Shloka 7

Govardhana-pūjā: Kṛṣṇa Redirects Indra-yajña to Worship of Govardhana, Cows, and Brāhmaṇas

Devanagari script

तत्र तावत् क्रियायोगो भवतां किं विचारित: । अथवा लौकिकस्तन्मे पृच्छत: साधु भण्यताम् ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

tatra tāvat kriyā-yogo bhavatāṁ kiṁ vicāritaḥ atha vā laukikas tan me pṛcchataḥ sādhu bhaṇyatām

Translation

Darum erkläre mir bitte deutlich, was ihr euch bei diesem rituellen Tun gedacht habt. Ist es eine Zeremonie nach den Vorschriften der Śāstras oder nur ein Brauch der gewöhnlichen Welt? Ich frage dich—sage es richtig.

Synonyms

• तत्र: there; in that matter
• तत्र: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb ‘there/in that matter’)

• तावत्: so much; for now
• तावत्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक (adverb ‘so much/for the time being’)

• क्रिया-योगः: the arrangement/procedure of the rite
• क्रिया-योगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘क्रियायाः योगः’ (connection/arrangement of ritual action); पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः—प्रथमा; वचनम्—एकवचन

• भवताम्: of you (respected)
• भवताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भवत्-शब्द (honorific pronoun-like); पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः—षष्ठी (Genitive); वचनम्—बहुवचन

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः—प्रथमा/द्वितीया; वचनम्—एकवचन; interrogative predicate (‘what?’)

• विचारितः: considered; decided
• विचारितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used adjectivally/predicatively); पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः—प्रथमा; वचनम्—एकवचन; agrees with ‘क्रियायोगः’; अर्थः—‘considered/determined’

• अथ: then; now
• अथ: Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/विकल्पार्थक (connector ‘then/now’)

• वा: or
• वा: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात

• लौकिकः: worldly; customary
• लौकिकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौकिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः—प्रथमा; वचनम्—एकवचन; (understood: ‘क्रियायोगः’)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः—द्वितीया; वचनम्—एकवचन

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी/चतुर्थी एकवचन-एकादेश (enclitic); ‘to me/for me’

• पृच्छतः: of (me) asking
• पृच्छतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त—शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः—षष्ठी (Genitive); वचनम्—एकवचन; ‘of me who am asking’

• साधु: well; properly
• साधु: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb ‘well/properly’)

• भण्यताम्: let it be spoken
• भण्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भण् (धातु)
• Form: लकारः—लोट् (Imperative); पुरुषः—प्रथम; वचनम्—एकवचन; प्रयोगः—कर्मणि (Passive); धातुः—भण्; अर्थः—‘let it be said’

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about worldly customs (laukika) versus Vedic ritual (kriyā-yoga)?

This verse shows Kṛṣṇa distinguishing between a formally reasoned ritual procedure (kriyā-yoga) and a mere customary practice (laukika), asking the elders to clarify what they are actually performing.

Why did Krishna ask the Vrajavāsīs about their sacrificial plan in Canto 10 Chapter 24?

In the Govardhana episode, Kṛṣṇa begins by inquiring into the purpose and method of the planned worship, setting the stage to examine whether it is truly dharmic and meaningful, or simply done by habit.

Practical application: how can I apply Krishna’s question about rituals in modern life?

Before following any religious routine, ask: “What is the purpose, and is it grounded in genuine understanding and devotion?” This helps transform habit into conscious, value-centered practice.