Shloka 29
Govardhana-dhāraṇa: Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana and Humbles Indra
तं प्रेमवेगान्निर्भृता व्रजौकसोयथा समीयु: परिरम्भणादिभि: । गोप्यश्च सस्नेहमपूजयन् मुदादध्यक्षताद्भिर्युयुजु: सदाशिष: ॥ २९ ॥
taṁ prema-vegān nirbhṛtā vrajaukaso yathā samīyuḥ parirambhaṇādibhiḥ gopyaś ca sa-sneham apūjayan mudā dadhy-akṣatādbhir yuyujuḥ sad-āśiṣaḥ
Overwhelmed by ecstatic love, all the residents of Vṛndāvana came forward to greet Śrī Kṛṣṇa according to their individual relationships with Him—some embraced Him, others bowed down, and so on. The gopīs honored Him with water mixed with yogurt and unbroken barleycorns, and they showered Him with auspicious blessings.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that each of the residents of Vṛndāvana regarded Kṛṣṇa in his own way — as an inferior, younger member of the community; as an equal; or as a superior — and they dealt with Him accordingly. Kṛṣṇa’s superiors offered auspicious benedictions, lovingly smelled His head, kissed Him, rubbed His arms and fingers, and inquired with parental affection as to whether He was tired or pained. Kṛṣṇa’s equals laughed or joked with Him, and those who were younger fell at His feet, massaged His feet, and so on.
FAQs
This verse shows the Vrajavāsīs rushing to Kṛṣṇa in pure love—embracing Him and honoring Him with auspicious offerings like yogurt and akṣata, accompanied by heartfelt blessings.
They performed affectionate, traditional auspicious worship to honor Kṛṣṇa’s saving of Vraja, expressing gratitude and devotion through simple sacred items used in Vedic celebrations.
Respond to divine help with gratitude and loving service—offer what you have with sincerity, keep devotional practices auspicious and simple, and cultivate affectionate remembrance rather than mere formality.