Shloka 28

Govardhana-dhāraṇa: Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana and Humbles Indra

Devanagari script

भगवानपि तं शैलं स्वस्थाने पूर्ववत् प्रभु: । पश्यतां सर्वभूतानां स्थापयामास लीलया ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

bhagavān api taṁ śailaṁ sva-sthāne pūrva-vat prabhuḥ paśyatāṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ sthāpayām āsa līlayā

Translation

As all living beings watched, the Supreme Personality of Godhead set the hill down by His lila, placing it back in its original position as before.

Synonyms

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शैलम्: mountain
• शैलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्व-स्थाने: in its own place
• स्व-स्थाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• पूर्व-वत्: as before
• पूर्व-वत्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial -वत्)

• प्रभुः: the master
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भगवान् इति समानाधिकरण

• पश्यताम्: of (all) who were watching
• पश्यताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु) → पश्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), षष्ठी/सप्तमी-बहुवचन (genitive plural) — 'of those who were watching'

• सर्व-भूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्व-भूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• स्थापयाम्: placed/set (back)
• स्थापयाम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (periphrastic perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative stem स्थापय-; (स्थापयाम् आसा)

• आस: did/was (auxiliary)
• आस: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (periphrastic perfect auxiliary), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• लीलया: playfully; by (his) sport
• लीलया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna placing Govardhana back after lifting it?

This verse states that Lord Kṛṣṇa, while everyone watched, effortlessly set Govardhana Hill back exactly where it had been, showing the act was His līlā (divine pastime).

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe this act as līlā (a pastime)?

Because Kṛṣṇa’s actions are not forced by necessity; even extraordinary feats—like moving a mountain—are performed effortlessly to protect devotees and reveal His supreme divinity.

How can devotees apply the teaching of Govardhana Leela in modern life?

Remember that divine protection comes through sincere devotion and surrender; when challenges pass, one should recognize the Lord’s grace and keep faith steady rather than fearful.