Shloka 21

Govardhana-pūjā: Kṛṣṇa Redirects Indra-yajña to Worship of Govardhana, Cows, and Brāhmaṇas

Devanagari script

कृषिवाणिज्यगोरक्षा कुसीदं तूर्यमुच्यते । वार्ता चतुर्विधा तत्र वयं गोवृत्तयोऽनिशम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

kṛṣi-vāṇijya-go-rakṣā kusīdaṁ tūryam ucyate vārtā catur-vidhā tatra vayaṁ go-vṛttayo ’niśam

Translation

หน้าที่อาชีพของไวศยะมีสี่ประการ คือ เกษตรกรรม การค้า การคุ้มครองโค และการให้กู้ยืมเงินมีดอกเบี้ย ในบรรดานั้น พวกเราดำรงอยู่ด้วยการคุ้มครองโคอยู่เสมอ

Synonyms

• कृषिवाणिज्यगोरक्षा: farming, trade, and cow-protection
• कृषिवाणिज्यगोरक्षा: Karta/Pratipādya (प्रथमा/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृषि (प्रातिपदिक) + वाणिज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गो (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुसीदम्: moneylending; usury
• कुसीदम्: Karta/Pratipādya (प्रथमा/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसीद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तू: indeed; and
• तू: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis/contrast)

• ईर्यम्: the fourth
• ईर्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (tūryam = ‘the fourth’)

• उच्यते: is said/called
• उच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive/कर्मणि), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• वार्ता: vārttā (means of livelihood: agriculture etc.)
• वार्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चतुर्विधा: fourfold
• चतुर्विधा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (चतुर्णां विधा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तत्र: there; in that context
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: there/in that)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• गोवृत्तयः: those whose livelihood is cows; cowherds
• गोवृत्तयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गवां वृत्तिः/वृत्तयः); पुंलिङ्ग (वृत्तिन्-आधार), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अनिशम्: constantly
• अनिशम्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनिशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: always)

Characters & Entities

• Krishna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about cow protection (go-raksha)?

In this verse, Kṛṣṇa identifies go-rakṣā (protecting and tending cows) as a central, continuous livelihood of the Vraja community, highlighting it as a dharmic and natural occupation for the cowherds.

Why did Krishna speak about agriculture, trade, and moneylending to the Vrajavasis?

Kṛṣṇa explains the recognized fourfold economic occupations (vārtā) to clarify that Vraja’s true duty is cowherding and cow protection—setting the stage for redirecting their worship toward Govardhana and their own prescribed way of life rather than Indra-centered rites.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Align work with dharma: choose honest livelihoods, avoid exploitative practices, and support cow care and sustainable living—offering one’s occupation as service to Bhagavān.