When Akrūra, the noble soul, saw from afar those best of men—his own kinsmen—his heart brimmed with joy. Rising swiftly, he embraced them with affection and welcomed them with delight. Approaching Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, Akrūra bowed low in reverence, and they too greeted him warmly. According to custom, they accepted the seats offered, and Akrūra honored them with proper worship. With deep devotion, he poured water for washing their feet and reverently placed it upon his own head, as was the ancient way. He adorned them with divine garments, fragrant garlands, and the finest ornaments. Bowing his head, he washed their feet with his own hands, and full of humility, he addressed Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, his voice trembling with gratitude. “By your grace,” Akrūra said, “wicked Kaṃsa and his followers have been slain, and our family has been delivered from great danger and restored to happiness by you both. You are the Supreme Persons, the cause and substance of all that exists; nothing in creation is higher or lower than you. This universe, which you have created, you yourself enter and manifest in countless ways, O Brahman, perceivable through both hearing and direct experience. “As diverse forms arise in all beings, moving and unmoving, within wombs such as mine, so too, O Lord, do you alone manifest in many ways in beings born from yourself, being entirely self-dependent. By your own powers of passion, darkness, and goodness, you create, protect, and destroy the universe; yet you remain untouched by these qualities and actions, for you are the very self of knowledge—how could there be any bondage for you? “Since you are not limited by body or any adjunct, you are not subject to difference; thus, for you, there is neither bondage nor liberation—may we never be confused about your true nature. Whenever the ancient Vedic path is obstructed by false doctrines and untruth, you manifest yourself, endowed with goodness, for the welfare of the world. “Therefore, O Lord, you have now descended into the house of Vasudeva, with your own portion, to remove the burden of the earth, destroying hundreds of armies of hostile kings and spreading the glory of this dynasty. Today, our homes are truly blessed, for you—who are the form of all gods, ancestors, beings, and men, whose foot-washing water purifies the three worlds, O teacher of the universe, Adhokṣaja—have entered them. “What wise man would seek shelter elsewhere but you, who are dear to your devotees, whose words are ever true, a friend to all, grateful, and the fulfiller of all desires for those who worship you, for whom gain and loss mean nothing? By great fortune, O Janārdana, you have appeared before us here, though even the lords of yoga and the gods find you hard to reach. Quickly cut for us the bonds of delusion—attachment to children, wife, wealth, kin, home, body, and more—which are your own māyā.” Thus worshipped and praised by his devotee, the Blessed Lord Hari smiled and spoke to Akrūra, his words enchanting. “You are our teacher, paternal uncle, and ever-honored kinsman,” Kṛṣṇa said gently. “We are to be protected, nourished, and shown compassion by you, for we are your dependents. Exalted souls like you, best among the worthy, should always be served by those who seek their own good. The gods act for their own sake, but the virtuous do not. “Holy places are not truly sanctified by water, nor are the gods merely images of clay and stone; it is the sight of the virtuous that purifies, even in a moment. You, being our well-wisher, are most capable of seeking our welfare. Therefore, for the sake of learning about the Pāṇḍavas, go now to Hastināpura. “We have heard that, after their father’s death, the children and their mother were brought to their city by the king and now reside there, deeply distressed. Among them, the king, son of Ambikā, is not impartial toward his brother’s sons; surely, under the sway of his wicked son, his judgment is clouded. Go and learn their present condition, whether good or bad; having understood, we will act so that the welfare of our friends may be secured.” Having thus instructed Akrūra, Lord Hari, the Supreme Controller, departed to his own residence, accompanied by Sankarṣaṇa and Uddhava. Thus ends the forty-eighth chapter of the first half of the Tenth Book of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa. Śuka continued: Akrūra journeyed to Hastināpura, renowned among the kings of the Paurava line. There he saw the son of Ambikā—Dhṛtarāṣṭra—together with Bhīṣma, Vidura, and Pṛthā (Kuntī). He also met Bāhlīka with his son, Bhāradvāja with Gautama, Karṇa, Suyodhana, Aśvatthāmā, the Pāṇḍavas, and other friends. Akrūra, the son of Gāndinī, approached each relative as appropriate, inquiring after their welfare and being asked in turn about the well-being of their friends. He remained there for several months, seeking to understand the conduct of the king, who was poorly advised, weak-willed, and swayed by the wicked. Akrūra observed that the king did not wish to see the brilliance, strength, valor, humility, and other virtues, nor even the people’s affection for the sons of Pṛthā. All the wrongs done by Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons—including poisoning and other misdeeds—were recounted to him in full by Pṛthā and also by Vidura. When Pṛthā saw her brother Akrūra had arrived, she approached him, her eyes brimming with tears as memories of her birthplace stirred within her. She spoke with longing: “O gentle one, do my parents, brothers, sisters, nephews, sisters-in-law, and friends still remember us? Does the illustrious Kṛṣṇa, my cousin—refuge and beloved of his devotees—and Rāma, the lotus-eyed, remember their maternal aunt’s children? Amidst my co-wives, grieving like a doe among wolves, he alone consoles me with his words, and comforts my children who are bereft of their father. “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, great yogi, soul of the universe, creator of the world—protect me, O Govinda. I have taken refuge in you and am sinking together with my children. I see no other refuge for people than your lotus feet, O Lord, deliverer from the fearful ocean of birth and death. Salutations to Kṛṣṇa, the pure, the Supreme Spirit, the Supreme Soul, the Lord of yoga and embodiment of yoga; I have sought refuge in you.” Thus, remembering her relatives and Kṛṣṇa, Lord of the universe, your great-grandmother, O King, began to pray, afflicted with sorrow. The noble Vidura, impartial in both happiness and distress, and the renowned Akrūra, sought to comfort Kuntī, offering her reasons and solace regarding the birth and destiny of her sons.