Story of Akroor’s visit to Gokul

Narada ji informed Kans that Shri Krishna is eighth son of Devaki who was transported by Vasudev to Nand’s home and he brought the daughter of Nand. It is better to call Shri Krishna and Balrama in Mathura to kill them. Then, Brahmins suggested Kans to perform Dhanush Yajna. Performance of Dhanush Yajna increases the age of the yajman (host) and kills the enemies. In case, the yajna is interrupted during first five days, yajman dies. Kans decided to invite Nand along with his sons. He asked wrestlers to kill Krishna & Balrama on their arrival. 

Kans called Akroor ji and asked to bring Nand baba, Krishna & Balrama for Dhanush Yajna. He warned Akroor ji that they should not know that Kans wanted to kill them. Death of Kans was close by; hence, he called Shri Krishna. Akroor ji was eager to meet Shri Krishna. He could not sleep whole night. He completed swiftly the morning Sandhya etc. and got ready. Gold chariot of Kans came, Akroor ji moved on it to Gokul. kroor means cruel. Akroor means who is not cruel.
 
On the way, Akroor ji imagined about Shri Krishna, whether Shri Krishna would pronounce him as Chacha (father’s brother). He saw some footprints on the way. Footprints were with Lotus, flag and hook. He believed that such footprints must be of Shri Krishna who roams around for grazing herd without wearing sleepers or shoes. Akroor ji thought, while thinking almighty, he should not sit on the chariot. He started moving on foot and prostrated on the footprints of Shri Krishna on the way. He reached gowshala in Gokul. He thought, Shri Krishna will meet him there and he would confess that he is a sinner. But he became emotional there and could not speak a word. He fell in the feet of Shri Krishna. Akroor ji wondered, whether Shri Krishna would call to the sinner as chacha. Shri Krishna placed his beneficent hand on the head of Akroor ji and lifted him. Shri Krishna called him Chacha and embraced him. Whenever jivatma come to almighty, he embraces him.
 
From Gowshala, they went to Nand’s house. Nand ji welcomed Akroor ji. After taking meals etc, Nand ji asked the reason for his visit. Akroor ji informed him that he has come for extending invitation on behalf of Kans. Kans is organizing Dhanush Yajna at Mathura. He has called him and his sons, Shri Krishna – Balrama to view it.  For the children, Kans ha sent gold chariot. Nand ji was very innocent. He felt happy to recive the invitation. Nand ji thought Kans loves his children and sent gold chariot for them. Nand baba said he was also interested to show his children Mathura.
 
When the boys of Gokul knew about this, they also decided to come along with them to Mathura. They thought who would care Shri Krishna. Nand ji permitted them to come to Mathura.
 
When Yashodha heard this, she was very upset. She said, don’t take Shri Krishna. If he goes, Gokul would be deserted. Who would care him there? Cows would not graze. Take only Balrama. Mathura’s women are charmers. They will charm Shri Krishna and he would not come back. Akroor is actually kroor (cruel). She would not permit him to go.
 
Nand baba consoled her and explained that Shri Krishna is now eleven years old. How many days, he would be inside house. He should see the world. Nand baba said, he wants to make him king. They would return within three – four days from Mathura. Don’t worry. But Yashodha was not satisfied. She kept waking whole night. Out of grief, she went in courtyard and started sobbing. Suddenly, Kanhiya got awake and could not find his mother. He started searching and found her weeping in courtyard. He sat near mother and asked the reason of weeping. He said, her weeping has made him sad. Hearing this, she was consoled. She told him, as he is going tomorrow, she is feeling distressed. Without him, she can’t survive. Kanhiya assured her to come back but did not tell the timing of his return. Hearing this, Yashodha was happy and forget the timings of his return. Both slept thereafter.
 
Shri Krishna thought, if he doesn’t visit Vasudev & Devaki who are struggling in prison for eleven years, they would die. In morning, Yashodha made ready Kanhiya. Kanhiya assured her to come back. Yashodha’s mind was restless even now. She made food for Kanhiya, herself and fed him.
 
Akroor ji brought the chariot in the courtyard. When Gopis knew about this, they came running. Radhika fainted there. In that condition, she was murmuring, hai Krishna, don’t leave him. Gopis started arguing with Akroor ji. They said why he is taking Kanhiya. Without Kanhiya, they would not survive. Don’t take Kanhiya. Who has kept his name as Akroor? In fact, he is Kroor. He has come to make them weep. They are ready to do any job of his house. But leave Kanhiya. Gokul would be funeral place without Kanhiya. Don’t snatch Kanhiya. Mathura women are smart and educated and they are uneducated. Kanhiya would forget us there. Their luck is bad. Gopis were crying like anything. They said, almighty is cruel. First, he develops love and later splits to bear the pain of separation. Akroor ji was not able explain them. No idea struck to him.
 
Shri Krishna whispered in Radha’s ears that Rakshasa have increased tremendously on earth and he is going to destroy rakshasa. They are two in bodies but in fact they are one. He is leaving his flute which is so dear to him. Whenever, she will play flute, he would come running. He asked Gopis to protect their lives to protect his life and he has to go. Gopis asked him, don’t forget them. They were crying. Kanhiya assured them of his return and left. Gopis followed the chariot. They were still crying. One Gopi said, she has resolved not drink water without seeing him. She asked Kanhiya to come for few moments every day. Entire Gokul was crying. Cows were also weeping. Akroor ji also became emotional.  Shri Krishna asked Akroor ji to move chariot rapidly.
 
Kaushakya started running behind chariot. To see his mother, Shri Krishna asked to stop chariot and got down. Kaushalya did Krishna’s aarti. She said her love is not solely for her. She would pray for him to be happy wherever he lives. She also shared him the secret that he is son of Devaki and she has only brought up him. She is only maid. Shri Krishna told her, don’t say all this. He would convey entire world that he is son of Yashodha. Yashodha asked Kanhiya to forget the incidence of tieing him with pestle. Shri Krishna said, he has already forgotten the incidence but he would forget bondage with her.
 
Chariot moved further. Gopis were still running. Kanhiya told them that he has born to destroy demons and his one form would be in Gokul and another in Mathura. He entered in the hearts of all Gopis. Bereavement brings concentration. Separation makes love robust.
 
Chariot reached near Yamuna. Akroor ji got down to take bath in Yamuna. He saw Krishna & Balrama inside the Yamuna. When he saw on chariot, they were sitting there. Again and again, he saw all this. Akroor ji had vision of Narayana also. After taking bath, Akroor ji did Sandhya. When chariot reached Mathura, Shri Krishna asked Akroor ji to move ahead and they would take rest in the garden. Shri Krishna and Kans, both can’t live the same city. Light and darkness can’t be together.
 
Yashodha ji gave food, curd etc. for the journey. They sat there to take food. But Shri Krishna did not take food. Nand ji asked him the reason for not eating. He told him that mother and Gopis would be hungry due to separation. How could he eat? Bhakti should be so profound that almighty also remembers.
 
Spiritual Significance:

1. Narada ji put seed in the mind of Kans to call Shri Krishna. So that the sinner (Kans) could be killed.
2. Real devotion is to think almighty all the time.
3. Gopis demonstrated the height of Bhakti. Bhakti should be so profound that almighty also remembers.
4. Whenever jivatma come to almighty, he embraces him.
5. Bereavement brings concentration. Separation makes love robust.
6. Light and darkness can’t be together.

 
Source:
Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran by Shri Ramchandra Keshav Dongra ji Maharaj