Shloka 15
Govardhana-pūjā: Kṛṣṇa Redirects Indra-yajña to Worship of Govardhana, Cows, and Brāhmaṇas
किमिन्द्रेणेह भूतानां स्वस्वकर्मानुवर्तिनाम् । अनीशेनान्यथा कर्तुं स्वभावविहितं नृणाम् ॥ १५ ॥
kim indreṇeha bhūtānāṁ sva-sva-karmānuvartinām anīśenānyathā kartuṁ svabhāva-vihitaṁ nṛṇām
Chúng sinh ở đời này phải chịu quả theo nghiệp riêng của mình. Indra không thể đổi thay số phận của con người vốn do bản tánh định sẵn; vậy cớ sao người ta phải thờ phụng ông?
Lord Kṛṣṇa’s argument here is not a negation of free will. If one accepts the existence of karma as a system of laws awarding reactions for our present activities, then we ourselves, according to our nature, will decide our future. Our happiness and distress in this life have already been adjudicated and fixed according to our previous activities, and not even the demigods can change that. They must award us the prosperity or poverty, sickness or health, happiness or distress due us by our previous work. However, we still retain the freedom to select a pious or impious mode of activity in this life, and the choice we make will determine our future suffering and enjoyment.
FAQs
This verse teaches that beings experience the results of their own actions and nature; Indra is not the supreme controller who can override that—thus devotion should be directed beyond demigod dependency.
In the context of the planned Indra-yajña, Krishna redirected their faith toward dharma appropriate to their life in Vraja—honoring Govardhana and their natural duties—preparing the ground for the Govardhana-līlā.
Do your rightful duties sincerely and cultivate devotion to the Supreme, rather than relying on external authorities for outcomes; accept results as shaped by karma and character while staying steady in bhakti.