Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 10

Govardhana-dhāraṇa: Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana and Humbles Indra

Devanagari script

स्थूणास्थूला वर्षधारा मुञ्चत्स्वभ्रेष्वभीक्ष्णश: । जलौघै: प्लाव्यमाना भूर्नाद‍ृश्यत नतोन्नतम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

sthūṇā-sthūlā varṣa-dhārā muñcatsv abhreṣv abhīkṣṇaśaḥ jalaughaiḥ plāvyamānā bhūr nādṛśyata natonnatam

Translation

Mây đổ mưa như những cột nước dày đặc không ngừng. Dòng lũ nhấn chìm mặt đất, khiến không còn phân biệt được chỗ cao hay chỗ thấp.

Synonyms

• स्थूणा: pillar-like
• स्थूणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying वर्षधारा

• अस्थूला: not thick (i.e., thin)
• अस्थूला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); negative prefix अ-; adjective qualifying वर्षधारा

• वर्ष-धारा: stream(s) of rain
• वर्ष-धारा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + धारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वर्षस्य धारा

• मुञ्चत्: pouring forth
• मुञ्चत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Parasmaipada; Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन) agreeing with वर्षधारा

• स्वभ्रेषु: in the clouds
• स्वभ्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी) Plural (बहुवचन)

• अभीक्ष्णशः: repeatedly, incessantly
• अभीक्ष्णशः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभीक्ष्णशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• जल-ओघैः: by torrents of water
• जल-ओघैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: जलस्य ओघः

• प्लाव्यमाना: being flooded
• प्लाव्यमाना: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्लु (धातु)
• Form: Present passive participle (वर्तमान कर्मणि कृदन्त/शानच्), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन) agreeing with भूः

• भूः: the earth/ground
• भूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध अव्यय)

• अदृश्यत: was visible/was seen
• अदृश्यत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada; passive/intransitive sense: ‘was seen/appeared’

• नत-उन्नतम्: the low and the high (unevenness)
• नत-उन्नतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत (प्रातिपदिक) + उन्नत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); द्वन्द्व (इतरेतर): नतं च उन्नतं च; used as object/complement of visibility

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Indra's rain during the Govardhana pastime?

This verse describes the rain as pillar-thick torrents falling again and again, creating floods so vast that the land’s elevations and depressions could no longer be distinguished.

Why is the rain described as making the earth’s high and low places invisible?

Śukadeva emphasizes the overwhelming force of the deluge—water covered everything so completely that the natural contours of the ground disappeared, highlighting the danger faced by Vraja before Krishna’s protection.

Practical application of Krishna’s protection theme in modern life?

When circumstances feel like an unstoppable “flood,” the Govardhana narrative teaches taking shelter of the Lord with steadiness and faith, rather than panic—trusting divine protection while doing one’s duty.