Shloka 19
Govardhana-dhāraṇa: Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana and Humbles Indra
इत्युक्त्वैकेन हस्तेन कृत्वा गोवर्धनाचलम् । दधार लीलया विष्णुश्छत्राकमिव बालक: ॥ १९ ॥
ity uktvaikena hastena kṛtvā govardhanācalam dadhāra līlayā viṣṇuś chatrākam iva bālakaḥ
Having said this, Lord Kṛṣṇa—Viṣṇu Himself—lifted Govardhana Hill with one hand and held it aloft in divine play, as easily as a child holds up a mushroom like an umbrella.
It is confirmed in the Hari-vaṁśa that Śrī Kṛṣṇa picked up the Govardhana Mountain with His left hand: sa dhṛtaḥ saṅgato meghair giriḥ savyena pāṇinā. “With His left hand He picked up that mountain, which was touching the clouds.” According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, when Lord Kṛṣṇa was preparing to lift Govardhana Hill, a partial expansion of His Yoga-māyā potency named Saṁhārikī temporarily removed all the rain from the sky so that as He ran very swiftly from the porch of His house to the mountain, neither His turban nor other garments became wet.
FAQs
This verse states that after speaking, Śrī Kṛṣṇa (addressed as Viṣṇu) lifted Govardhana with one hand and held it effortlessly as a playful pastime, like a child holding an umbrella.
In the narrative context of this chapter, Kṛṣṇa provides shelter to the Vraja residents from Indra’s storm, demonstrating that devotion and taking refuge in Him is superior to fear of worldly powers.
When facing overwhelming situations, this verse inspires steadiness and surrender—seek higher shelter through prayer, devotion, and righteous action, trusting that divine support can make the impossible become easy.