Shloka 20

इन्द्रक्रोधः, संवर्तक-वर्षणम्, गोवर्धनधारण-लीला

Devanagari script

कृष्णो ऽपि तं दधारैव शैलम् अत्यन्तनिश्चलम् व्रजौकोवासिभिर् हर्षविस्मिताक्षैर् निरीक्षितः

Transliteration

kṛṣṇo 'pi taṃ dadhāraiva śailam atyantaniścalam vrajaukovāsibhir harṣavismitākṣair nirīkṣitaḥ

Translation

Krishna, too, held aloft that mountain—utterly unwavering—while the residents of Vraja looked on with eyes widened in joy and astonishment.

Word by Word

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक-निपातः (‘also/even’)

• तम्: that (it)
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• दधार: held/bore
• दधार: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (emphatic particle)

• शैलम्: the mountain
• शैलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• अत्यन्त-निश्चलम्: utterly unmoving
• अत्यन्त-निश्चलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अत्यन्त (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + निश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः—कर्मधारयः; विशेषणम् शैलम्

• व्रज-ओकः-वासिभिः: by the residents of Vraja
• व्रज-ओकः-वासिभिः: Kartri (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रज (प्रातिपदिक) + ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (व्रजे ओकः यस्य/व्रज-निवासि); करण/कर्तृ-निर्देशः कर्मणि कृदन्तेन सह

• हर्ष-विस्मित-अक्षैः: with eyes of joy and wonder
• हर्ष-विस्मित-अक्षैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्मित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; स्मि धातु + क्त) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे (अक्षि), तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘with eyes (full of) joy and amazement’); विशेषणम् व्रजौकोवासिभिः

• निरीक्षितः: was observed
• निरीक्षितः: Kriya (Passive predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + ईक्ष् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (‘was looked at’)

Speaker

Sage Parashara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna lifts and holds Govardhana to provide a vast shelter and to humble Indra’s pride.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of devotees and reordering of worship toward the Supreme rather than fear-driven appeasement of lesser deities.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme becomes the immediate shelter of devotees, displaying effortless sovereignty that eclipses all secondary powers.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Cultivate trust that the Highest can sustain you steadily through prolonged strain; practice remembrance during ‘unmoving’ endurance.

Vishishtadvaita: The transcendent Lord acts within history as a personal protector—supreme yet intimate—central to Viśiṣṭādvaita’s personal Brahman.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Govardhana (mountain)
• Vraja-vasis (residents of Vraja)

FAQs

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

This verse highlights Krishna’s effortless, steady support of the mountain, presenting him as the supreme protector whose power overrides natural forces for the shelter of devotees.

How does Sage Parashara frame Krishna’s action in this episode?

Parashara narrates the event as a divine demonstration witnessed by the Vraja community, emphasizing both Krishna’s unwavering mastery and the devotees’ awed, joyful recognition.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu (as Krishna) in this context?

Krishna’s unshaken bearing of the mountain functions as a revelation of the Supreme Lord’s sovereignty and his compassionate commitment to protect those who take refuge in him.