Shloka 19
Govardhana-pūjā: Kṛṣṇa Redirects Indra-yajña to Worship of Govardhana, Cows, and Brāhmaṇas
आजीव्यैकतरं भावं यस्त्वन्यमुपजीवति । न तस्माद् विन्दते क्षेमं जारान् नार्यसती यथा ॥ १९ ॥
ājīvyaikataraṁ bhāvaṁ yas tv anyam upajīvati na tasmād vindate kṣemaṁ jārān nāry asatī yathā
หากสิ่งหนึ่งเป็นที่หล่อเลี้ยงชีวิตแท้จริง แต่เรากลับไปพึ่งสิ่งอื่น จะได้ประโยชน์แท้ได้อย่างไร? ก็เหมือนหญิงไม่ซื่อสัตย์ที่คบชู้ ย่อมไม่พบผลดีจริง
The word kṣemam means actual prosperity, not merely the accumulation of money. Here Lord Kṛṣṇa boldly argues that just as a woman can never achieve actual dignity or enlightenment from an illicit lover, the residents of Vṛndāvana will never be happy by neglecting the real source of their prosperity and worshiping Indra instead. According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, the audacity that child Kṛṣṇa displayed before His father and other elders should be understood as an exhibition of transcendental anger aroused when He saw His eternal devotees worshiping an insignificant demigod.
FAQs
In this verse, Krishna teaches that abandoning one’s rightful occupation and living by dependence on another does not bring kṣema—real security and well-being.
Krishna was guiding the cowherds toward steady dharma—encouraging them to remain grounded in their proper duties and not be swayed into insecure dependence, in the context of redirecting their worship and priorities.
Do honest work aligned with your responsibilities and skills, avoid unhealthy dependence, and seek stability through integrity—because real “security” comes from dharmic living, not opportunistic support.