Shloka 16

इन्द्रक्रोधः, संवर्तक-वर्षणम्, गोवर्धनधारण-लीला

Devanagari script

इति कृत्वा मतिं कृष्णो गोवर्धनमहीधरम् उत्पाट्यैककरेणैव धारयाम् आस लीलया

Transliteration

iti kṛtvā matiṃ kṛṣṇo govardhanamahīdharam utpāṭyaikakareṇaiva dhārayām āsa līlayā

Translation

Having thus resolved, Krishna uprooted Mount Govardhana and, with a single hand alone, held it aloft—effortlessly, as a divine līlā.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Prayojaka (Discourse marker/प्रयोजक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-निपात (quotative particle)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial to verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); धातु: कृ — ‘having made/done’

• मतिम्: intention; resolve
• मतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• कृष्णः: Krishna
• कृष्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• गोवर्धन-महीधरम्: Govardhana mountain
• गोवर्धन-महीधरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोवर्धन (प्रातिपदिक) + महीधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — कर्मधारय-समास; ‘Govardhana, the mountain’

• उत्पाट्य: having uprooted
• उत्पाट्य: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial to verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + पट्/पाट् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having uprooted’

• एक-करेण: with one hand
• एक-करेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन — तत्पुरुष-समास; ‘with one hand’

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• धारयाम्: held; supported
• धारयाम्: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — छान्दस/पुराण-प्रयोगे ‘धारयाम्’ = ‘he held’ (with आस as periphrastic support)

• आस: was; did
• आस: Kriya (Auxiliary/सहायक-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — auxiliary ‘was/did’ supporting periphrastic perfect

• लीलया: playfully; with ease
• लीलया: Karana (Manner/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन — Instrumental ‘as a play/easily’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He lifts Govardhana to shelter Vraja and to reveal His sovereign divinity through effortless līlā.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Devotee-protection and the correction of misplaced dependence on lesser gods

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme’s power is not strained effort but līlā—His effortless capacity to uphold the world and His devotees.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Contemplate Bhagavān’s līlā-śakti to replace anxiety with trust; cultivate remembrance (smaraṇa) during adversity.

Vishishtadvaita: Supports the Lord as both transcendent ruler and immanent protector acting within prakṛti without limitation—acintya-śakti with saulabhya.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Govardhana

FAQs

What is the significance of Govardhana-lila in the Vishnu Purana?

It portrays Krishna’s effortless, sovereign power to protect His devotees, presenting the miracle as līlā—divine play rather than labor—thereby emphasizing His supremacy.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Krishna’s action here?

Parāśara narrates that Krishna first forms a clear resolve (mati) and then uproots and holds Govardhana with one hand, highlighting deliberate divine will followed by effortless execution.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu/Krishna in this context?

Krishna is shown as the Supreme Lord whose protective grace and omnipotence operate naturally; His “playfulness” underscores transcendence while His protection affirms intimate care for devotees.