Shloka 1
Govardhana-dhāraṇa: Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana and Humbles Indra
श्रीशुक उवाच इन्द्रस्तदात्मन: पूजां विज्ञाय विहतां नृप । गोपेभ्य: कृष्णनाथेभ्यो नन्दादिभ्यश्चुकोप ह ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca indras tadātmanaḥ pūjāṁ vijñāya vihatāṁ nṛpa gopebhyaḥ kṛṣṇa-nāthebhyo nandādibhyaś cukopa ha
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King Parīkṣit, when Indra realized that his worship had been set aside, he became furious with Nanda and the other gopas, who accepted Kṛṣṇa as their Lord.
At the very beginning of this chapter Śukadeva Gosvāmī reveals the foolishness of Indra and the absurdity of his anger. Indra was frustrated because the residents of Vṛndāvana accepted Śrī Kṛṣṇa as their Lord. But the simple fact is that Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Lord, not only of the residents of Vṛndāvana but of all that exists, including Indra himself. Thus Indra’s petulant reaction was ridiculous. As the common saying goes, “Pride goes before a fall.”
FAQs
Indra realized that the worship intended for him had been stopped, and out of pride he became furious with the cowherds of Vraja, who were sheltered by Kṛṣṇa, along with Nanda and the elders.
It means “having Kṛṣṇa as their lord and protector,” indicating that the Vrajavāsīs were under Kṛṣṇa’s shelter, not dependent on Indra’s favor.
It shows how injured pride can distort judgment, while devotion means taking shelter of the Supreme rather than seeking security through fear or appeasement of lesser powers.