॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
20 May 2023, Saturday - Srimad Bhagavatam X.a49 - Akrura goes and spends several months in Hastinapura and gets a first-hand knowledge of Dhrirasthtra's personality, Kunti's sons' difficulties and the reasons thereof.
***
This chapter describes how Akrura went to Hastinapura, saw Dhritarashtra's unfair behaviour toward his nephews, the Pandavas, and then returned to Mathura.
On the order of Lord Krishna, Akrura went to Hastinapura, where he met the Kauravas and Pandavas and then set about to find out how Dhritarashtra was treating the latter. This task would keep Akrura in Hastinapura for several months.
Vidura and Kunti described to Akrura in detail how Dhritarashtra’s sons, envious of the exalted qualities of the Pandavas, had tried to destroy them by various evil means and were contemplating further atrocities. With tearful eyes, Kunti asked Akrura, “Do my parents and other relatives, headed by Krishna and Balarama, ever think of me and my sons, and will Krishna ever come to console us in our distress?”
Then Kunti began to chant Lord Krishna’s names for her protection, and she also chanted mantras expressing surrender to Him. Akrura assured Kunti, “Since your sons were born from gods like Dharma and Vayu, there is no reason to expect that any misfortune will befall them; rather, you should be confident that very soon they will receive the greatest possible good fortune.”
Akrura then delivered to Dhritarashtra the message from Krishna and Balarama. Akrūra told the King, “You have assumed the royal throne after the death of Pandu. Seeing all equally, which is the Dharmic duty of kings, you should protect all your subjects and personal relations. By such fair behaviour you will gain all fame and good fortune. But if you act otherwise, you will attain only infamy in this life and condemnation to a hellish existence in the next. A living being takes his birth all alone, and alone he gives up his life. Alone he enjoys the fruits of his piety and sin. If one fails to understand the true identity of the self and instead maintains his progeny by indulging in evil deeds, then surely he will go to hell. One should therefore learn to understand the unsteadiness of material existence, which is like a sleeper’s dream, a magician’s illusion or a flight of fancy, and should thus control his mind in order to remain peaceful and equipoised.”
To this Dhritarashtra replied, “I cannot hear enough of your beneficial words, O Akrura, which are like the sweet nectar of immortality. But because the tight knot of affection for my sons has made me biased toward them, your statements cannot become fixed within my mind. No one can transgress the arrangement of the Supreme Lord; His purpose for descending into the Yadu dynasty will inevitably be fulfilled.”
Knowing now the mentality of Dhritarashtra, Akrura took permission from his dear relatives and friends and returned to Mathura, where he related everything to Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama.
श्रीशुक उवाच
स गत्वा हास्तिनपुरं पौरवेन्द्रयशोऽङ्कितम् । ददर्श तत्राम्बिकेयं सभीष्मं विदुरं पृथाम् ॥
सहपुत्रं च बाह्लीकं भारद्वाजं सगौतमम् ।कर्णं सुयोधनं द्रौणिं पाण्डवान् सुहृदोऽपरान् ॥
यथावदुपसङ्गम्य बन्धुभिर्गान्दिनीसुतः । सम्पृष्टस्तैः सुहृद्वार्तां स्वयं चापृच्छदव्ययम् ॥
उवास कतिचिन्मासान् राज्ञो वृत्तविवित्सया । दुष्प्रजस्याल्पसारस्य खलच्छन्दानुवर्तिनः ॥
तेज ओजो बलं वीर्यं प्रश्रयादींश्च सद्गुणान् । प्रजानुरागं पार्थेषु न सहद्भिश्चिकीर्षितम् ॥
T: Sage Shuka narrated: Akrura went to Hastinapura, the city distinguished by the glory of the Paurava rulers. There he saw Dhritarashtra, Bishma, Vidura and Kunti, along with Bahlika and his son Somadatta. He also saw Drona, Kripa, Karna, Duryodhana, Ashvatthama, the Pandavas and other close friends.
After Akrūra, the son of Gandini, had appropriately greeted all his relatives and friends, they asked him for news of their family members, and he, in turn, asked about their welfare. He remained in Hastināpura for several months to scrutinize the conduct of the weak-willed King, who had bad sons and who was inclined to give in to the whims of mischievous advisers.
Kunti and Vidura described to Akrura in detail the evil intentions of Dhritarashtra’s sons, who could not tolerate the great qualities of Kunti’s sons — such as their powerful influence, military skill, physical strength, bravery and humility — or the intense affection the citizens had for them. Kunti and Vidura also told Akrura about how the sons of Dhritarashtra had tried to poison the Pāṇḍavas and carry out other such plots.
***
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
