Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.21.18
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesGovardhana Honors the Lord Through Practical Service
“Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this hill supplies Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, along with Their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all kinds of necessities — water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respects to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.”
What the purport teaches
- The gopīs praise Govardhana Hill as the best of devotees. He becomes jubilant at the touch of Kṛṣṇa’s and Balarāma’s lotus feet.
- Govardhana supplies fragrant, cool water and nourishing grass for the cows. His service supports Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma, Their friends and Their herds.
- His caves provide places to play, sit and rest, with shelter from heat, cold and rain. Fruits, roots and other natural gifts become offerings of respect to the Lord.
Try this today
Provide drinking water or a comfortable place to sit for someone serving Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
How can practical care become an expression of my devotion to Kṛṣṇa?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.