Chapter 25 - Lifting up of Mount Govardhana

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Introductory:

The hill called ‘mountain Govardhana’ is 18 miles from Vṛndāvana, in Mathura district. In the village “Paitho”, Kṛṣṇa is believed to have held up the mountain on his little finger. This episode is narrated in Viṣṇu Purāṇa. 5 ch. ii and in HV. 2 ch. 18, the latter seems to be an enlarged version. The common verses and repetition of similar expressions in these three works indicate that these three works have used a common traditional bardic source.

Nīlakaṇṭha in his com. on HV. 2. 18 quotes the following Ṛc.:

tamasya rājā varuṇas tam aśvinau /
kratuṃ sacanta mārutasya vedhasaḥ //
dādhāra dakṣam uttamam aharvidam /
vrajaṃ ca viṣṇuḥ sakhivā aporṇute //
  —Ṛg Veda Saṃhitā 1.156.4 (also Ait. Br. 1.30 and Kauṣītaki Br. 9.6)

Aundh Ed. of Ṛg Veda Saṃhitā. reads Aśvinā for Aśvinau. Nīlakaṇṭha interprets:

“Varuṇa and the twin Aśvinikumāras gave their consent to the sacrifice offered to the mountain (Govardhana) at his behest by Viṣṇu. When Indra got angry at the destruction of the sacrifice to be offered to him, to the Wind god and god Brahmā, Viṣṇu held up the mountain that was the recipient of the sacrifice but was capable of offering excellent protection from showers. A friend of all the inhabitants of Vraja as he was, he covered the Vraja with the mountain.”

Śrī Śuka said:

1. Then perceiving that his worship had been stopped, Indra got enraged upon the cowherds headed by Nanda who regarded Kṛṣṇa as their Protector.

2. Being incensed, Indra directed the host of clouds called Saṃvartaka which bring about the destruction of the universe. Priding himself as the Supreme Ruler of the Universe he commanded:

3. “Oh! Look at the astounding audacity and arrogance due to wealth and prosperity of those cowherds who are after all forest-dwellers, but depending on a mortal (called) Kṛṣṇa, have set at nought a deity.

4. Giving up the path of knowledge involving the meditation of the Self or self-realization, they expect to cross the ocean of Saṃsāra or worldly existence with the help of the so-called unreliable boats in the form of sacrifices consisting of rituals.

5.^[1] Similarly, taking resort to that garrulous, foolish, arrogant, ignorant mortal Kṛṣṇa who (out of pedantry) regards himself as a great scholar, the cowherds have dared to offend me.

6. Shatter down (lit. shake off) the arrogance of affluence of the cowherds who are puffed with pride of wealth and prosperity and have their minds filled with insolence through the influence of Kṛṣṇa. Destroy all of their cattle.”

7.^[2] With a view to annihilate the camp (the cattlewealth) of Nanda, I shall follow you riding my elephant Airāvata and accompanied with the troop of maruts of enormous prowess.”

Śrī Śuka said:

8. Thus commanded and freed (from their bonds) by Indra, the (saṃvarta) clouds vehemently harassed Nanda’s Gokula with heavy showers.

9. Dazzling with flashes of lightning and thundering with the roar of thunderbolts and impelled by tempestuous winds, they showered hail-stones.

10. When the clouds let loose incessant downpour of showers as big as columns (in volume), the earth was inundated with torrential floods of water, and the elevations and the depressions of the ground became invisible.

11. The cattle which were shivering (with cold) under excessively driving showers and tempestuous winds, and the cowherds and their women who were afflicted with severe cold, sought refuge in Lord Kṛṣṇa.

12. Covering their heads and their children (and calves) with their bodies and acutely suffering from the torrential downpour, they approached shivering, to the feet of the Lord.

13. “Oh Kṛṣṇa! Oh highly glorious Kṛṣṇa! The whole of Gokula has none else but you as its protector, Oh Lord! You are affectionate to your devotees. It behoves you to protect us from the enraged divinity (Indra)”.

14. Observing that due to the beating of the volley of the hail-stones, the Gokula had fallen senseless, the glorious Lord Hari came to know that it was the working of indignant Indra.

15. “As the sacrifice to be offered to him has been obstructed by us, Indra is pouring down for our destruction tremendously heavy showers full of hail-stones, accompanied by terrific stormy winds, out of season.

16. Now I shall employ an effective counter-measure through my yogic power and remove the tamas (darkness) in the form of the arrogance of affluence of the divinities who, through their foolishness, regard themselves as the supreme ruler of the world.

17. It is not desirable that celestials, who are endowed with the quality of Sattva (goodness) or devotion to me to a special degree, should be puffed up with the vain pride of being the (Supreme) ruler of the world. The humiliation of these wicked divinities at my hand will work as Grace unto them.^[3]

18. With all the yogic power at my command, I will, therefore, protect this Gokula which has sought shelter in me and has accepted me as their Master and which now entirely depends on me. This is the eternal vow taken by me.”

19. Observing thus (to himself), Kṛṣṇa, though a child, uprooted with ease the mount Govardhana withone of his hands^[4] and held it up sportively as if it were a mushroom.

20. And quoth the glorious Lord to cowherds “Oh mother! Oh father! Oh residents ofVraja. Enter comfortably into the cavity beneath the mountain along with your wealth of cattle.

21. You need not entertain any fear that the mountain will slip down from my hand. Dispel all the fear about storms or (driving) showers, for protection (against them) has been already securely devised.”

22. With their minds thus reassured by Kṛṣṇa, they entered into the cavity (beneath Govardhana) along with their wealth, herds of cattle, their dependants (like priests etc.) food-grains etc. according to the accommodation (which was sufficiently available).

23. Being gazed at by those inhabitants of Vraja who disregarded their pangs of hunger and thirst and thus neglected their personal comforts, Kṛṣṇa up-held the mountain for seven days and did not move from his position.

24. Observing the yogic power of Kṛṣṇa, Indra was extremely astounded. Being shorn of pride and thwarted of his design, he restrained his saṃvartaka clouds.

25. Noticing the sky cleared of clouds, the sun already risen and the terrific tempestuous winds and the downpour of hails had ceased altogether, Kṛṣṇa, the bearer of Govardhana, told the cowherds.

26. “Oh cowherds! Now that the stormy winds and showers have stopped and the waters of the flooded rivers have almost receded, you dismiss all your apprehension and go out into the open with your women, children and property (cattle)

27. Taking with them their respective wealth (viz. herds of cattle) and all the cart-loads of their belongings, the cowherds slowly came out (of the cavity) along with their wives, children and elders.

28. The glorious Lord on his part sportfully placed the mountain on its previous position while all beings stood a-gazing.

29. Overflowing with a flood of affection the inhabitants of Vraja approached him embracing (blessing, smelling the crown of his head and doing such acts expressive of love), according to their position and relations. The cowherd women overwhelmed with affection and joy worshipped him with curds and unbroken rice (akṣatas)^[5] and expressed their choicest blessings profusely (out of grateful affection and not out of a sense of seniority as they knew his divine nature).

30. Yaśodā, Rohiṇī, Nanda and Balarāma, the mighty among the mightiest, were overwhelmed with affection and impatience and embracing Kṛṣṇa, they showered him with benedictions.

31. In the heavens, hosts of celestials, Sādhyas, Siddhas, Gandharvas and Cāraṇas sang his glory and out of joy showered flowers on him, Oh king.

32. Commanded by the celestials, conchs and kettledrums were sounded in the sky and leaders of Gandharvas (celestial artistes) headed by Tumbaru participated in singing.

33. Oh king! Surrounded by his affectionate cowherdfriends and accompanied by Balarāma, Kṛṣṇa proceeded to Gokula from that place. And young cowherd women, delighted at heart, returned to their respective homes singing all the while such miraculous exploits of Kṛṣṇa (like lifting up of Govardhana) who has captivated their hearts.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

VT.—tries to explain the implied glorification of Kṛṣṇa e.g. vācālam—whose word is effective or powerful. Paṇḍita-māninaṃ—respected by persons who are paṇḍitas or knowers of Brahman.

Padaratnāvalī Kṛṣṇa who is vācāla i.e. speaks what is censured by the scriptures and who regards himself as an authority (Panditamāninam).

[2]:

Cf. Viṣṇu Purāṇa. 5.11.5 and HV. 2.18.5

[3]:

(i) anugraha eva—Bhāvāratha Dīpikā

(ii) Will lead to deeper devotion to me—Padaratnāvalī

[4]:

with left hand—VT. He quotes HV 2.18.31.

sa dhṛtaḥ saṅgato meghair giriḥ savyena pāṇinā

VT.’s graphic description and dramatic narration of this episode deserves perusal in the original.

[5]:

Subodhinī: The cowherd women made a circular mark of curds on his forehead on which some unbroken rice were applied and water was waved round his face and sipped.