Shloka 38
Govardhana-pūjā: Kṛṣṇa Redirects Indra-yajña to Worship of Govardhana, Cows, and Brāhmaṇas
इत्यद्रिगोद्विजमखं वासुदेवप्रचोदिता: । यथा विधाय ते गोपा सहकृष्णा व्रजं ययु: ॥ ३८ ॥
ity adri-go-dvija-makhaṁ vāsudeva-pracoditāḥ yathā vidhāya te gopā saha-kṛṣṇā vrajaṁ yayuḥ
So führten die Gopas, vom Herrn Vāsudeva angeregt, das Opfer für den Govardhana-Hügel, für die Kühe und die Brāhmaṇas ordnungsgemäß aus und kehrten mit Śrī Kṛṣṇa nach Vraja zurück.
Although the Govardhana-pūjā was performed in a blissful and successful way, the matter was hardly finished. Lord Indra is, after all, tremendously powerful, and he received the news of the Govardhana sacrifice with burning anger. What ensued will be described in the following chapter.
FAQs
It states that, following Kṛṣṇa’s inspiration, the Vraja cowherds properly performed worship centered on Govardhana, the cows, and the brāhmaṇas, and then returned to Vraja with Kṛṣṇa.
In this narrative sequence, Kṛṣṇa redirects ritual focus toward gratitude, dharma, and devotion expressed through honoring Govardhana, protecting cows, and serving brāhmaṇas—preparing the stage for His protection of Vraja.
Practice devotion through tangible gratitude: honor nature, care for animals (especially cows in the Vedic ethos), respect spiritual learning, and perform worship or service in a disciplined, sincere way.