rule



 

 
     Canto 10

Krishna Murâri

 

 

Chapter 25: Lord Krishna Lifts Govardhana Hill*

(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'Indra, who realized that the worship of his person had been rejected, oh King, thereupon got angry with the gopas headed by Nanda, who had accepted Krishna as their Lord. (2) In order to put an end to it all, clouds were sent forth by Indra that carried the name Sâmvartaka. Deeming himself the supreme controller he enraged spoke the words: (3) 'Just see how enormously bewildered about their wealth these forest dwelling cowherds are. Having taken shelter of a mortal being like Krishna, they have committed an offense against the gods! (4) They abandoned the spiritual knowledge and try to get across the ocean of material existence by performing ritual sacrifices that, profit-oriented, are inadequate to pass as boats [for that ocean]. (5) By taking shelter of Krishna, this prattling, arrogant child, ignorantly thinking Himself to be the wisest, the gopas have acted to my displeasure. (6) Bring [oh clouds] destruction to their animals and put an end to their arrogance, because they, proud and foolish because of Krishna and their wealth, are full of conceit. (7) Riding my elephant Airâvata, I shall also come to Vraja. Accompanied by the wind gods I, moving hither with great power, will wipe out Nanda's cowherd community [see e.g. also 6.11 & 12].'

(8) S'rî S'uka said: 'The clouds thus on the command of Indra being released from their positions, with all their power tormented Nanda's cowherd village with a massive downpour of rain. (9) Propelled by the wind gods they, illumined by lightening bolts and roaring with thunder, showered down hailstones. (10) With the rain incessantly pouring down from the clouds in curtains, the higher and lower parts of the earth submerged by the flood of water, could no longer be discerned. (11) The gopas and gopîs, plagued by the abundance of rain and excessive wind, shivering from the cold, together with their cattle went to Govinda for shelter. (12) Covering their heads and protecting their children with their bodies they, tormented by the rains, quivering approached the basis of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead: (13) Krishna, oh Krishna, oh Greatest Fortune. You are Your own master, oh Lord, please protect the cow community against the godhead [Indra] who is angry with us, oh Protector of the Devotees [see also 10.8: 16]!'

(14) The Supreme Lord Hari seeing them witless under the attack of the hail, the rain and the extreme winds, considered the anger of Indra responsible for this: (15) [He thought:] 'Because I rejected Indra's sacrifice he, bent on destruction, is flooding us now with these unusual out-of-season fierce rains and great winds full of hailstones. (16) To counteract that properly I will, by the power of My yoga, arrange for the defeat of the pride and ignorance of all those who, with their wealth, are as foolish to consider themselves falsely Lord and Master over the world. (17) Of the demigods who, as controlling lords being falsely identified, are certainly not moved by goodness, I eradicate the false pride in order to pacify them [see also B.G. 14: 14]. (18) The cowherd community that has taken shelter of Me as their master, is My family. Therefore I will protect them with My mystic power. That is the vow I have taken [see also B.G. 9: 22].'
 
(19) Having said this [to Himself this incarnation of] Vishnu took up with one hand [His left one] Govardhana hill and held it high as easily as a child holding a mushroom. (20) The Supreme Lord then said to the gopas: 'Oh mother, oh father, oh residents of Vraja, please come, together with your cows, to the free space below this hill. (21) Do not be afraid that, because of the wind and the rain, the mountain would fall from My hand. You have feared enough, and in order to deliver you therefrom, I have provided [this solution] for you.'

(22) With their minds thus being pacified by Krishna, they entered the space underneath the mountain where they found ample room for their cows, wagons and everyone belonging to them. (23) Putting aside pain, hunger, thirst and all considerations of personal comfort, He before the eyes of the residents of Vraja held up the mountain for seven days without moving from His place. (24) When Indra saw the result of Krishna's mystic power, he most amazed, bereft of his pride and broken in his determination, called back his clouds. (25) With the sky free from clouds and the sun visible again, now that the fierce wind and rain had ended, the Lifter of Govardhana Hill said to the cowherds: (26) 'Please leave this place, together with your property, women and children. Give up your fear, dear gopas, the wind and rain have ceased, and the water in the rivers is low again.'

(27) The gopas each took their personal cows and left, with their belongings loaded on the wagons and the women, children and old people slowly following. (28) And while all the living beings were looking on, the Supreme Almighty Lord easily put down the hill back where it stood before. (29) The residents of Vraja, overwhelmed by the pure love they felt for Him, came forward with embraces and so on, each expressing his personal relationship with Him. The gopîs joyfully with great affection showered their fine blessings and respected Him with presentations of yogurt, whole grains and water. (30) Yas'odâ, Rohinî, Nanda and Balarâma, the Greatest of the Strongest, embraced Krishna and full of affection eagerly all offered Him their blessings. (31) In heaven all the demigods - the perfected souls, the saints, the heavenly singers and the venerable souls - sang the Lord's praises and showered satisfied a rain of flowers, oh earthly ruler. (32) They sounded conch shells and played kettledrums in their abode, while the leading Gandharvas headed by Tumburu sang, oh ruler of men. (33) Oh King, Krishna together with Balarâma, surrounded by the loving animal tenders, thereupon left for the place where they were grazing their animals. The gopîs also went away singing about the glories of His heroic deeds, happy as they were with Him who had touched their hearts.'

 

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 Third revised edition, loaded September 26, 2020.

 

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

S'rî S'uka said: 'Indra, who realized that the worship of his person had been rejected, oh King, thereupon got angry with the gopas headed by Nanda, who had accepted Krishna as their Lord.
S'rî S'uka said: 'Indra then who realized that the worship of his person had been rejected, o King, got angry with the gopas lead by Nanda who had taken to Krishna as their Lord.. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

In order to put an end to it all, clouds were sent forth by Indra that carried the name Sâmvartaka. Deeming himself the supreme controller he enraged spoke the words:

Clouds carrying the name Sâmvartaka to put an end to it all were sent forth by Indra who thereto falsely deeming himself the supreme controller enraged spoke the words: (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

'Just see how enormously bewildered about their wealth these forest dwelling cowherds are. Having taken shelter of a mortal being like Krishna, they have committed an offense against the gods!

'Just see the great extend of the bewilderment of these forest dwelling cowherds in relation to their wealth; they, having taken shelter of a mortal like Krishna, have committed an offense against the gods! (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

They abandoned the spiritual knowledge and try to get across the ocean of material existence by performing ritual sacrifices that, profit-oriented, are inadequate to pass as boats [for that ocean].

Abandoning the spiritual knowledge they try to cross over the ocean of material existence in the name only of profit-motivated ritual sacrifices, sacrifices that are inadequate to serve them as boats on that ocean. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

By taking shelter of Krishna, this prattling, arrogant child, ignorantly thinking Himself to be the wisest, the gopas have acted to my displeasure.

Taking shelter of Krishna, this prattling, arrogant child ignorantly thinking Himself to be the wisest, have the gopas acted in dislike against me. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

Bring [oh clouds] destruction to their animals and put an end to their arrogance, because they, proud and foolish because of Krishna and their wealth, are full of conceit.

Bring them and their animals to destruction whose hearts, barred by Krishna, are intoxicated by their welfare and may the false pride of they who are mad of their riches be removed. (Vedabase)

   

Text 7

Riding my elephant Airâvata, I shall also come to Vraja. Accompanied by the wind gods I, moving hither with great power, will wipe out Nanda's cowherd community [see e.g. also 6.11 & 12].'

I also will, riding my elephant Airâvata, follow along to Vraja accompanied by the wind-gods, moving there with great power with the purpose of destroying Nanda's cowherd community [see e.g. also: 6.11 & 12].' (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

S'rî S'uka said: 'The clouds thus on the command of Indra being released from their positions, with all their power tormented Nanda's cowherd village with a massive downpour of rain.

S'rî S'uka said: 'The clouds thus commanded by Indra did, released from their bonds, with all their power torment Nanda's cowherd village with great downpours of rain. (Vedabase)

  

Text 9

Propelled by the wind gods they, illumined by lightening bolts and roaring with thunder, showered down hailstones.

Illuminated by bolts of lightening, roaring with thunder gave they, propelled by the wind-gods, a fearsome downpour of hailstones. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 10

With the rain incessantly pouring down from the clouds in curtains, the higher and lower parts of the earth submerged by the flood of water, could no longer be discerned.

As the rain released by the clouds incessantly poured down in vast columns, could the high and low of the earth being submerged no longer be seen. (Vedabase)

   

Text 11

The gopas and gopîs, plagued by the abundance of rain and excessive wind, shivering from the cold, together with their cattle went to Govinda for shelter.

Plagued by the abundance of rain and excessive wind went the gopas and gopîs shivering of the cold to Govinda for their shelter. (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

Covering their heads and protecting their children with their bodies they, tormented by the rains, quivering approached the basis of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead:

Covering their heads and covering their children with their bodies approached they, pained by the rains, trembling the base of the Supreme Personality of Godhead His lotus feet: (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

Krishna oh Krishna, oh Greatest Fortune. You are Your own master, oh Lord, please protect the cow community against the godhead [Indra] who is angry with us, oh Protector of the Devotees [see also 10.8: 16]!'

'Krishna, o Krishna, o Greatest Fortune, You are Your own master, o Lord, please protect the cow community against Indra being angry with us, o Protector of the Devotees [see also 10.8: 16].' (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

The Supreme Lord Hari seeing them witless under the attack of the hail, the rain and the extreme winds, considered the anger of Indra responsible for this.

 Seeing them out of their wits under the attack of the hail, the rain and the extreme winds, considered the Supreme Lord Hari the anger of Indra to be responsible for this: (Vedabase)

  

Text 15

[He thought:] 'Because I rejected Indra's sacrifice he, bent on destruction, is flooding us now with these unusual out-of-season fierce rains and great winds full of hailstones.

'Because I rejected his sacrifice is Indra flooding for destruction with these unusually fierce out-of-season rains and great winds full of hailstones. (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

To counteract that properly I will, by the power of My yoga, arrange for the defeat of the pride and ignorance of all those who, with their wealth, are as foolish to consider themselves falsely Lord and Master over the world.

To counteract that properly shall I by My yogic power arrange for the defeat of the pride-of-wealth and the ignorance of those who are as foolish as to consider themselves falsely the Lord of the World. (Vedabase)


Text 17

Of the demigods who, as controlling lords being falsely identified, are certainly not moved by goodness, I eradicate the false pride in order to pacify them [see also B.G. 14: 14].

My eradicating the impure of the false prestige of those who consider themselves the Controller is certainly not intended for those enlightened beings who are endowed with goodness, it is intended for their relief [see also B.G. 14: 14]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

The cowherd community that has taken shelter of Me as their master, is My family. Therefore I will protect them with My mystic power. That is the vow I have taken [see also B.G. 9: 22].'

It is therefore to Me to protect by My yogic power My own family, the cowherd community that took shelter with Me as their master; this is the vow I have taken [see also B.G. 9: 22].' (Vedabase)


Text 19

Having said this [to Himself this incarnation of] Vishnu took up with one hand [His left one] Govardhana hill and held it high as easily as a child holding a mushroom.

Thus having spoken took He, Vishnu, with one hand [His left one] Govardhana hill and held it up as easy as a child does a mushroom. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

The Supreme Lord then said to the gopas: 'Oh mother, oh father, oh residents of Vraja, please come, together with your cows, to the free space below this hill.

The Supreme Lord said then to the gopas: 'O mother, o father, o residents of Vraja, please enter, if you want, with your cows the free space below this hill. (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

Do not be afraid that, because of the wind and the rain, the mountain would fall from My hand. You have feared enough, and in order to deliver you therefrom, I have provided [this solution] for you.'

You shouldn't feel afraid that because of the wind and the rain the mountain would fall from My hand; you suffered enough fear and to deliver you from that have I thus provided for you.'  (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

With their minds thus being pacified by Krishna, they entered the space underneath the mountain where they found ample room for their cows, wagons and everyone belonging to them.

Thus with their minds pacified by Krishna entered they the space under the mountain where they were safe with their cows, wagons and everyone belonging to them. (Vedabase)

 

Text 23

Putting aside pain, hunger, thirst and all considerations of personal comfort, He before the eyes of the residents of Vraja held up the mountain for seven days without moving from His place.

Putting aside the pain of hunger and thirst and all considerations of personal happiness, upheld He before the eyes of the residents of Vraja the mountain for seven days without moving from His place. (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

When Indra saw the result of Krishna's mystic power, he most amazed, bereft of his pride and broken in his determination, called back his clouds.

Seeing the result of Krishna's mystic power was Lord Indra most amazed and stopped he the clouds, broken in his determination and with his false pride brought down.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

With the sky free from clouds and the sun visible again, now that the fierce wind and rain had ended, the Lifter of Govardhana Hill said to the cowherds:

With the sky empty of clouds, the sun risen and the fierce wind and rain laid down, addressed the Lifter of Govardhana the cowherds: (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

'Please leave this place, together with your property, women and children. Give up your fear, dear gopas, the wind and rain have ceased, and the water in the rivers is low again.'

'Please go forth from here together with your property, women and children; see the end of your fear, o gopas, the wind and rains have ceased and the high water is as good as over.'  (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

The gopas each took their personal cows and left, with their belongings loaded on the wagons, and the women, children and old people slowly following.

The gopas, with each taking his own cows, then went out, with their belongings loaded on the wagons and the women, children and old people slowly following. (Vedabase)

 

Text 28

And while all the living beings were looking on, the Supreme Almighty Lord easily put down the hill back where it stood before.

And with all of the living beings looking on put the Supreme Lord Almighty that hill down back where it stood before. (Vedabase)

 

Text 29

The residents of Vraja, overwhelmed by the pure love they felt for Him, came forward with embraces and so on, each expressing his personal relationship with Him. The gopîs joyfully with great affection showered their fine blessings and respected Him with presentations of yogurt, whole grains and water.

The residents of Vraja each to their own position came forward shining with the surge of their pure love they felt for Him while the gopîs joyfully with embraces and all of that showed their great affection, while they with gifts of yogurt, whole grains and water presented Him the best of their blessings. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

Yas'odâ, Rohinî, Nanda and Balarâma, the Greatest of the Strongest, embraced Krishna and full of affection eagerly all offered Him their blessings.

Yas'oda, Rohinî, Nanda and Balarâma, the Greatest of the Strong, beside themselves of love embraced Krishna offering Him all their blessings. (Vedabase)

 

Text 31

In heaven all the demigods - the perfected souls, the saints, the heavenly singers and the venerable souls - sang the Lord's praises and showered satisfied a rain of flowers, oh earthly ruler.

From heaven recited the godly, the perfected, the saints, the heavenly singers and venerable ones the Lord's praises, satisfied showering a rain of flowers, o earthly ruler. (Vedabase)

 

Text 32

They sounded conch shells and played kettledrums in their abode, while the leading Gandharvas headed by Tumburu sang, oh ruler of men.

Resounding conchshells and kettledrums played the demigods in heaven and sang the Gandharvas led by their chief Tumburu, o ruler of men. (Vedabase)

 

Text 33

Oh King, Krishna together with Balarâma, surrounded by the loving animal tenders, thereupon left for the place where they were grazing their animals. The gopîs also went away singing about the glories of His heroic deeds, happy as they were with Him who had touched their hearts.'

O King, then, surrounded by the loving animal tenders, went Krishna together with Balarâma off to where they were grazing their animals and as they went sang the gopîs about all His likewise deeds, happy as they were with Him who had touched their hearts.' (Vedabase)

 

 

 

 


Creative Commons
                License
The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
The picture is titled: 'Krishna Holding Mount Govardhan' ca. 1790. Attributed to Mola Ram (1760-1833).
Source:
Smithsonian Sackler Gallery.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time.

 

 

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