iti - with these words; ājñāpya - ordering; artha - of personal interest and advantage; tantra - of the doctrine; jñaḥ - the knower; āhūya - calling for; yadu-puṅgavam - the most eminent of the Yadus; gṛhītvā - taking; pāṇinā - with his own hand; pāṇim - his hand; tataḥ - then; akrūram - to Akrūra; uvāca ha - he said.

Having thus commanded his ministers, Kaṁsa next called for Akrūra, the most eminent of the Yadus. Kaṁsa knew the art of securing personal advantage, and thus he took Akrūra’s hand in his own and spoke to him as follows.