Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 4

Govardhana-dhāraṇa: Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana and Humbles Indra

यथाद‍ृढै: कर्ममयै: क्रतुभिर्नामनौनिभै: । विद्यामान्वीक्षिकीं हित्वा तितीर्षन्ति भवार्णवम् ॥ ४ ॥

yathādṛḍhaiḥ karma-mayaiḥ kratubhir nāma-nau-nibhaiḥ vidyām ānvīkṣikīṁ hitvā titīrṣanti bhavārṇavam

ان کا کرشن کی پناہ لینا ایسا ہے جیسے نادان لوگ آتما-گیان کی ماورائی ودیا چھوڑ کر کرمکاندی یَجْن کی جھوٹی کشتیوں سے بھَو ساگر پار کرنا چاہیں۔

yathājust as
yathā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (conjunction/adverb), यथा-प्रकारम्
adṛḍhaiḥwith unsteady (means)
adṛḍhaiḥ:
Karana (करण)
TypeAdjective
Roota- (उपसर्ग/नञ्) + dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; नञ्-समास (not firm)
karma-mayaiḥconsisting of ritual acts
karma-mayaiḥ:
Karana (करण; kratubhiḥ विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkarma (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘कर्ममय’ = consisting of ritual action)
kratubhiḥby sacrifices
kratubhiḥ:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootkratu (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन
nāma-nau-nibhaiḥlike a boat only in name
nāma-nau-nibhaiḥ:
Karana (करण; kratubhiḥ विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootnāma (प्रातिपदिक) + nau (प्रातिपदिक) + nibha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘नाम-मात्र-नौ-निभ’ = like a boat only in name)
vidyāmknowledge
vidyām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन
ānvīkṣikīmphilosophical/investigative (logic-based)
ānvīkṣikīm:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootānvīkṣikī (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (vidyām)
hitvāhaving given up
hitvā:
Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√hā (धातु) + -tvā (क्त्वा)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having abandoned’
titīrṣantiwish to cross
titīrṣanti:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√tṝ (धातु) + desiderative (सन्)
Formलट् (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; सन्नन्त (desiderative) ‘wish to cross’
bhava-arṇavamthe ocean of material existence
bhava-arṇavam:
Karma (कर्म; गन्तव्य/विषय)
TypeNoun
Rootbhava (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘भवस्य अर्णवः’ = ocean of worldly existence)

FAQs

This verse critiques rigid, fruitive sacrifices as insufficient for crossing saṁsāra, comparing them to “name-only boats,” and points toward genuine wisdom (and, in the Bhagavatam’s larger thrust, devotion) as the real means.

In the Govardhana narrative, the Bhagavatam contrasts dependence on ritualistic karma with taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa; the verse highlights that mere formal rites cannot grant true deliverance without deeper spiritual understanding.

Don’t rely only on external religiosity or labels; cultivate real understanding through study, reflection, and sincere devotion, aiming for inner transformation rather than ritual as an end in itself.