Shloka 3
Govardhana-pūjā: Kṛṣṇa Redirects Indra-yajña to Worship of Govardhana, Cows, and Brāhmaṇas
कथ्यतां मे पित: कोऽयं सम्भ्रमो व उपागत: । किं फलं कस्य वोद्देश: केन वा साध्यते मख: ॥ ३ ॥
kathyatāṁ me pitaḥ ko ’yaṁ sambhramo va upāgataḥ kiṁ phalaṁ kasya voddeśaḥ kena vā sādhyate makhaḥ
Śrī Kṛṣṇa sprach: „Mein Vater, bitte erkläre mir: Wozu dient dieses große Vorhaben? Welche Frucht soll es bringen, und wem ist es gewidmet? Wenn es ein rituelles Opfer (yajña) ist, wessen Zufriedenheit sucht es, und auf welche Weise wird es vollzogen?“
FAQs
This verse shows that a yajña should have clarity of purpose—its intended result, the intended recipient, and the proper means—rather than being performed in blind haste or social momentum.
In the Govardhana-līlā context, Kṛṣṇa probes the rationale behind the annual worship being prepared, prompting Nanda to explain its goal and beneficiary, setting the stage for redirecting the community’s worship.
Before any religious or spiritual practice, examine the intention, the expected outcome, and whether the method aligns with dharma—so devotion becomes conscious and meaningful rather than merely habitual.