Shloka 17
Govardhana-dhāraṇa: Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana and Humbles Indra
न हि सद्भावयुक्तानां सुराणामीशविस्मय: । मत्तोऽसतां मानभङ्ग: प्रशमायोपकल्पते ॥ १७ ॥
na hi sad-bhāva-yuktānāṁ surāṇām īśa-vismayaḥ matto ’satāṁ māna-bhaṅgaḥ praśamāyopakalpate
Da die Halbgötter von der Eigenschaft der Güte erfüllt sind, sollte sie der falsche Stolz, sich für den Herrn zu halten, gewiss nicht berühren. Wenn Ich den trügerischen Rang derer breche, die der Güte entbehren, so geschieht es, um ihnen Linderung und Frieden zu bringen.
The demigods are supposed to be sad-bhāva-yukta, endowed with spiritual existence, since they are deputed servants of the Supreme Lord. In the Bhagavad-gītā (4.24) it is stated:
FAQs
This verse explains that virtuous beings are not corrupted by power or divine wonder, but those intoxicated by pride are pacified only when their arrogance is broken.
He says it to frame Indra’s coming anger and downfall: Indra, becoming proud, needed his pride to be checked so he could return to proper devotion and restraint under the Lord’s supremacy.
Cultivate steady humility when success comes; if arrogance arises, accept correction as medicine—because a broken ego often restores clarity, self-control, and devotion.