Shloka 17

Govardhana-dhāraṇa: Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana and Humbles Indra

Devanagari script

न हि सद्भ‍ावयुक्तानां सुराणामीशविस्मय: । मत्तोऽसतां मानभङ्ग: प्रशमायोपकल्पते ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

na hi sad-bhāva-yuktānāṁ surāṇām īśa-vismayaḥ matto ’satāṁ māna-bhaṅgaḥ praśamāyopakalpate

Translation

Puisque les demi-dieux sont pourvus de la qualité de bonté, l’orgueil illusoire de se croire le Seigneur ne devrait pas les atteindre. Lorsque Je brise le faux prestige de ceux qui sont privés de bonté, Mon dessein est de leur apporter apaisement et soulagement.

Synonyms

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात—हेतौ/खलु-अर्थे (indeed/for)

• सद्-भाव-युक्तानाम्: of those endowed with true devotion
• सद्-भाव-युक्तानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः—‘सद्भावेन युक्ताः’ (endowed with true devotion/good disposition)

• सुराणाम्: of the gods
• सुराणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• ईश-विस्मयः: astonishment (at/ of the Lord)
• ईश-विस्मयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘ईशस्य विस्मयः’ (astonishment of the Lord / at the Lord)

• मत्तः: from me
• मत्तः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, त्रिलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; ‘मद्’ (from me)

• असताम्: of the wicked
• असताम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; ‘दुष्टानाम्/असज्जनानाम्’

• मान-भङ्गः: the breaking of pride
• मान-भङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक) + भङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘मानस्य भङ्गः’ (breaking of pride)

• प्रशमाय: for pacification
• प्रशमाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रशम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for pacification)

• उपकल्पते: is conducive / serves
• उपकल्पते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘उपयुज्यते/सम्भवति’

Purport

The demigods are supposed to be sad-bhāva-yukta, endowed with spiritual existence, since they are deputed servants of the Supreme Lord. In the Bhagavad-gītā (4.24) it is stated:

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Devas (Surāḥ)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pride (māna) and humility?

This verse explains that virtuous beings are not corrupted by power or divine wonder, but those intoxicated by pride are pacified only when their arrogance is broken.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī say this during the Govardhana episode?

He says it to frame Indra’s coming anger and downfall: Indra, becoming proud, needed his pride to be checked so he could return to proper devotion and restraint under the Lord’s supremacy.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Cultivate steady humility when success comes; if arrogance arises, accept correction as medicine—because a broken ego often restores clarity, self-control, and devotion.