Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 12

Govardhana-dhāraṇa: Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana and Humbles Indra

Devanagari script

शिर: सुतांश्च कायेन प्रच्छाद्यासारपीडिता: । वेपमाना भगवत: पादमूलमुपाययु: ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

śiraḥ sutāṁś ca kāyena pracchādyāsāra-pīḍitāḥ vepamānā bhagavataḥ pāda-mūlam upāyayuḥ

Translation

因暴雨之苦而战栗，且以身躯遮护头部与小牛，群牛前来依止至上主的莲花足下。

Synonyms

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• सुतान्: children/sons
• सुतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय अव्यय)

• कायेन: with the body
• कायेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रच्छाद्य: having covered
• प्रच्छाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-छद् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having covered’

• आसार-पीडिताः: tormented by the downpour
• आसार-पीडिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसार (प्रातिपदिक) + पीडित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: आसारेण पीडिताः (afflicted by the downpour)

• वेपमानाः: trembling
• वेपमानाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेप् (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शानच्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग) Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन)

• भगवतः: of the Lord
• भगवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular (एकवचन)

• पाद-मूलम्: the base of (his) feet
• पाद-मूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: पादस्य मूलम्

• उपाययुः: approached/went near
• उपाययुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-या (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa (Bhagavān)
• Vraja-gopas (cowherd men)
• Vraja-children

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter of Krishna during danger?

In this verse the Vraja residents, struck by the violent rain, tremble and directly approach Bhagavān’s lotus feet—showing that true refuge is surrender to Kṛṣṇa, not merely external protection.

Why did the Vrajavāsīs approach Krishna’s feet in Canto 10 Chapter 25?

Indra’s storm overwhelmed them; unable to stop the calamity by their own strength, they sought Kṛṣṇa as their sole protector, expressing complete dependence (śaraṇāgati).

Practical application of śaraṇāgati (surrender) in modern life?

When overwhelmed, turn first to sincere prayer, remembrance, and devotional practice—seeking guidance and shelter in Kṛṣṇa—while responsibly doing one’s duties, like the Vrajavāsīs who ran to Him for protection.