Shloka 33
Govardhana-dhāraṇa: Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana and Humbles Indra
ततोऽनुरक्तै: पशुपै: परिश्रितोराजन् स्वगोष्ठं सबलोऽव्रजद्धरि: । तथाविधान्यस्य कृतानि गोपिकागायन्त्य ईयुर्मुदिता हृदिस्पृश: ॥ ३३ ॥
tato ’nuraktaiḥ paśupaiḥ pariśrito rājan sva-goṣṭhaṁ sa-balo ’vrajad dhariḥ tathā-vidhāny asya kṛtāni gopikā gāyantya īyur muditā hṛdi-spṛśaḥ
O King, then Hari, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, surrounded by His loving cowherd friends and accompanied by Balarāma, went to the place where He had been tending the cows. The gopīs returned home in joy, singing of His lifting Govardhana Hill and other heart-touching, glorious deeds.
Before returning to their homes, the gopīs shared intimate association with their lover, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, by exchanging secret glances. Ordinarily they could not publicly talk about Kṛṣṇa, since they were chaste young girls in a religious village, but now they took advantage of this wonderful exhibition by the Lord and freely sang of His beautiful qualities. It is natural that a young man wants to do something wonderful in the presence of a beautiful young girl. The gopīs were the most beautiful and pure-hearted young girls, and Śrī Kṛṣṇa performed the most wonderful activities in their presence. Thus He entered deep within their tender hearts, enlivening their eternal devotion to Him.
FAQs
This verse describes the gopīs joyfully singing about Krishna’s extraordinary deeds—heart-touching glorification that naturally arises from pure love (bhakti).
Śukadeva is narrating Krishna’s Vraja pastimes directly to King Parīkṣit, keeping the listener engaged while describing how Krishna returned to Vraja accompanied by the affectionate cowherds.
Cultivate devotion by regularly hearing and singing the Lord’s deeds (kīrtana), and keep company with those who are affectionately devoted—both nourish a joyful, heart-softening spiritual life.