322 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

that ill-motivated Dhrtarastra was much inclined in favor of his own sons.
In fact, Dhrtarastra had already usurped the kingdom and was now insti-
gating and planning to dispose of the five Pandava brothers. Akrira knew
also that all the sons of Dhrtarastra, headed by Duryodhana, were very
crooked politicians. Dhrtarastra did not act in accordance with the good
instruction given by Bhisma and Vidura, but he was being conducted by
the ill instruction of such persons as Karna, Sakuni and others. Akrira
decided to stay in Hastinapura for a few months to study the whole
political situation.

Gradually Akrira learned from Kunti and Vidura that Dhrtarastra was
very intolerant and envious of the five Pandava brothers because of their
extraordinary learning in military science and their greatly developed
bodily strength. They acted as true chivalrous heroes, exhibited all the
good qualities of ksatriyas, and were very responsible princes, always
thinking of the welfare of the citizens. Akrira also learned that the envious
Dhrtarastra, in consultation with his ill-advised son, had tried to kill the
Pandavas by poisoning them.

Akrira happened to be one of the cousins of Kuntt; therefore, after
meeting him, she began to inquire about her paternal relatives. Thinking
of her birthplace, she began to cry. She asked Akriira whether her father,
mother, brothers, sisters and other friends at home were still remembering
her. She especially inquired about Krsna and Balarama, her glorious
nephews. She asked: “Does Krsna, who is the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, who is very affectionate to His devotees, remember my sons?
Does Balarama remember us?” Inside herself, Kunti felt like a she-deer in
the midst of tigers, and actually her position was like that. After the death
of her husband, King Pandu, she was supposed to take care of the five
Pandava children, but Dhrtarastra was always planning to kill them. She
was certainly living as a poor innocent animal in the midst of several tigers.
Being a devotee of Lord Krsna, she was always thinking of Him and
expecting that one day Krsna would come and save them from their
dangerous position. She inquired from Akrira whether Krsna proposed to
come to advise the fatherless Pandavas how to get free of the intriguing
policy of Dhrtarastra and his sons. By talking with Akrira about all these
affairs, she felt herself helpless and began to exclaim: “My dear Krsna,
my dear Krsna, You are the supreme mystic, the Supersoul of the universe.
You are the real well-wisher of the whole universe. My dear Govinda, at
this time You are far away from me, yet I pray to surrender unto Your
lotus feet. At the present moment I am very much griefstricken with my
five fatherless sons. I can fully understand that but for Your lotus feet
