Shloka 13
Govardhana-dhāraṇa: Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana and Humbles Indra
कृष्ण कृष्ण महाभाग त्वन्नाथं गोकुलं प्रभो । त्रातुमर्हसि देवान्न: कुपिताद् भक्तवत्सल ॥ १३ ॥
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa mahā-bhāga tvan-nāthaṁ gokulaṁ prabho trātum arhasi devān naḥ kupitād bhakta-vatsala
The gopas and gopīs cried out: “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, O most blessed Lord! Gokula depends on You alone. Save our cows from the wrath of angry Indra; O lover of Your devotees, protect us as well.”
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.
FAQs
This verse directly addresses Krishna as “bhaktavatsala,” showing that devotees naturally rely on Him as their sole protector, especially in danger.
After Govardhana worship, Indra became furious and sent destructive rain; seeing their helplessness, the residents of Gokula appealed to Krishna as their only refuge.
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.