Chapter 49: Akrûra's Mission in Hastinâpura

(1-2) S'rî S'uka said: 'He [Akrûra] going to Hastinâpura, the city standing out with the glory of the kings of the Pûru-dynasty [see family-tree], saw there the son of Ambikâ [Dhritarâshthra, see 9.22: 25] together with Bhîshma, Vidura and Prithâ [Kuntî], as also Bâhlika and his son [Somadatta], Dronâcârya and Kripâcârya, Karna, Duryodhana, the son of Drona [As'vatthâmâ], the Pândavas and other friends. (3) After the son of Gândinî [Akrûra, see 9.24: 15] appropriately had greeted his relatives and friends inquired they with him for news about their kin and asked he on his turn how they were faring. (4) He stayed there a couple of months to find out what the king, weak of determination with his wicked sons, all did in his answering to the desires of the mischievous ones [like Karna]. (5-6) Both Vidura and Kuntî told him everything about the unbecoming acts, like the administering of poison, perpetrated by the sons of Dhritarâshthra in their intolerant disposition towards the influence, skill, strength, bravery, humility and so on of the sons of Prithâ, for whose excellent qualities the citizens had a great liking. (7) Prithâ now that she had her [Vrishni-]brother Akrûra before her, addressed him and said, as she, with tears in her eyes, remembered her place of birth [Mathurâ]: (8) 'O gentle one, do our parents and brothers, my sisters, nephews and the women of the family as well as my [old girlhood] friends remember us still? (9) Do my brother's son, Krishna, the Supreme Lord, the shelter full of care for the devotees and Râma with His lotuspetal eyes, still think of the sons of His father's sister? (10) And... will He come to console me with His words, I who with young boys deprived of their father in the midst of enemies is lamenting like a doe between wolves? (11) Krishna, o Krishna, o Greatest of Yoga, o Soul and Protector of the Universe, please watch over this surrendered soul who along with her children is drowning in distress, o Govinda! [see also 1.8: 17-43] (12) For mankind in fear of death and rebirth I see no other shelter than the lotus feet of You, the Master and Controller imparting liberation. (13) My obeisances unto Krishna, the pure Absolute Truth and Supersoul, the Controller of Yoga and Unifier of Consciousness; You whom I've approached for shelter.'

(14) S'rî S'uka said: 'Your very great-grandmother this way, o King, remembering her relatives and Krishna, the Controller of the Universe, began to cry out aloud over her being unhappy. (15) Akrûra, equal in distress and happiness, and the illustrious Vidura consoled Kuntî with the explanation that her sons were born from the gods [see family-tree]. (16) When it was about time to leave approached he the king sitting among his supporters who so impetuously was biased for his sons, in order to speak with him about what in friendship was communicated by his well-wishing relatives [Krishna and Râma]. (17) Akrûra said: 'O dear, beloved son of Vicitravîrya [9.22: 21-25], you to the greater glory of the Kurus have, with your bother Pându having passed away, now assumed the throne. (18) According the dharma protecting the earth and the citizens will you, delighting the people by good character, achieve perfection and renown in remaining equally disposed to your relatives! (19) Acting to the contrary however will you, being condemned in this world, land in darkness; so therefore be equal toward the Pândavas and the ones born from you. (20) There is for no one an enduring association with anyone else in this world, o King, not even with one's own body; so what to say about a wife, children and so on? (21) One is born alone and alone one also meets one's end, and alone one enjoys one's merit as surely also one's demerit. (22) Of an unintelligent person in need of support is by others in disguise [as relatives] the wealth stolen that was acquired against the dharma, just like with an aquatic the water [the territory, is occupied by its own offspring]. (23) Indulging against the dharma, thinking uneducated the things he feeds on to be his own, is he in his purpose frustrated by them in loss of his life-air, wealth, children and others [see 4.31 6.15: 21-23 and 7.15]. (24) By them abandoned taking the load upon him, not properly knowing the purpose of life enters he with his goals unfulfilled blind to his own religious duty indifferent the deepest darkness [see also 3.30; 5: 26; 6.1: 40]. (25) Therefore, with seeing this world, o King, as a dream, as something magical, as a thing of mind, bring the mind with intelligence under control and become equal and peaceful, prabhu.'

(26) Dhritarâshthra said: 'From you speaking these words so auspicious, o master of charity, can I, as a mortal, never get enough; they are like the nectar of immortality! (27) However pleasing though, o gentle one, are they, like lightening in a cloud, not fixed in my heart which is unsteady, with me being prejudiced by the affection for my sons. (28) In what way would a person be able to escape from what is ordained by the Controller, who to diminish the burden of the earth has descended in the Yadu family? [see B.G. 9: 8] (29) He whose path is inconceivable, creates this universe by His own creative energy, distributes the modes and enters into it; unto Him whose ways are incrutable, the Supreme Controller from whom we find liberation from the cycle of birth and death, my obeisances.'

(30) S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus convincing himself of the mentality of the king, was Akrûra by his well-wishers permitted to leave and returned he to the city of the Yadus. (31) To the purpose for which he was sent, reported he to Râma and Krishna what the position was that Dhritarâshthra had taken in relation to the Pândavas, o descendant of Kuru.'