Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

इत्यद्रिगोद्विजमखं वासुदेवप्रचोदिता: । यथा विधाय ते गोपा सहकृष्णा व्रजं ययु: ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

ity adri-go-dvija-makhaṁ vāsudeva-pracoditāḥ yathā vidhāya te gopā saha-kṛṣṇā vrajaṁ yayuḥ

Translation

ดังนั้นเหล่าโคบาลผู้ได้รับแรงบันดาลใจจากพระวาสุเทวะ จึงประกอบยัญบูชาแด่ภูเขาโควรรธนะ แด่วัวและพราหมณ์ตามพิธี แล้วกลับสู่วรชพร้อมพระศรีกฤษณะ

Synonyms

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/quotative), वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक

• adri-go-dvija-makham: the sacrifice for the mountain, cows, and brāhmaṇas
• adri-go-dvija-makham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adri (प्रातिपदिक) + go (प्रातिपदिक) + dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + makha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (adri+go+dvija) + makha (यज्ञ) इति समस्तपदम्

• vāsudeva-pracoditāḥ: urged by Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
• vāsudeva-pracoditāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक) + pra√cud (धातु) + -ita (कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/क्तवत्-प्रायः ‘-ita’), ‘वासुदेवेन प्रचोदिताः’ इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुष

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/adverb), यथावत्/यथा-प्रकारम्

• vidhāya: having performed/arranged
• vidhāya: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√dhā (धातु) + -ya (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having arranged/performed’

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• gopāḥ: the cowherds
• gopāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• saha-kṛṣṇāḥ: together with Kṛṣṇa
• saha-kṛṣṇāḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saha (अव्यय) + kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव (‘कृष्णेन सह’ = with Kṛṣṇa)

• vrajam: to Vraja
• vrajam: Karma (कर्म; गन्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vraja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• yayuḥ: they went
• yayuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Purport

Although the Govardhana-pūjā was performed in a blissful and successful way, the matter was hardly finished. Lord Indra is, after all, tremendously powerful, and he received the news of the Govardhana sacrifice with burning anger. What ensued will be described in the following chapter.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva)
• Gopas (cowherd men of Vraja)
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Govardhana Puja in Canto 10 Chapter 24?

It states that, following Kṛṣṇa’s inspiration, the Vraja cowherds properly performed worship centered on Govardhana, the cows, and the brāhmaṇas, and then returned to Vraja with Kṛṣṇa.

Why did Krishna inspire the gopas to perform the sacrifice for Govardhana, cows, and brāhmaṇas?

In this narrative sequence, Kṛṣṇa redirects ritual focus toward gratitude, dharma, and devotion expressed through honoring Govardhana, protecting cows, and serving brāhmaṇas—preparing the stage for His protection of Vraja.

Practical application of Govardhana Puja teachings in modern life?

Practice devotion through tangible gratitude: honor nature, care for animals (especially cows in the Vedic ethos), respect spiritual learning, and perform worship or service in a disciplined, sincere way.