[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.

Kamsa informed Akrura that following the death of his nephews, he wished to seize all the possessions of the cowherds, and rule in concert with him.

[8] The brothers, however, treated their uncle with hospitality, and he proceeded to tell them about the mistreatment of Vasudeva, Devaki, and Ugrasena under the tyranny of Kamsa, and the reason for which he had been dispatched.

During their journey, Akrura bathed in the waters of the Yamuna, where he witnessed the celestial forms of Balarama as Shesha and Krishna as Vishnu, and eulogised them.

Reaching Mathura, he informed them that they would have to walk the royal road from that point forward, and he proceeded ahead alone in his chariot.

Shatadhanva had slain Satrajit, the previous owner of the jewel, and had given it to Akrura, as he had expressed a desire to obtain it in the past.

[11][12] In the Bhagavata Purana, Krishna sent Akrura to Hastinapura to meet Dhritarashtra, the king of the Kurus, to determine if the monarch was being influenced by his son, Duryodhana.

[13] Having arrived at Hastinapura, Akrura met Kunti, his cousin, who tearfully enquired if Krishna still remembered her, and told him that she had sought salvation in the deity.