1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 2 · The Cosmic Manifestation · 10 chapters

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.7.32

Who is speaking and story frame

गोपैर्मखे प्रतिहते व्रजविप्लवाय

देवेऽभिवर्षति पशून् कृपया रिरक्षु: ।

धर्तोच्छिलीन्ध्रमिव सप्तदिनानि सप्त-

वर्षो महीध्रमनघैककरे सलीलम् ॥ ३२ ॥

gopair makhe pratihate vraja-viplavāya

deve ’bhivarṣati paśūn kṛpayā rirakṣuḥ

dhartocchilīndhram iva sapta-dināni sapta-

varṣo mahīdhram anaghaika-kare salīlam

Translation

When the cowherd men of Vṛndāvana, under instruction of Kṛṣṇa, stopped offering sacrifice to the heavenly King, Indra, the whole tract of land known as Vraja was threatened with being washed away by constant heavy rains for seven days. Lord Kṛṣṇa, out of His causeless mercy upon the inhabitants of Vraja, held up the hill known as Govardhana with one hand only, although He was only seven years old. He did this to protect the animals from the onslaught of water.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serving Kṛṣṇa Requires No Separate Demigod Worship

  1. 1

    At seven years old, Kṛṣṇa held Govardhana with one hand for seven days. Out of causeless mercy, He protected the inhabitants and animals of Vṛndāvana from Indra's rain.

  2. 2

    The demigods serve as the Lord's controlling deities of material affairs. Those who worship the Supreme Lord directly need not separately worship them or offer them sacrifices.

  3. 3

    This incident proves that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead in all circumstances. His transcendental body is never on the level of an ordinary human body.

Key points from the purport
  • Factually there is no need of offering sacrifices to the demigods for their services if one is engaged in the service of the Supreme Lord.
  • But when the Supreme Lord is worshiped directly there is no need of worshiping the demigods or offering them sacrifices as recommended in particular circumstances.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa therefore advised the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi not to offer any sacrifices to the heavenly King Indra.

Śrīla Prabhupāda'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

Uncertainty → Awe. The scale of reality widens dramatically.

Chapters 4–7 of Canto 2: The creation, cosmic Person and incarnations. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 7: Scheduled Incarnations with Specific Functions

Brahmā recounts the Lord’s incarnations and explains that unalloyed surrender enables one to understand Him.

Back to this verse in chapter 2.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. gopaiḥby the cowherd men
  2. makhein offering a sacrifice to the King of heaven
  3. pratihatebeing hampered
  4. vraja-viplavāyafor devastating the whole existence of Vrajabhūmi, the land of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes
  5. deveby the King of heaven
  6. abhivarṣatihaving poured down heavy rain
  7. paśūnthe animals
  8. kṛpayāby causeless mercy upon them
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “protect”, “protected”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “king”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Kṛṣṇa's protection at Govardhana strengthen your confidence in serving Him directly?

Practice

Take a minute today to remember Kṛṣṇa holding Govardhana and thank Him for His causeless mercy.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Live this todayServing Kṛṣṇa Requires No Separate Demigod WorshipThis 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 2.7.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.