अक्रूर स्तुति — Benefits & How to Chant
अक्रूर स्तुति
Complete guide to chanting correctly for maximum benefit
Benefits of Chanting अक्रूर स्तुति
A profound prayer of surrender (sharanagati) to the Supreme Lord Krishna as Narayana
Glorifies the Lord as the cause of all causes and the source of the entire cosmos, deepening understanding (jnana) and devotion
The concluding plea 'prapannam pahi mam prabho' is a perfect mantra of taking refuge and seeking the Lord's protection
Recited to cultivate humility, faith and the realization that all of creation rests in the Lord
Cherished by Vaishnavas as a model of how a devotee should pray upon receiving the Lord's darshan
Brings spiritual protection, peace of mind and steadiness of devotion to those who recite it with feeling
An authentic scriptural stuti from the Srimad Bhagavatam, lending it great sanctity
How to Chant अक्रूर स्तुति
Instructions
Recite these verses from the Srimad Bhagavatam with reverence, ideally before an image of Krishna or Vishnu. Reflect on their meaning — that the Lord is the cause of all causes and that all of creation is His body — and end by truly taking refuge with 'prapannam pahi mam prabho'. The prayer may be recited as part of daily worship or whenever one seeks the Lord's protection and the spirit of surrender. It is fitting to read it slowly, as a meditation on the Lord's greatness and one's own dependence upon Him.
Spiritual Significance
The Bhagavata relates that while bathing in the Yamuna, Akrura beheld Krishna and Balarama within the water as the four-armed Lord Narayana upon Ananta-Shesha, served by Brahma, Shiva and the celestial sages — a vision granted to him alone as the reward of his pure devotion, which moved him to offer this very prayer.
Origin & History
Source: Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Canto 10, Chapter 40 (The Prayers of Akrura)
Author: Veda Vyasa (as spoken by Akrura)
When Kamsa sent the devoted Akrura to bring Krishna and Balarama from Vrindavan to Mathura, Akrura travelled with a heart full of longing to behold the Lord. On the way, while bathing in the river Yamuna, he was granted a wondrous vision of Krishna as the Supreme Lord Narayana, resting upon the serpent Shesha and surrounded by divine beings. Overcome with awe and love, Akrura folded his hands and poured out this stuti, glorifying Krishna as the cause of all causes, from whose navel-lotus Brahma was born and within whose body the entire universe rests. He concluded by surrendering himself utterly, praying, 'O Lord, protect me, for I have taken refuge in You.' His prayer stands among the great devotional hymns of the Bhagavata.