Shloka 17
Govardhana-pūjā: Kṛṣṇa Redirects Indra-yajña to Worship of Govardhana, Cows, and Brāhmaṇas
देहानुच्चावचाञ्जन्तु: प्राप्योत्सृजति कर्मणा । शत्रुर्मित्रमुदासीन: कर्मैव गुरुरीश्वर: ॥ १७ ॥
dehān uccāvacāñ jantuḥ prāpyotsṛjati karmaṇā śatrur mitram udāsīnaḥ karmaiva gurur īśvaraḥ
కర్మవలననే జీవుడు ఉన్నత-నిమ్న దేహాలను పొందుతూ విడిచిపెడతాడు. అదే కర్మ అతనికి శత్రువు, మిత్రుడు, నిర్లిప్త సాక్షి; అదే గురువు, నియంత ప్రభువు.
Even the demigods are bound and limited by the laws of karma. That Indra himself is subordinate to the laws of karma is explicitly stated in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.54) : yas tv indra-gopam atha vendram aho sva-karma-bandhānurūpa-phala-bhājanam ātanoti. The Supreme Lord, Govinda, awards all creatures the appropriate results of their work. This is as true for mighty Indra, the lord of the material heavens, as it is for the germ called indra-gopa. The Bhagavad-gītā (7.20) also states, kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ. Only those who have lost their intelligence because of various material desires surrender unto demigods rather than worship the Supreme Lord. In fact, the demigods cannot award benefits to anyone independently, as stated by Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Gītā: mayaiva vihitān hi tān . All benefits are ultimately issued by the Lord Himself.
FAQs
This verse teaches that karma itself becomes one’s friend, enemy, or neutral force, because the reactions to our own actions shape our happiness, distress, and future circumstances.
In the Govardhana-līlā context, Kṛṣṇa instructs the Vraja residents on proper understanding of duty and causality, emphasizing that outcomes follow one’s karma rather than depending on fear-driven rituals.
Take responsibility for choices: cultivate sattvic actions, honesty, and devotion, knowing that habits and deeds create future results—so reforming conduct is the most direct way to change one’s life.