishna, All along the way he was immersed in Thy thoughts alone - 'Shall I be blessed to meet the Supreme Being who is the subject of all Vedic hymns? Will I be able to touch him even slightly? Will he embrace me? What will he say to me? Where will I see him?' He went along the way thinking in this manner.
Akrura saw Thee and Balaraam, both neat and tidy after the evening bath, dressed in beautiful yellow and blue garments, wearing a few ornaments and looking charming in appearance. A soft smile played on Thy gentle faces.