Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 24

Govardhana-dhāraṇa: Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana and Humbles Indra

Devanagari script

कृष्णयोगानुभावं तं निशम्येन्द्रोऽतिविस्मित: । निस्तम्भो भ्रष्टसङ्कल्प: स्वान्मेघान् सन्न्यवारयत् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

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

Translation

When Indra observed this exhibition of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s mystic power, he became most astonished. Pulled down from his platform of false pride, and his intentions thwarted, he ordered his clouds to desist.

Synonyms

• kṛṣṇa-yoga-anubhāvam: the potency of Krishna’s yoga
• kṛṣṇa-yoga-anubhāvam: Karma (कर्म/object of ‘niśamya’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + anubhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; tatpuruṣa chain ‘kṛṣṇasya yogaḥ’ + ‘tasya anubhāvaḥ’ = ‘the power/effect of Krishna’s yoga’

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म/object, apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + śam (धातु) → niśamya (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-सम)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having heard/learned’

• indraḥ: Indra
• indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• ati-vismitaḥ: greatly astonished
• ati-vismitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + vismita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) with intensifier ‘ati’ = ‘very astonished’

• ni-stambhaḥ: humbled; without arrogance
• ni-stambhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nis (उपसर्ग) + stambha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; tatpuruṣa/nañ-like sense ‘without pride/arrogance; stunned’

• bhraṣṭa-saṅkalpaḥ: with resolve shattered
• bhraṣṭa-saṅkalpaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhraṣṭa (कृदन्त, क्त/PPP from bhraṁś) + saṅkalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; karmadhāraya ‘whose resolve is broken’

• svān: his own
• svān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana; possessive adjective ‘own’ modifying ‘meghān’

• meghān: clouds
• meghān: Karma (कर्म/object of ‘avārayat’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana

• sannyavārayat: restrained/stopped
• sannyavārayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ni + vṛ (धातु) → avārayat
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, Aorist/Imperfect narrative), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana; with preverbs sam+ni giving intensive/complete sense ‘stopped completely’

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Indra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Indra’s pride in the Govardhana Leela?

This verse says Indra became astonished on hearing of Krishna’s yogic power; his pride and determination collapsed, and he withdrew the storm-clouds he had sent.

Why did Indra stop the clouds after attacking Vraja?

Because he realized Krishna’s superior divine potency—his arrogance was broken and his plan failed, so he recalled his clouds and ended the punishment.

Practical application of this shloka’s teaching in modern life?

When ego-driven decisions cause harm, true wisdom is to recognize a higher truth, drop stubbornness, and immediately stop the damaging course of action.