Shloka 3

The Vraja Elders Question Kṛṣṇa’s Identity; Nanda Recounts Garga’s Prophecy

Devanagari script

य: सप्तहायनो बाल: करेणैकेन लीलया । कथं बिभ्रद् गिरिवरं पुष्करं गजराडिव ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

yaḥ sapta-hāyano bālaḥ kareṇaikena līlayā kathaṁ bibhrad giri-varaṁ puṣkaraṁ gaja-rāḍ iva

Translation

Bagaimana mungkin budak tujuh tahun ini, dengan satu tangan dan dalam lila, menahan bukit agung Govardhana, seperti gajah perkasa mengangkat bunga teratai?

Synonyms

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — who (relative pronoun)

• सप्त-हायनः: seven years old
• सप्त-हायनः: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + हायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — seven-years-old (qualifying बालः)

• बालः: boy
• बालः: Karta (कर्ता/subject; apposition to यः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — boy

• करेण: with the hand
• करेण: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन — with (his) hand

• एकेन: with one
• एकेन: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन — with one (hand)

• लीलया: playfully
• लीलया: Hetu/Prakara (हेतु/प्रकार; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन — playfully/as a sport

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नाव्यय/interrogative adverb — how?

• बिभ्रत्: bearing
• बिभ्रत्: Karta (कर्ता; participle agreeing with यः/बालः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — bearing/carrying

• गिरि-वरम्: the best mountain
• गिरि-वरम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन — best of mountains (Govardhana)

• पुष्करम्: a lotus
• पुष्करम्: Upamana/Upameya (उपमान/उपमेय; in simile with iva)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन — lotus (here: lotus-like)

• गज-राट्: king of elephants
• गज-राट्: Upamana (उपमान/standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + राट्/राज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — king of elephants

• इव: like
• इव: Upama (उपमा/simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमाव्यय/simile particle — like/as

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Govardhana

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna lifting Govardhana?

This verse marvels that Kṛṣṇa, though only seven years old, held the great mountain Govardhana effortlessly with one hand as a divine pastime, revealing His supreme potency while protecting Vraja.

Why is Krishna compared to an elephant holding a lotus in this verse?

The comparison highlights ease and natural strength: just as a mighty elephant can lift a lotus delicately, Kṛṣṇa held Govardhana effortlessly, showing the act was not strain but līlā.

Practical application of Krishna’s Govardhana leela in modern life?

Remembering Kṛṣṇa as the protector helps cultivate faith during crises—do your duty, seek shelter in devotion, and avoid pride by recognizing a higher divine order.