Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 10.49 Summary

This chapter describes how Akrura went to Hastinapura, saw Dhrtarastra's unfair behavior toward his nephews, the Pandavas, and then returned to Mathura.

On the order of Lord Krsna, Akrura went to Hastinapura, where he met the Kauravas and Pandavas and then set about to find out how Dhrtarastra was treating the latter. This task would keep Akrura in Hastinapura for several months.

Vidura and Kuntidevi described to Akrura in detail how Dhrtarastra'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, Kuntidevi asked Akrura, "Do my parents and other relatives, headed by Krsna and Balarama, ever think of me and my sons, and will Krsna ever come to console us in our distress?" Then Kuntidevi began to chant Lord Krsna's names for her protection, and she also chanted mantras expressing surrender to Him. Akrura assured Kuntidevi, "Since your sons were born from demigods 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 Dhrtarastra the message from Krsna and Balarama. Akrura told the King, "You have assumed the royal throne after the death of Pandu. Seeing all equally, which is the religious duty of kings, you should protect all your subjects and personal relations. By such fair behavior 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 Dhrtarastra 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 Dhrtarastra, Akrura took permission from his dear relatives and friends and returned to Mathura, where he related everything to Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari