Lord Krishna Lifts Govardhana Hill

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.25.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच इन्द्रस्तदात्मनः पूजां विज्ञाय विहतां नृप । गोपेभ्यः कृष्णनाथेभ्यो नन्दादिभ्यश्चुकोप ह ॥ 25.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca indras tadātmanaḥ pūjāṁ vijñāya vihatāṁ nṛpa gopebhyaḥ kṛṣṇa-nāthebhyo nandādibhyaś cukopa ha

Shukadeva Gosvami said: O King, on learning that his own worship had been set aside, Indra flew into a rage against the cowherds who now took Krishna as their lord, and against Nanda and the others.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.25.2)

गणं सांवर्तकं नाम मेघानां चान्तकारीणाम् । इन्द्रः प्रचोदयत् क्रुद्धो वाक्यं चाहेशमान्युत ॥ 25.2 ॥

gaṇaṁ sāṁvartakaṁ nāma meghānāṁ cānta-kārīṇām indraḥ pracodayat kruddho vākyaṁ cāheśa-māny uta

Enraged, Indra roused the host of world-ending clouds called Samvartaka, and, believing himself the supreme lord, spoke these words.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.25.3)

अहो श्रीमदमाहात्म्यं गोपानां काननौकसाम् । कृष्णं मर्त्यमुपाश्रित्य ये चक्रुर्देवहेलनम् ॥ 25.3 ॥

aho śrī-mada-māhātmyaṁ gopānāṁ kānanaukasām kṛṣṇaṁ martyam upāśritya ye cakrur deva-helanam

'Ah, just see the arrogance bred of prosperity in these forest-dwelling cowherds — they have taken shelter of a mere mortal, Krishna, and in doing so have insulted the gods!'

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.25.4)

यथादृढैः कर्ममयैः क्रतुभिर्नामनौनिभैः । विद्यामान्वीक्षिकीं हित्वा तितीर्षन्ति भवार्णवम् ॥ 25.4 ॥

yathādṛḍhaiḥ karma-mayaiḥ kratubhir nāma-nau-nibhaiḥ vidyām ānvīkṣikīṁ hitvā titīrṣanti bhavārṇavam

'It is like men who abandon true philosophical knowledge and try to cross the ocean of existence in the fragile boats of ritual sacrifice — boats that are boats in name only.'

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.25.5)

वाचालं बालिशं स्तब्धमज्ञं पण्डितमानिनम् । कृष्णं मर्त्यमुपाश्रित्य गोपा मे चक्रुरप्रियम् ॥ 25.5 ॥

vācālaṁ bāliśaṁ stabdham ajñaṁ paṇḍita-māninam kṛṣṇaṁ martyam upāśritya gopā me cakrur apriyam

'By taking shelter of Krishna — a mere mortal, talkative, childish, arrogant and ignorant, though he fancies himself wise — the cowherds have acted against my will.'

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.25.6)

एषां श्रियावलिप्तानां कृष्णेनाध्मापितात्मनाम् । धुनुत श्रीमदस्तम्भं पशून् नयत सङ्क्षयम् ॥ 25.6 ॥

eṣāṁ śriyāvaliptānāṁ kṛṣṇenādhmāpitātmanām dhunuta śrī-mada-stambhaṁ paśūn nayata saṅkṣayam

'Shake down this pillar of pride in these men, swollen with wealth and puffed up further still by Krishna. Drive their cattle to ruin.'

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.25.7)

अहं चैरावतं नागमारुह्यानुव्रजे व्रजम् । मरुद्गणैर्महावेगैर्नन्दगोष्ठजिघांसया ॥ 25.7 ॥

ahaṁ cairāvataṁ nāgam āruhyānuvraje vrajam marud-gaṇair mahā-vegair nanda-goṣṭha-jighāṁsayā

'I myself, mounted on my elephant Airavata, will follow behind with the swift and mighty wind-gods, bent on destroying Nanda's cowherd settlement.'

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.25.8)

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्थं मघवताज्ञप्ता मेघा निर्मुक्तबन्धनाः । नन्दगोकुलमासारैः पीडयामासुरोजसा ॥ 25.8 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca itthaṁ maghavatājñaptā meghā nirmukta-bandhanāḥ nanda-gokulam āsāraiḥ pīḍayām āsur ojasā

Shukadeva Gosvami said: Thus commanded by Indra, the clouds, loosed from all restraint, began to torment Nanda's cow-settlement with fierce, driving rain.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.25.9)

विद्योतमाना विद्युद्भिः स्तनन्तः स्तनयित्नुभिः । तीव्रैर्मरुद्गणैर्नुन्ना ववृषुर्जलशर्कराः ॥ 25.9 ॥

vidyotamānā vidyudbhiḥ stanantaḥ stanayitnubhiḥ tīvrair marud-gaṇair nunnā vavṛṣur jala-śarkarāḥ

Flashing with lightning, roaring with thunder, and driven onward by the fierce wind-gods, the clouds poured down hailstones.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.25.10)

स्थूणास्थूला वर्षधारा मुञ्चत्स्वभ्रेष्वभीक्ष्णशः । जलौघैः प्लाव्यमाना भूर्नादृश्यत नतोन्नतम् ॥ 25.10 ॥

sthūṇā-sthūlā varṣa-dhārā muñcatsv abhreṣv abhīkṣṇaśaḥ jalaughaiḥ plāvyamānā bhūr nādṛśyata natonnatam

As the clouds ceaselessly poured out streams of rain as thick as pillars, the earth, submerged beneath the flood, could no longer be told high ground from low.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.25.11)

अत्यासारातिवातेन पशवो जातवेपनाः । गोपा गोप्यश्च शीतार्ता गोविन्दं शरणं ययुः ॥ 25.11 ॥

aty-āsārāti-vātena paśavo jāta-vepanāḥ gopā gopyaś ca śītārtā govindaṁ śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ

The animals, trembling under the relentless downpour and wind, and the cowherd men and women, tormented by cold, all took refuge in Govinda.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.25.12)

शिरः सुतांश्च कायेन प्रच्छाद्यासारपीडिताः । वेपमाना भगवतः पादमूलमुपाययुः ॥ 25.12 ॥

śiraḥ sutāṁś ca kāyena pracchādyāsāra-pīḍitāḥ vepamānā bhagavataḥ pāda-mūlam upāyayuḥ

Covering their heads and their calves with their own bodies, tormented by the downpour and trembling, the cows made their way to the very feet of the Lord.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.25.13)

कृष्ण कृष्ण महाभाग त्वन्नाथं गोकुलं प्रभो । त्रातुमर्हसि देवान्नः कुपिताद् भक्तवत्सल ॥ 25.13 ॥

kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa mahā-bhāga tvan-nāthaṁ gokulaṁ prabho trātum arhasi devān naḥ kupitād bhakta-vatsala

'O Krishna, Krishna, most blessed one! O Lord, this Gokula takes You alone as its master — You must save us from the wrathful gods, O You who love Your devotees so dearly.'

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.25.14)

शिलावर्षातिवातेन हन्यमानमचेतनम् । निरीक्ष्य भगवान् मेने कुपितेन्द्रकृतं हरिः ॥ 25.14 ॥

śilā-varṣāti-vātena hanyamānam acetanam nirīkṣya bhagavān mene kupitendra-kṛtaṁ hariḥ

Seeing His people rendered senseless by the onslaught of hail and raging wind, Lord Hari understood this to be the work of an enraged Indra.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.25.15)

अपर्त्वत्युल्बणं वर्षमतिवातं शिलामयम् । स्वयागे विहतेऽस्माभिरिन्द्रो नाशाय वर्षति ॥ 25.15 ॥

apartv aty-ulbaṇaṁ varṣam ati-vātaṁ śilā-mayam sva-yāge vihate ’smābhir indro nāśāya varṣati

Krishna thought: 'Since We have stopped his sacrifice, Indra now sends down this excessive, unseasonal rain of wind and hail to destroy us.'

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.25.16)

तत्र प्रतिविधिं सम्यगात्मयोगेन साधये । लोकेशमानिनां मौढ्याद्धनिष्ये श्रीमदं तमः ॥ 25.16 ॥

tatra pratividhiṁ samyag ātma-yogena sādhaye lokeśa-mānināṁ mauḍhyād dhaniṣye śrī-madaṁ tamaḥ

'I shall bring about a fitting remedy for this through My own power; I shall destroy this darkness of pride born of prosperity, which springs from the folly of those who imagine themselves lords of the world.'

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.25.17)

न हि सद्भावयुक्तानां सुराणामीशविस्मयः । मत्तोऽसतां मानभङ्गः प्रशमायोपकल्पते ॥ 25.17 ॥

na hi sad-bhāva-yuktānāṁ surāṇām īśa-vismayaḥ matto ’satāṁ māna-bhaṅgaḥ praśamāyopakalpate

'Indeed, gods truly established in goodness should never fall prey to the delusion of thinking themselves the lord. When I break the pride of those who lack that goodness, it is for their own good.'

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.25.18)

तस्मान्मच्छरणं गोष्ठं मन्नाथं मत्परिग्रहम् । गोपाये स्वात्मयोगेन सोऽयं मे व्रत आहितः ॥ 25.18 ॥

tasmān mac-charaṇaṁ goṣṭhaṁ man-nāthaṁ mat-parigraham gopāye svātma-yogena so ’yaṁ me vrata āhitaḥ

'Therefore, by My own power, I shall protect this cowherd community — it has taken shelter in Me, regards Me as its master, and is truly My own family. This indeed is My vow.'

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.25.19)

इत्युक्त्वैकेन हस्तेन कृत्वा गोवर्धनाचलम् । दधार लीलया विष्णुश्छत्राकमिव बालकः ॥ 25.19 ॥

ity uktvaikena hastena kṛtvā govardhanācalam dadhāra līlayā viṣṇuś chatrākam iva bālakaḥ

Having said this, Vishnu, with a single hand, lifted up Govardhana Hill and held it aloft as easily as a child holds up a little mushroom.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.25.20)

अथाह भगवान् गोपान्हेऽम्ब तात व्रजौकसः । यथोपजोषं विशत गिरिगर्तं सगोधनाः ॥ 25.20 ॥

athāha bhagavān gopān he ’mba tāta vrajaukasaḥ yathopajoṣaṁ viśata giri-gartaṁ sa-go-dhanāḥ

Then the Lord spoke to the cowherds: 'O mother, O father, O people of Vraja, come now, all of you, and enter comfortably beneath this hill, together with your cattle.'

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.25.21)

न त्रास इह वः कार्यो मद्धस्ताद्रिनिपातनात् । वातवर्षभयेनालं तत्त्राणं विहितं हि वः ॥ 25.21 ॥

na trāsa iha vaḥ kāryo mad-dhastādri-nipātanāt vāta-varṣa-bhayenālaṁ tat-trāṇaṁ vihitaṁ hi vaḥ

'You need not fear that this hill will fall from My hand; and have no fear either of the wind and rain — your protection from these has already been arranged.'

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.25.22)

तथा निर्विविशुर्गर्तं कृष्णाश्वासितमानसः । यथावकाशं सधनाः सव्रजाः सोपजीविनः ॥ 25.22 ॥

tathā nirviviśur gartaṁ kṛṣṇāśvāsita-mānasaḥ yathāvakāśaṁ sa-dhanāḥ sa-vrajāḥ sopajīvinaḥ

Thus reassured by Krishna, they all entered beneath the hill, finding ample room there for themselves, their possessions, their herds, and all who depended on them.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.25.23)

क्षुत्तृड्व्यथां सुखापेक्षां हित्वा तैर्व्रजवासिभिः । वीक्ष्यमाणो दधाराद्रिं सप्ताहं नाचलत् पदात् ॥ 25.23 ॥

kṣut-tṛḍ-vyathāṁ sukhāpekṣāṁ hitvā tair vraja-vāsibhiḥ vīkṣyamāṇo dadhārādriṁ saptāhaṁ nācalat padāt

Setting aside all hunger and thirst, and every thought of His own comfort, He held the hill aloft for seven full days, never once shifting from His place, as the people of Vraja looked on.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.25.24)

कृष्णयोगानुभावं तं निशम्येन्द्रोऽतिविस्मितः । निस्तम्भो भ्रष्टसङ्कल्पः स्वान्मेघान् सन्न्यवारयत् ॥ 25.24 ॥

kṛṣṇa-yogānubhāvaṁ taṁ niśamyendro ’ti-vismitaḥ nistambho bhraṣṭa-saṅkalpaḥ svān meghān sannyavārayat

Beholding this display of Krishna's mystic power, Indra was utterly astonished; his pride broken and his purpose thwarted, he called back his clouds.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.25.25)

खं व्यभ्रमुदितादित्यं वातवर्षं च दारुणम् । निशम्योपरतं गोपान् गोवर्धनधरोऽब्रवीत् ॥ 25.25 ॥

khaṁ vyabhram uditādityaṁ vāta-varṣaṁ ca dāruṇam niśamyoparataṁ gopān govardhana-dharo ’bravīt

Seeing the sky now clear of clouds, the sun risen, and the fierce wind and rain at last stilled, the holder of Govardhana spoke to the cowherds.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.25.26)

निर्यात त्यजत त्रासं गोपाः सस्त्रीधनार्भकाः । उपारतं वातवर्षं व्युदप्रायाश्च निम्नगाः ॥ 25.26 ॥

niryāta tyajata trāsaṁ gopāḥ sa-strī-dhanārbhakāḥ upārataṁ vāta-varṣaṁ vyuda-prāyāś ca nimnagāḥ

'Come out now, cowherd men, with your wives, your wealth and your children. Set aside your fear. The wind and rain have ceased, and the rivers have nearly settled back within their banks.'

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.25.27)

ततस्ते निर्ययुर्गोपाः स्वं स्वमादाय गोधनम् । शकटोढोपकरणं स्त्रीबालस्थविराः शनैः ॥ 25.27 ॥

tatas te niryayur gopāḥ svaṁ svam ādāya go-dhanam śakaṭoḍhopakaraṇaṁ strī-bāla-sthavirāḥ śanaiḥ

Then the cowherd men came out, each gathering up his own cattle and his cart-loaded belongings, while the women, children and elders followed slowly behind.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.25.28)

भगवानपि तं शैलं स्वस्थाने पूर्ववत् प्रभुः । पश्यतां सर्वभूतानां स्थापयामास लीलया ॥ 25.28 ॥

bhagavān api taṁ śailaṁ sva-sthāne pūrva-vat prabhuḥ paśyatāṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ sthāpayām āsa līlayā

The Lord, effortlessly, set the hill back down in its own place, exactly as it had stood before, while every creature looked on.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.25.29)

तं प्रेमवेगान्निर्भृता व्रजौकसोयथा समीयुः परिरम्भणादिभिः । गोप्यश्च सस्नेहमपूजयन् मुदादध्यक्षताद्भिर्युयुजुः सदाशिषः ॥ 25.29 ॥

taṁ prema-vegān nirbhṛtā vrajaukaso yathā samīyuḥ parirambhaṇādibhiḥ gopyaś ca sa-sneham apūjayan mudā dadhy-akṣatādbhir yuyujuḥ sad-āśiṣaḥ

Overcome with the force of their love, the people of Vraja came to Him each in their own way — some with embraces, others otherwise; and the gopis, full of tenderness, joyfully honored Him, offering yogurt and unbroken grains, and showering Him with their blessings.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.25.30)

यशोदा रोहिणी नन्दो रामश्च बलिनां वरः । कृष्णमालिङ्ग्य युयुजुराशिषः स्नेहकातराः ॥ 25.30 ॥

yaśodā rohiṇī nando rāmaś ca balināṁ varaḥ kṛṣṇam āliṅgya yuyujur āśiṣaḥ sneha-kātarāḥ

Yashoda, Rohini, Nanda, and Rama, greatest among the strong, embraced Krishna, and, overcome with tenderness, gave Him their blessings.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.25.31)

दिवि देवगणाः सिद्धाः साध्या गन्धर्वचारणाः । तुष्टुवुर्मुमुचुस्तुष्टाः पुष्पवर्षाणि पार्थिव ॥ 25.31 ॥

divi deva-gaṇāḥ siddhāḥ sādhyā gandharva-cāraṇāḥ tuṣṭuvur mumucus tuṣṭāḥ puṣpa-varṣāṇi pārthiva

O King, in the heavens the hosts of demigods, Siddhas, Sadhyas, Gandharvas and Charanas sang His praises, and, greatly pleased, rained down showers of flowers.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.25.32)

शङ्खदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्दिवि देवप्रचोदिताः । जगुर्गन्धर्वपतयस्तुम्बुरुप्रमुखा नृप ॥ 25.32 ॥

śaṅkha-dundubhayo nedur divi deva-pracoditāḥ jagur gandharva-patayas tumburu-pramukhā nṛpa

O King, at the gods' urging, conches and kettledrums resounded in heaven, and the lords of the Gandharvas, Tumburu foremost among them, broke into song.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.25.33)

ततोऽनुरक्तैः पशुपैः परिश्रितोराजन् स्वगोष्ठं सबलोऽव्रजद्धरिः । तथाविधान्यस्य कृतानि गोपिकागायन्त्य ईयुर्मुदिता हृदिस्पृशः ॥ 25.33 ॥

tato ’nuraktaiḥ paśupaiḥ pariśrito rājan sva-goṣṭhaṁ sa-balo ’vrajad dhariḥ tathā-vidhāny asya kṛtāni gopikā gāyantya īyur muditā hṛdi-spṛśaḥ

Then, O King, surrounded by His loving cowherd friends, Hari, together with Balarama, went off to His own pasture; and the gopis, singing of such deeds of His, went on their way, joyful, their hearts touched to the very core.