Shloka 14
Govardhana-pūjā: Kṛṣṇa Redirects Indra-yajña to Worship of Govardhana, Cows, and Brāhmaṇas
अस्ति चेदीश्वर: कश्चित्फलरूप्यन्यकर्मणाम् । कर्तारं भजते सोऽपि न ह्यकर्तु: प्रभुर्हि स: ॥ १४ ॥
asti ced īśvaraḥ kaścit phala-rūpy anya-karmaṇām kartāraṁ bhajate so ’pi na hy akartuḥ prabhur hi saḥ
Sekalipun ada Penguasa Tertinggi yang mengurniakan hasil bagi perbuatan orang lain, Dia juga bergantung pada pelaku yang benar-benar berbuat. Tanpa perbuatan, tiada buah untuk dianugerahkan.
Here Lord Kṛṣṇa argues that if there is a supreme controller, He must depend on a performer of activity to reciprocate with and must therefore also be subject to the laws of karma, being obliged to award happiness and distress to conditioned souls according to the laws of good and evil.
FAQs
This verse argues that even if one posits a controller who dispenses karmic results, that controller is still dependent on the living being’s action—without an agent acting, there is no result to award.
In the Govardhana episode, Krishna challenges the idea that Indra must be worshiped as the sole giver of prosperity, redirecting the Vraja community toward duty, gratitude, and devotion centered on Krishna rather than fear-based ritual appeasement.
Focus on responsible action and integrity rather than anxiety about outcomes—do your duty sincerely, and place results in a higher order, cultivating devotion and steadiness instead of superstition or fear.