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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 25: Lord Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana Hill
10.25.1810.25.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.25.19

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 10.25.15inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इत्युक्त्वैकेन हस्तेन कृत्वा गोवर्धनाचलम् । दधार लीलया विष्णुश्छत्राकमिव बालक: ॥ १९ ॥

ity uktvaikena hastena

kṛtvā govardhanācalam

dadhāra līlayā viṣṇuś

chatrākam iva bālakaḥ

Translation

Having said this, Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is Viṣṇu Himself, picked up Govardhana Hill with one hand and held it aloft just as easily as a child holds up a mushroom.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

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.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana With Ease

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is Viṣṇu Himself, lifted Govardhana Hill with one hand as easily as a child holds a mushroom.

  2. 2

    The purport confirms that He lifted the cloud-touching mountain with His left hand.

  3. 3

    Saṁhārikī, a partial expansion of His Yoga-māyā potency, temporarily removed the rain from the sky. As Kṛṣṇa ran from His porch to the hill, His turban and garments remained dry.

Key points from the purport
  • It is confirmed in the Hari-vaṁśa that Śrī Kṛṣṇa picked up the Govardhana Mountain with His left hand: sa dhṛtaḥ saṅgato meghair giriḥ savyena pāṇinā.
  • According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, when Lord Kṛṣṇa was preparing to lift Govardhana Hill, a partial expansion of His Yoga-māyā potency named Saṁhārikī temporarily removed all the rain from the sky so that as He ran very swiftly from the porch of His house to the mountain, neither His turban nor other garments became wet.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Attraction and threat → Joy and trust. The pastoral world becomes the setting for protection and love.

Chapters 20–28 of Canto 10: Forest seasons, flute and Govardhana. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 25: Lord Kṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana Hill

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Understanding that this trouble was the work of Indra, Kṛṣṇa decided to smash to pieces Indra’s false prestige, and thus He lifted Govardhana Hill with one hand. He then invited the entire cowherd community to take shelter in the dry space beneath the mountain.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.25
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itithus
  2. uktvāhaving spoken
  3. ekenawith one
  4. hastenahand
  5. kṛtvātaking
  6. govardhana-acalamGovardhana Hill
  7. dadhāraHe held it
  8. līlayāvery easily
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.25

    In this verse: “child”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Kṛṣṇa’s effortless lifting of Govardhana teach me about His power?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once today, reflecting on Kṛṣṇa’s effortless divine power.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Lifts Govardhana With EaseThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 10.25.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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