Shloka 1

गोवर्धनोत्तरविस्मयः, रासलीलाप्रसङ्गः, तथा सर्वव्याप्तिवेदान्तोपदेशः

Devanagari script

गते शक्रे तु गोपालाः कृष्णम् अक्लिष्टकारिणम् ऊचुः प्रीत्या धृतं दृष्ट्वा तेन गोवर्धनाचलम्

Transliteration

gate śakre tu gopālāḥ kṛṣṇam akliṣṭakāriṇam ūcuḥ prītyā dhṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā tena govardhanācalam

Translation

When Śakra (Indra) had departed, the cowherds—beholding with affectionate wonder that Kṛṣṇa, the doer of effortless deeds, had held aloft Mount Govardhana—spoke to Him with joy and devotion.

Word by Word

• गते: when (he) had gone
• गते: Adhikarana (Time setting)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘when (he) had gone’

• शक्रे: (when) Śakra/Indra
• शक्रे: Adhikarana (Time setting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तु: then / but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात

• गोपालाः: the cowherds
• गोपालाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• कृष्णम्: Krishna
• कृष्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अक्लिष्टकारिणम्: the unwearied doer / tireless one
• अक्लिष्टकारिणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + क्लिष्ट + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक; कर्मधारयः (अक्लिष्टः कारिन्)

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Hetu/Instrument (Manner/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• धृतम्: held up
• धृतम्: Karma (Object of dṛṣṭvā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘held’

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having seen’

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गोवर्धनाचलम्: Mount Govardhana
• गोवर्धनाचलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोवर्धन + अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (गोवर्धनः अचलः)

Speaker

Gopālas (the cowherds of Vraja), within Parāśara’s narration to Maitreya

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To display effortless divine power in protecting Vraja by holding Govardhana, drawing the cowherds into joyful devotion.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Refuge in the Lord over fear; right orientation of worship away from prideful deva-authority

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s ‘effortless deeds’ reveal His sovereignty, inspiring simple-hearted devotees to praise and take refuge in Him.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: In adversity, remember past protections and respond with gratitude and devotion rather than fear or resentment.

Vishishtadvaita: The Supreme Person’s unlimited power is expressed through compassionate accessibility—He protects embodied dependents without strain, underscoring śeṣa-śeṣin (soul as dependent, Lord as master).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Shakra (Indra)
• Gopalas
• Govardhana

FAQs

What is the significance of Indra (Śakra) departing in this Vishnu Purana verse?

It marks the end of Indra’s challenge and underscores Krishna’s supremacy—cosmic power yields before the Lord who protects His devotees.

How does Sage Parāśara frame Krishna’s act of holding Govardhana here?

Through the cowherds’ reaction: Krishna is described as akliṣṭakārin, indicating a divine act accomplished without strain—befitting the Supreme Lord in the narrative.

What is the theological importance of calling Krishna “akliṣṭakārin” in this context?

It implies transcendence and sovereign power: Krishna’s protection is not merely heroic but divine, revealing Bhagavan whose will effortlessly sustains the world and His devotees.