Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.24.37
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionUnderstanding Kṛṣṇa’s Purpose Behind His Arguments
“This Govardhana Hill, assuming any form he wishes, will kill any residents of the forest who neglect him. Therefore let us pay our obeisances to him for the safety of ourselves and our cows.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa urged the residents to offer obeisances to Govardhana for their own safety and that of their cows. The purport explains that the hill can manifest dangers such as poisonous snakes, wild animals and falling rocks.
- The Lord had presented arguments making karma, conditioned nature, the modes of nature or one’s occupation supreme, and making the Supreme Lord dependent on karma. He did not present these arguments because He believed them.
- His purpose was to stop the sacrifice to Indra and direct it to Himself as Govardhana Hill. He thereby intended to agitate the falsely proud demigod.
Try this today
Write one sentence distinguishing the arguments Kṛṣṇa presented from His actual purpose of directing worship to Himself.
Ask yourself
Why is it important to understand Kṛṣṇa’s purpose rather than take these arguments as His final teaching?
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.