Govardhana-pūjā: Kṛṣṇa Redirects Indra-yajña to Worship of Govardhana, Cows, and Brāhmaṇas
तथा च व्यदधु: सर्वं यथाह मधुसूदन: । वाचयित्वा स्वस्त्ययनं तद्द्रव्येण गिरिद्विजान् ॥ ३२ ॥ उपहृत्य बलीन् सम्यगादृता यवसं गवाम् । गोधनानि पुरस्कृत्य गिरिं चक्रु: प्रदक्षिणम् ॥ ३३ ॥
tathā ca vyadadhuḥ sarvaṁ yathāha madhusūdanaḥ vācayitvā svasty-ayanaṁ tad-dravyeṇa giri-dvijān
Então a comunidade dos vaqueiros fez tudo conforme sugerira Madhusūdana, o Senhor Kṛṣṇa. Mandaram os brāhmaṇas recitar os mantras védicos auspiciosos e, com os utensílios destinados ao sacrifício de Indra, ofereceram com reverência abundantes oblações a Girirāja Govardhana e aos brāhmaṇas. Também deram capim às vacas e, pondo à frente vacas, touros e bezerros, circundaram Govardhana em pradakṣiṇā.
The residents of Vṛndāvana were simply devoted to Lord Kṛṣṇa; that was the sum and substance of their existence. Being the Lord’s eternal associates, they were ultimately not concerned with Lord Indra or ritualistic sacrifice, and they were certainly not interested in the mechanistic philosophy that Kṛṣṇa had just spoken to them. They simply loved Kṛṣṇa, and out of intense affection they did exactly what He had requested.
In Canto 10, Chapter 24, the Vraja community places the cows and their bovine wealth in front and performs pradakṣiṇā of Govardhana Hill as part of devoted worship carried out according to Kṛṣṇa’s instruction.
After arranging the worship as Kṛṣṇa directed, they had auspicious benedictions recited and then satisfied the brāhmaṇas with the very offerings prepared—showing that devotion includes proper respect, charity, and dharmic hospitality.
Offer your worship with sincerity and order, honor sādhus/teachers, and include compassion in practice—especially through care for animals and gratitude for nature’s gifts.