Shloka 25
The Vraja Elders Question Kṛṣṇa’s Identity; Nanda Recounts Garga’s Prophecy
देवे वर्षति यज्ञविप्लवरुषा वज्राश्मवर्षानिलै:सीदत्पालपशुस्त्रियात्मशरणं दृष्ट्वानुकम्प्युत्स्मयन् । उत्पाट्यैककरेण शैलमबलो लीलोच्छिलीन्ध्रं यथाबिभ्रद् गोष्ठमपान्महेन्द्रमदभित् प्रीयान्न इन्द्रो गवाम् ॥ २५ ॥
deve varṣati yajña-viplava-ruṣā vajrāsma-varṣānilaiḥ sīdat-pāla-paśu-striy ātma-śaraṇaṁ dṛṣṭvānukampy utsmayan utpāṭyaika-kareṇa śailam abalo līlocchilīndhraṁ yathā bibhrad goṣṭham apān mahendra-mada-bhit prīyān na indro gavām
供犠が妨げられて憤ったインドラは、雷電・雹・烈風を伴う豪雨をゴークラに降らせ、牧人たち、家畜、女たちを苦しめた。唯一の避難所を主クリシュナに求める彼らの窮状を見て、常に慈悲深い主は微笑み、幼子が遊びに茸を持ち上げるように、片手でゴーヴァルダナの丘を引き抜いて掲げた。その丘で牧人の共同体を守り、マヘーンドラの虚しい驕りを打ち砕いた。牛の主ゴーヴィンダ、インドラの慢心を滅する御方が、われらに満悦されますように。
The word indra means “lord” or “king.” Thus in this verse Kṛṣṇa is pointedly called indro gavām, “the Lord of the cows.” In fact, He is the real Indra, the real ruler, of everyone, and the demigods are merely His servants, representing His supreme will.
FAQs
This verse describes how the Vraja residents took shelter of Kṛṣṇa during Indra’s destructive storm, and Kṛṣṇa compassionately protected them by lifting Govardhana—showing that surrender to Him brings divine protection.
Indra attacked Vraja with thunder, hail, and wind to punish the cowherds; seeing their distress and surrender, Kṛṣṇa lifted the mountain to shelter them and to break Indra’s pride.
When overwhelmed by “storms” (fear, crisis, pressure), take shelter of God through prayer, steadiness, and dharma; the verse teaches humility (not ego) and trust that sincere devotion is protected.