Shloka 4

Harivaṁśa-saṅkṣepa: Kṛṣṇa’s Avatāra Deeds, Dynastic Continuity, and Post-departure Succession

Devanagari script

धृतो गोवर्धनः शैल इन्द्रेण परिपूजितः / भारावतरणं चक्रे प्रतिज्ञां कृतवान्हरिः

Transliteration

dhṛto govardhanaḥ śaila indreṇa paripūjitaḥ / bhārāvataraṇaṃ cakre pratijñāṃ kṛtavānhariḥ

Translation

Hari mengangkat gunung Govardhana dan dihormati dengan sewajarnya oleh Indra; baginda juga memikul tugas meringankan beban bumi serta menunaikan janji yang telah diikrarkan.

Word by Word

• धृतः: was held/lifted
• धृतः: Kriya (Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘held’

• गोवर्धनः: Govardhana
• गोवर्धनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोवर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शैलः: mountain
• शैलः: Karta (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-विशेष्य (apposition to गोवर्धनः)

• इन्द्रेण: by Indra
• इन्द्रेण: Karana/Agent-in-passive (Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्ता-हेतु), एकवचन

• परिपूजितः: was duly worshipped
• परिपूजितः: Kriya (Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘honoured’

• भारावतरणम्: the relieving of the burden (of earth)
• भारावतरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार + अवतरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—भारस्य अवतरणम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• चक्रे: did, accomplished
• चक्रे: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• प्रतिज्ञाम्: a vow, promise
• प्रतिज्ञाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृतवान्: made (took)
• कृतवान्: Karta-anvayi (Predicate to हरिः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having made’

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari), in discourse to Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati and divine shelter: the Lord protects devotees; even gods honor him; he acts for bhū-bhāra-avataraṇa (relieving earth’s burden) and keeps his vow.

Vedantic Theme: Bhagavān as sarva-devatātmā (inner ruler of all gods); līlā revealing supremacy (paratva) and compassion (dayā).

Application: Take refuge in the divine during ‘storms’; keep promises; use strength to shelter others and reduce collective burdens.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: sacred mountain

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.144 (Govardhana and bhū-bhāra-avataraṇa summary)

Characters & Entities

• Govardhana
• Indra
• Hari (Vishnu/Krishna)

FAQs

What is the importance of Govardhana-lifting in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Hari’s protective power and his role as the upholder of dharma—shielding devotees and correcting divine pride (Indra), thereby reaffirming rightful worship and surrender.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames a core Garuda Purana theme: refuge in Hari and fidelity to dharma. The soul’s well-being is tied to righteous living and devotion to the divine protector who upholds cosmic order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep your promises, act to reduce harm and imbalance, and practice humility—recognizing that power (like Indra’s) should be aligned with dharma and gratitude rather than pride.