Shloka 13

Govardhana-dhāraṇa: Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana and Humbles Indra

Devanagari script

कृष्ण कृष्ण महाभाग त्वन्नाथं गोकुलं प्रभो । त्रातुमर्हसि देवान्न: कुपिताद् भक्तवत्सल ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa mahā-bhāga tvan-nāthaṁ gokulaṁ prabho trātum arhasi devān naḥ kupitād bhakta-vatsala

Translation

Die Gopas und Gopīs flehten: „Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, o höchst Begnadeter, Herr! Gokula steht unter Deinem Schutz. Rette unsere Kühe vor Indras Zorn; o Du, der Du Deine Geweihten liebst, rette auch uns.“

Synonyms

• कृष्ण: O Krishna
• कृष्ण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• कृष्ण: O Krishna
• कृष्ण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन) Singular (एकवचन); repetition for emphasis

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन) Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: महान् भागः यस्य/महान् भागः (as epithet)

• त्वत्-नाथम्: having you as its protector
• त्वत्-नाथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: त्वं नाथः यस्य (having you as lord) qualifying गोकुलम्

• गोकुलम्: Gokula
• गोकुलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन) Singular (एकवचन)

• त्रातुम्: to save
• त्रातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रा (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to protect/save’

• अर्हसि: you are able/you ought
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• देवान्: us (your people)
• देवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); here ‘us’ in respectful sense

• नः: for us / our
• नः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी) Plural (बहुवचन) enclitic; ‘of us/our’ (often used as dative-like in prayers)

• कुपितात्: from the enraged one
• कुपितात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुपित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी) Singular (एकवचन); used substantively: ‘from the enraged (Indra)’

• भक्त-वत्सल: O lover of devotees
• भक्त-वत्सल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन) Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: भक्तेषु वत्सलः (affectionate to devotees)

Purport

At the time of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s birth, Garga Muni had predicted, anena sarva-durgāṇi yūyam añjas tariṣyathā ( Bhāg. 10.8.16 ): “By His grace you will easily cross beyond all difficulties.” The residents of Vṛndāvana were confident that in such a great emergency Lord Śrī Nārāyaṇa would empower Kṛṣṇa to protect them. They accepted Kṛṣṇa as everything, and Kṛṣṇa reciprocated their love.

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Indra
• Gokula (Vraja residents)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna being bhakta-vatsala (affectionate to devotees)?

This verse directly addresses Krishna as “bhaktavatsala,” showing that devotees naturally rely on Him as their sole protector, especially in danger.

Why did the Vrajavasis pray to Krishna for protection from Indra?

After Govardhana worship, Indra became furious and sent destructive rain; seeing their helplessness, the residents of Gokula appealed to Krishna as their only refuge.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

In crisis, practice wholehearted dependence on God—turning anxiety into prayer and remembering that true shelter is the Lord who protects those who take refuge in Him.