Shloka 2
Govardhana-dhāraṇa: Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana and Humbles Indra
गणं सांवर्तकं नाम मेघानां चान्तकारीणाम् । इन्द्र: प्रचोदयत् क्रुद्धो वाक्यं चाहेशमान्युत ॥ २ ॥
gaṇaṁ sāṁvartakaṁ nāma meghānāṁ cānta-kārīṇām indraḥ pracodayat kruddho vākyaṁ cāheśa-māny uta
కోపించిన ఇంద్రుడు ‘సాంవర్తక’ అనే ప్రళయకారి మేఘగణాన్ని పంపించాడు; తానే పరమ నియంతనని భావిస్తూ ఇలా పలికాడు।
The word īśa-mānī here is very significant. Indra arrogantly considered himself to be the Lord, and thus he exhibited the typical attitude of a conditioned soul. Many thinkers in the twentieth century have noted the exaggerated sense of individual prestige characteristic of our culture; indeed, writers have even coined the phrase “the me generation.” Everyone in this world is more or less guilty of the syndrome called īśa-māna, or proudly considering oneself the Lord.
FAQs
This verse shows Indra becoming furious and, out of pride, ordering the destructive Sāṁvartaka clouds to punish Vraja.
Because the Vrajavāsīs redirected their worship to Govardhana as instructed by Kṛṣṇa, Indra felt dishonored and retaliated by unleashing ruinous rains.
It cautions that wounded ego can drive disproportionate harm; cultivating humility and restraint prevents destructive reactions.