Akrura

Akrura
Akrura (right) drives Krishna and Balarama to Mathura. Folio from the Bhagavata Purana.
TextsPuranas, Mahabharata
Genealogy
ParentsŚvaphalka (father), Gandini or Nandinī (mother)
SiblingsUpasanja, Mangu, Mridura, Arimejaya, Girikshipa, Upiksha, Shatruha, Arimardana, Dharmabhrit, Yatidharma, Gridhra, Bhoja, Andhaka, Suvahu, and Prativahu (brothers), Sundari (sister)
[1]
SpouseUgraseni
ChildrenSudeva and Upadeva (sons)
DynastyYaduvamsha

Akrura (Sanskrit: अक्रूर, romanized: Akrūra, lit. 'not cruel') is a Yadava prince in Hinduism, best known for being the uncle of the deity Krishna.[2] The son of Śvaphalka and Gandini, a daughter of the king of Kashi,[3] he is instructed by Kamsa to drive his nephews, Krishna and Balarama, to a Dhanuryāga (festival of arms) at Mathura, where they were to be slain.[4][5] He bears witness to the vishvarupa (theophany) of Krishna during this journey. Akrura becomes the owner of the Syamantaka jewel after the death of its previous owner, Satrajit. He is slain during the internecine Yadu massacre at Prabhasa.[6]

  1. ^ "An Account of Svyamantaka Jewel [Chapter 38]". 14 November 2020.
  2. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2019-01-28). "Story of Akrūra". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  3. ^ Garg, pp. 305-306.
  4. ^ Iyengar, T. R. R. (2004). Hindu Mythology. Intellectual Book Corner. p. 314. ISBN 978-81-7076-104-4.
  5. ^ Walker, Benjamin (2019-04-09). Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. In Two Volumes. Volume I A-L. Routledge. p. 562. ISBN 978-0-429-62465-0.
  6. ^ Books, Kausiki (2021-07-12). Bhagavatha Maha Purana 1st Skanda : English translation only without Slokas. Kausiki Books. p. 154.