Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 3
Govardhana-dhāraṇa: Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana and Humbles Indra
अहो श्रीमदमाहात्म्यं गोपानां काननौकसाम् । कृष्णं मर्त्यमुपाश्रित्य ये चक्रुर्देवहेलनम् ॥ ३ ॥
aho śrī-mada-māhātmyaṁ gopānāṁ kānanaukasām kṛṣṇaṁ martyam upāśritya ye cakrur deva-helanam
[Indra said:] Just see how these cowherd men living in the forest have become so greatly intoxicated by their prosperity! They have surrendered to an ordinary human being, Kṛṣṇa, and thus they have offended the gods.
Of course, Indra was really saying that the cowherd men had offended him, Indra, by taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa, whom Indra considered to be martya, a mortal. This was certainly a gross miscalculation on Indra’s part.
FAQs
This verse praises the Vraja cowherds for taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa so fully that they could set aside fear of the devas—showing that wholehearted dependence on Kṛṣṇa is supreme.
In the Govardhana episode, the Vrajavāsīs followed Kṛṣṇa’s instruction and stopped Indra’s worship; Śukadeva highlights their extraordinary faith in Kṛṣṇa, who appeared like a human yet acted as their sole protector.
Prioritize sincere devotion and ethical duty over fear-based appeasement—trusting that steady remembrance of Kṛṣṇa and doing one’s dharma with faith brings protection and clarity.