Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 15

Indra’s Prayers and the Coronation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa as Govinda

Govindābhiṣeka

Devanagari script

श्रीभगवानुवाच मया तेऽकारि मघवन् मखभङ्गोऽनुगृह्णता । मदनुस्मृतये नित्यं मत्तस्येन्द्र श्रिया भृशम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-bhagavān uvāca mayā te ’kāri maghavan makha-bhaṅgo ’nugṛhṇatā mad-anusmṛtaye nityaṁ mattasyendra-śriyā bhṛśam

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Indra, it was out of mercy that I stopped the sacrifice meant for you. You were greatly intoxicated by your opulence as King of heaven, and I wanted you to always remember Me.

Synonyms

• श्री-भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• श्री-भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (उपाधि): श्रीमान् भगवान्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया, एकवचन

• ते: for you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान) एकवचन (enclitic)

• अकारि: was done
• अकारि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (aorist), आत्मनेपद-भाव (passive sense here); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘was done’

• मघवन्: O Maghavan (Indra)
• मघवन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मघवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• मख-भङ्गः: the breaking of the sacrifice
• मख-भङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मख (प्रातिपदिक) + भङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मखस्य भङ्गः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अनुगृह्णता: while showing favor
• अनुगृह्णता: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ) तृतीया एकवचन: अनुगृह्णत्; कर्तृवाचक—‘while favoring’ (instrumental of attendant circumstance)

• मत्-अनुस्मृतये: for remembrance of me
• मत्-अनुस्मृतये: Sampradana/Purpose (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी/प्रातिपदिक) + अनुस्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मम अनुस्मृतिः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; प्रयोजन (for remembrance)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे अव्ययप्रयोग (adverbial accusative); कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• मत्तस्य: of the intoxicated (one)
• मत्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; इन्द्रस्य विशेषण—‘of the intoxicated (one)’

• इन्द्र: O Indra
• इन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• श्रिया: by prosperity/splendor
• श्रिया: Hetu/Karana (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; हेतु/साधन

• भृशम्: excessively
• भृशम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक क्रियाविशेषण

Purport

According to Śrīdhara Svāmī, Indra and Lord Kṛṣṇa here exchange a heart-to-heart talk. Indra revealed his mind to the Lord, and now Lord Kṛṣṇa similarly reveals His own intention.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Maghavan)
• Krishna (implied as the speaker)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna breaking Indra’s sacrifice (makha-bhaṅga)?

This verse explains that Krishna disrupted Indra’s sacrifice out of mercy, to cure Indra’s pride and make him remember the Lord constantly.

Why did Krishna say this to Indra in Canto 10 Chapter 27?

After Indra was humbled by the Govardhana-līlā and approached Krishna, Krishna clarified that the correction was compassionate—meant to remove Indra’s intoxication with power and restore devotional remembrance.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life when success makes someone proud?

See reversals and corrections as opportunities to regain humility, reduce ego born of status, and re-center life on remembrance of God and gratitude rather than entitlement.