Shloka 6
Govardhana-dhāraṇa: Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana and Humbles Indra
एषां श्रियावलिप्तानां कृष्णेनाध्मापितात्मनाम् । धुनुत श्रीमदस्तम्भं पशून् नयत सङ्क्षयम् ॥ ६ ॥
eṣāṁ śriyāvaliptānāṁ kṛṣṇenādhmāpitātmanām dhunuta śrī-mada-stambhaṁ paśūn nayata saṅkṣayam
Their prosperity has made them drunk with pride, and Kṛṣṇa has puffed up their arrogance. Now go—shatter their haughty pride of opulence and drive their animals to destruction.
It is clear from this verse that the residents of Vṛndāvana had become highly prosperous simply by protecting cows, since Indra wanted to destroy their so-called pride based on wealth by killing their animals. Well-tended cows produce large quantities of milk, from which come cheese, butter, yogurt, ghee and so on. These foods are delicious by themselves and also enhance other foods, such as fruits, vegetables and grains. Bread and vegetables are delicious with butter, and fruit is especially appetizing when mixed with cream or yogurt. Dairy products are always desirable in civilized society, and the surplus can be traded for many valuable commodities. Thus, simply by a Vedic dairy enterprise, the residents of Vṛndāvana were wealthy, healthy and happy, even in the material sense, and most of all they were eternal associates of the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa.
FAQs
This verse shows how opulence can intoxicate (śriyāvalipta) and create stubborn pride (śrī-mada-stambha), leading even exalted beings like Indra to commit offense and cruelty.
Indra, angered that his worship was stopped, misread the situation as an insult and, in pride, tried to punish the Vrajavāsīs by sending devastating storms meant to ruin their livelihood—their cows.
Treat prosperity as a trust rather than a badge of superiority—stay grateful, remain accountable, and keep devotion central so “śrī-mada” does not harden into pride and harmful actions.