Govardhana-pūjā: Kṛṣṇa Redirects Indra-yajña to Worship of Govardhana, Cows, and Brāhmaṇas
तस्मै नमो व्रजजनै: सह चक्र आत्मनात्मने । अहो पश्यत शैलोऽसौ रूपी नोऽनुग्रहं व्यधात् ॥ ३६ ॥
tasmai namo vraja-janaiḥ saha cakra ātmanātmane aho paśyata śailo ’sau rūpī no ’nugrahaṁ vyadhāt
แล้วพระกฤษณะพร้อมด้วยชาววรชะได้ก้มกราบต่อรูปที่ปรากฏของภูเขาโควรรธนะ ราวกับทรงถวายบังคมแด่พระองค์เอง จากนั้นตรัสว่า “ดูเถิด! ภูเขานี้ปรากฏเป็นรูปกายและประทานพระกรุณาแก่พวกเรา!”
It is clear from this verse that Lord Kṛṣṇa had expanded Himself and was appearing in His normal form among the festival-goers of Vṛndāvana while simultaneously manifesting Himself as the great form of Govardhana Hill. Thus, in His form as a child, Kṛṣṇa led the residents of Vṛndāvana in bowing down to His new incarnation as Govardhana Hill, and to all He pointed out the great mercy bestowed by this divine form of Govardhana. Lord Kṛṣṇa’s amazing transcendental activities were certainly in keeping with the festive atmosphere.
This verse shows the Vraja-vāsīs offering obeisances to Govardhana, recognizing it as connected with the Supreme Self and as a source of divine mercy.
In the Govardhana-pūjā episode, Govardhana is revealed as non-different from Kṛṣṇa’s divine presence; thus they marvel that the hill manifested personally to bless them.
Offer gratitude and worship with humility, recognizing the Lord’s mercy in what sustains life (nature, community, sacred places) and keeping devotion centered on Kṛṣṇa.