Chapter One Śrī Girirāja-pūjā-vidhi The Worship of Śrī Girirāja

GS 3.1.1

Content

śrī-bahulāśva uvāca kathaṁ dadhāra bhagavān giriṁ govardhanaṁ varam ucchilīndhraṁ yathā bālo hastenaikena līlayā śrī-bahulāśva uvāca—Śrī Bahulāśva said; katham—why?; dadhāra—lifted; bhagavān—the Lord; girim—Hill; govardhanam—Govardhana; varam—best; ucchilīndhram—a mushroom; yathā—as; bālaḥ—achild; hastenaikena—with one hand; līlayā—playfully. Śrī Bahulāśva said: Why did Lord Kṛṣṇa lift Govardhana Hill as a child playfully lifts a mushroom.

GS 3.1.2

IAST

paripūrṇatamasyāsya śrī-kṛṣṇasya mahātmanaḥ vadaitac caritaṁ divyaṁ adbhutaṁ muni-sattama

Synonyms

paripūrṇatamasya—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; asya—of Him; śrī-kṛṣṇasya—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; mahātmanaḥ—the Supreme; vada—please tell; etat—that; caritam—pastime; divyam—transcendental and glorious; adbhutam—wonderful; muni-sattama—O best of sages.

Translation

O best of sages, please tell that wonderful and glorious transcendental pastime of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

GS 3.1.3

Content

śrī-nārada uvāca varṣikaṁ hi karaṁ rājṣe yathā śakrāya vai tathā baliṁ dadu prāvṛd-ante gopāḥ sarve kṛṣīvalaḥ śrī-nārada uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; varṣikam—annual; hi—indeed; karam—tribute; rājṣe—to the king; yathā—as; śakrāya—to Indra; vai—indeed; tathā—so; balim—offering; daduḥ—gave; prāvṛd-ante—at thne end of the monsoon season; gopāḥ—the gopas; sarve—all; kṛṣīvalaḥ—farmers. Śrī Nārada said: As citizens pay an annual tax to their king, so the gopas, farmers all, at the end of each monsoon season offered a tribute to Indra.

GS 3.1.4

IAST

mahendra-yāga-sambhāra- cayaṁ dṛṣṭvaikadā hariḥ nandaṁ papraccha sadasi ballavānāṁ ca śṛṇvatām

Synonyms

mahendra-yāga-sambhāra-cayam—the arrangements for the indra-yajṣa; dṛṣṭva—seeing; ekadā—one day; hariḥ—Kṛṣṇa; nandam—to Nanda; papraccha—asked; sadasi—in the assmbly; ballavānām—of gopas; ca—and; śṛṇvatām—listening.

Translation

Noticing the arrangements for the indra-yajṣ, as the gopas listened, Kṛṣṇa asked a question of King Nanda.

GS 3.1.5

Content

śrī-bhagavān uvāca śakrasya pūjanaṁ hy etat kiṁ phalaṁ cāsya vidyate laukikaṁ vā vadanty etad athavā para-laukikam śrī-bhagavān uvāca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; śakrasya—of Indra; pūjanam—worship; hy—indeed; etat—this; kim—what?; phalam—result; ca—and; asya—of this; vidyate—is; laukikam—of the material world; vā—or; vadanty—say; etat—this; athavā—or; para-laukikam—beyond the material world. The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: What is the result of this worship of Indra? Do they say it brings a material result or a spiritual result?

GS 3.1.6

Content

śrī-nanda uvāca śakrasya pūjanaṁ hy etad bhukti-mukti-karaṁ param etad vinā naro bhūmau jāyate na sukhī kvacit śrī-nandaḥ uvāca—Śrī Nanda said; śakrasya—of Indra; pūjanam—worship; hy—indeed; etat—this; bhukti-mukti-karam—gives sense gratification and liberation; param—further; etat—this; vinā—without; naraḥ—a person; bhūmau—on the earth; jāyate—is born; na—not; sukhī—happi; kvacit—at all. Śrī Nanda said: Worship of Indra brings both sense gratification and liberation. Without it a person cannot be happy in this world.

GS 3.1.7

Content

śrī-bhagavān uvāca śakrādayo deva-gaṇāś ca sarvato bhuṣjanti ye svarga-sukhaṁ sva-karmabhiḥ viśanti te martya-padaṁ śubha-kṣaye tat-sevanaṁ viddhi na mukti-kāraṇam śrī-bhagavān uvāca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; śakrādayaḥ—of Indra; deva-gaṇāś—the demigods; ca—and; sarvataḥ—in all respewcts; bhuṣjanti—enjoy; ye—who; svarga-sukham—heavenly happiness; sva-karmabhiḥ—by their own karma; viśanti—enter; te—they; martya-padam—the world of human beings; śubha—of good karma; kṣaye—on the exhaustion; tat-sevanam—that service; viddhi—know; na—not; mukti-kāraṇam—the cause of liberation. The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Indra and the other demigods enjoy living in Svargaloka because of their past karma. When their good karma is exhausted they again enter the world of humans. Please understand that worshiping them does not bring liberation.

GS 3.1.8

IAST

bhayaṁ bhaved vai parameṣṭhino yato vārtā tu ka kau kila tat-kṛtātmanām tasmāt paraṁ kālam anantam eva hi sarvaṁ baliṣṭhaṁ su-budhā viduḥ pare

Synonyms

bhayam—fear; bhavet—is; vai—indeed; parameṣṭhinaḥ—of Brahmā; yataḥ—because; vārtā—message; tu—indeed; ka—what?; kau—on the earth; kila—indeed; tat-kṛtātmanām—of they who have done that; tasmāt—from that; param—greater; kālam—time; anantam—endless; eva—indeed; hi—indeed; sarvam—all; baliṣṭham—strongest; su-budhā—very wise; viduḥ—know; pare—others.

Translation

Even the demigod Brahmā is afraid of that, so what may be said of fruitive workers on the earth? They are are actually wise say that endless time is the most powerful, the supreme.

GS 3.1.9

IAST

tatas tam āśritya su-karmabhiḥ paraṁ bhajed dhariṁ yajṣā-patiṁ sureśvaram viśrjya sarvaṁ manasā kṛteḥ phalaṁ vrajet paraṁ mokṣam asau na cānyathā

Synonyms

tataḥ—then; tam—him; āśritya—taking shelter; su-karmabhiḥ—by karma; param—suopreme; bhajet—worship; dharim—Lord Hari; yajṣā-patim—the master of sacrifices; sureśvaram—the master of the demigods; viśrjya—abandoning; sarvam—all; manasā—by the mind; kṛteḥ—done; phalam—result; vrajet—obtains; param—ultimate; mokṣam—liberation; asau—he; na—not; ca—and; anyathā—otherwise.

Translation

With all their heart renouncing all material pious results, the wise take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and worship Him with the best of pious deeds. They, and not others, attain final liberation.

GS 3.1.10

IAST

go-vipra-sādhv-agni-surāḥ śrutis tathā dharmaś ca yajṣādhipater vibhūtayaḥ dhiṣṇyeṣu caiteṣu hariṁ bhajanti ye sa tv ihāmutra sukhaṁ vrajanti te

Synonyms

gaḥ—cows; vipra—brāhmaṇas; sādhu—saintly persons; agni—fire-gods; surāḥ—demigods; śrutiḥ—Vedas; tathā—so; dharmaś—religion; ca—and; yajṣādhipateḥ—of the Lord of sacrifices; vibhūtayaḥ—potencies; dhiṣṇyeṣu—in places; ca—and; eteṣu—these; harim—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhajanti—worship; ye—who; sa—and; tu—indeed; iha—here; amutra—in the next life; sukham—happiness; vrajanti—attain; te—they.

Translation

The cows, saintly persons, fire-gods, demigods, Vedas, and principles of religion are all potencies of Lord Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They who, instead of worshiping the demigods, worship Lord Hari, attain happiness in this life and the next.

GS 3.1.11

IAST

samutthito 'sau hari-vakṣaso girir govardhano nāma girīndra-rāja-rāṭ samāgato hy atra pulastya-tejasā yad-darśanāj janma punar na vidyate

Synonyms

samutthitaḥ—born; asau—it; hari—of Lord Kṛṣṇa's; vakṣasaḥ—chest; girir govardhanaḥ—Govardhana Hill; nāma—named; girīndra—the king of moutnains; rāja-rāṭ—the king of the king; samāgataḥ—came; hy—indeed; atra—here; pulastya-tejasā—by the power of Pulastya Muni; yad-darśanāt—by seeing it; janma—birth; punaḥ—again; na—not; vidyate—is.

Translation

The hill named Govardhana is the king of the kings of the kings of mountains. It was born from Lord Hari's own chest. It has come here by the power of Pulastya Muni. By seeing it one becomes free from having to take birth again in this world.

GS 3.1.12

IAST

sampūjya go-vipra-surān mahādraye dātavyam adyaiva paraṁ hy upāyanam eṣa priyo me makha-rāja eva hi na ced yathecchāsti tathā kuru vraja

Synonyms

sampūjya—worshiping; go-vipra-surān—the cows, brāhmaṇas, and demigods; mahādraye—to the great hill; dātavyam—should be given; adya—now; eva—indeed; param—great; hy—indeed; upāyanam—method; eṣa—this; priyaḥ—dear; me—to Me; makha-rāja—the king of sacrifices; eva—indeed; hi—indeed; na—not; cet—if; yathā—as; icchā—desire; asti—is; tathā—so; kuru—do; vraja—go.

Translation

First worship the cows, brāhmaṇas, and demigods, and then make a great offering to Govardhana Hill. That offering is the king of yajṣas and it is very dear to Me. If you do not desire to make that offering, then do whatever you wish.

GS 3.1.13

Content

śrī-nārada uvāca teṣāṁ madhye 'tha sannando gopo vṛddho 'ti-nīti-vit ati-prasannaḥ śrī-kṛṣṇaṁ aha nandasya śṛṇvataḥ śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; teṣām—of them; madhye—in the midst; atha—then; sannandaḥ—Sannanda; gopaḥ—gopa; vṛddhaḥ—elderly; ati-nīti-vit—learned in the principles of proper conduct; ati-prasannaḥ—very happy; śrī-kṛṣṇam—to Śrī Kṛṣṇa; aha—said; nandasya—of Nanda; śṛṇvataḥ—listening. Śrī Nārada said: Among them the elderly gopa Sannanda, who throughly knew the real principles of religion, became very pleased. As bewildered Nanda listened, Sannanda spoke to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

GS 3.1.14

Content

śrī-sannanda uvāca he nanda-sūno he tāta tvaṁ sākṣāj jṣāna-śevadhiḥ kartavyā kena vidhinā pūjādrer vada tattvataḥ śrī-sannanda uvāca—Śrī Sannanda said; he—O; nanda-sūnaḥ—son of Nanda; he—O; tāta—dear one; tvam—You; sākṣāj—directly; jṣāna—of knowledge; śevadhiḥ—the treasure; kartavyā—should be done; kena—by what?; vidhinā—method of worship; pūjā—the worship; adreḥ—of the hill; vada—please tell; tattvataḥ—in truth. Śrī Sannanda said: Dear son of Nanda, You are wealthy with a great treasury of transcendental knowledge. How should the hill be worshiped? Please truthfully tell.

GS 3.1.15

Content

śrī-bhagavān uvāca ālipya go-mayenāpi giri-rāja-bhuvaṁ hy adhaḥ dhṛtvātha sarva-sambhāraṁ bhakti-yogo jitendriyaḥ śrī-bhagavān uvāca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; ālipya—anointing; go-mayena—with cow-dung; api—even; giri-rāja-bhuvam—the ground of the king of mountains; hy—indeed; adhaḥ—beneath; dhṛtvātha—accepting; sarva-sambhāram—all ingredients; bhakti-yogaḥ—devotional service; jita—conquered; indriyaḥ—the senses. The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: A person who controls his senses and engages in devotional service should collect the ingredients for the worship, anoint Govardhana Hill with cow-dung, . . .

GS 3.1.16

IAST

sahasra-śīrṣa-mantreṇā- draye snānaṁ ca kārayet gaṅgā-jalena yamunā- jalenāpi dvijaiḥ saha

Synonyms

sahasra-śīrṣa-mantreṇa—with the mantra for the thousand-headed Puruṣa; adraye—the hill; snānam—bathing; ca—and; kārayet—should do; gaṅgā—Gaṅgā; jalena—with water; yamunā—Yamunā; jalenāpi—with water; dvijaiḥ—brāhmaṇas; saha—with.

Translation

. . . and, as he chants the mantras for the thousand-headed Puruṣa, with other brāhmaṇas bathe the hill with Gaṅgā water and Yamunā water.

GS 3.1.17

IAST

śukla-go-dugdha-dhārābhis tataḥ paṣcāmṛtair girim snāpayitvā gandha-puṣpaiḥ punaḥ kṛṣṇā-jalena vai

Synonyms

śukla—white; gaḥ—cows'; dugdha—milk; dhārābhiḥ—with streams; tataḥ—then; paṣcāmṛtaiḥ—with pancamrta; girim—the hill; snāpayitvā—bathing; gandha-puṣpaiḥ—wioth fragrant flowers; punaḥ—again; kṛṣṇā-jalena—with Yamunā water; vai—indeed.

Translation

Then he should bathe the hill with streams of white milk, paṣāmṛta, fragrant flowers, and then Yamunā water again.

GS 3.1.18

IAST

vastraṁ divyaṁ ca naivedyaṁ āsanaṁ sarvato 'dhikam mālālaṅkāra-nicayaṁ dattvā dīpāvaliṁ parām

Synonyms

vastram—garments; divyam—splendid; ca—and; naivedyam—food; āsanam—a seat; sarvataḥ—than all; adhikam—better; mālā—garlands; alaṅkāra—ornaments; nicayam—many; dattvā—giving; dīpāvalim—a series of lamps; parām—great.

Translation

Then he should offer splendid garments, food, a great throne, many garlands and ornaments, and many lamps.

GS 3.1.19

IAST

tataḥ pradakṣiṇāṁ kuryān namaskuryāt tataḥ param kṛtāṣjali-puṭo bhūtvā tv idam evam udīrayet

Synonyms

tataḥ—then; pradakṣiṇām—circumambulation; kuryān—should do; namaskuryāt—offer obeisances; tataḥ—then; param—then; kṛtāṣjali-puṭaḥ—with folded hands; bhūtvā—becoming; tv—indeed; idam—this; evam—thus; udīrayet—should recite.

Translation

Then he should circumambulate the hill, offer obeisances, and with folded hands recite this mantra:

GS 3.1.20

IAST

namo vṛndāvanāṅkāya tubhyaṁ goloka-mauline pūrṇa-brahmātapatrāya namo govardhanāya ca

Synonyms

namaḥ—obeisances; vṛndāvanaṅkāya—to the lap of Vṛndāvana; tubhyam—to You; goloka-mauline—the crowen of Goloka; pūrṇa-brahma—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; atapatrāya—the umbrella; namaḥ—obeisances; govardhanāya—to Govardhana Hill; ca—and.

Translation

Obeisances to you, who are Goloka's crown and the lap where Vṛndāvana forest grows! Obeisances to Govardhana Hill, the Supreme Personality of Godhead's parasol!

GS 3.1.21

IAST

puṣpāṣjaliṁ tataḥ kuryān nīrājanam ataḥ param ghaṇṭā-kaṁsya-mṛdaṅgādyair vāditrair madhura-svanaiḥ

Synonyms

puṣpa—of flowers; aṣjalim—handful; tataḥ—then; kuryān—should do; nīrājanam—arati; ataḥ param—then; ghaṇṭā-kaṁsya—karatals; mṛdaṅga—mrdangas; ādyaiḥ—beginning with; vāditraiḥ—with musical instruments; madhura-svanaiḥ—with sweet sounds.

Translation

Then he should offer a handful of flowers and then, as mṛdaṅgas, karatālas and other musical instruments make sweet sounds, he should offer ārati to Govardhana Hill.

GS 3.1.22

IAST

vedāham etaṁ mantreṇa varṣa-lājaiḥ samācaret tat-samīpe cānna-kūṭaṁ kuryāc chraddhā-samanvitaḥ

Synonyms

veda—know; aham—I; etam—this; mantreṇa—with mantra; varṣa-lājaiḥ—with a shower of grains; samācaret—should worship; tat-samīpe—near it; ca—and; anna—of food; kūṭam—a hill; kuryāc—should do; chraddhā-samanvitaḥ—with faith.

Translation

Then he should chant the mantra that begins with vedāham", and then he should throw a shower of grains. In this way he should worship the hill. Then with great faith he should place a hill of food near Govardhana Hill. Note: The mantra here is Śrī Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 3.8: vedāham etaṁ puruṣaṁ mahantam āditya-varṇaṁ tamasaḥ purastāt tam eva viditvāti-mṛtyum eti nānyaḥ panthā vidyate 'yanāya "I know that Supreme Personality of Godhead who is transcendental to all material conceptions of darkness. Only he who knows Him can transcend the bonds of birth and death. There is no way for liberation other than this knowledge of the Supreme Person."*

GS 3.1.23

IAST

kacolānāṁ catuḥ-śaṣṭi- paṣca-paṅkti-samanvitam tulasī-dala-misraiś ca śrī-gaṅgā-yamunā-jalaiḥ

Synonyms

kacolānām—of cups; catuḥ-śaṣṭi-paṣca-paṅkti-samanvitam—with rows of four, six and five; tulasī-dala-misraiś—mixed with tulasī leaves; ca—and; śrī-gaṅgā-yamunā-jalaiḥ—with Gaṅgā and Yamunā water.

Translation

Then he should offer four, six, and five cups of Gaṅgā and Yamunā water mixed with tulasī leaves.

GS 3.1.24

IAST

ṣaṭ-paṣcāśattamair bhāgair kuryāt sevāṁ samāhitaḥ tato 'gnīn brāhmaṇān pūjya gāḥ surān gandha-puṣpakaiḥ

Synonyms

ṣaṭ-paṣcāśattamaiḥ—with fifty-six; bhāgaiḥ—kinds; kuryāt—should do; sevām—service; samāhitaḥ—with a peaceful heart; tataḥ—then; agnīn—the fire-gods; brāhmaṇān—the brāhmaṇas; pūjya—worshipinf; gāḥ—the cows; surān—the demigods; gandha-puṣpakaiḥ—with fragrant flowers.

Translation

Then, with a peaceful heart, he should serve Govardhana Hill by offering it a feast of fifty-six kinds of food. Then with fragrant flowers he should worship the fire-gods, brāhmaṇas, cows, and demigods.

GS 3.1.25

IAST

bhojayitvā dvija-varān saugandhair miṣṭa-bhojanaiḥ anyebhyaś cāśvapākebhyo dadyād bhojanam uttamam

Synonyms

bhojayitvā—after feeding; dvija-varān—the brāhmaṇa; saugandhaiḥ—with fragrant; miṣṭa-bhojanaiḥ—delicious food; anyebhyaś—others; ca—and; ā-śvapākebhyaḥ—down to the dogeaters; dadyāt—should give; bhojanam—food; uttamam—the best.

Translation

After feeding the exalted brāhmaṇas with fragrant and delicious foods, he should also give excellent foods to the others, even down to the dogeaters.

GS 3.1.26

IAST

gopī-gopāla-vṛndaiś ca gavāṁ nṛtyaṁ ca kārayet maṅgalair jaya-śabdaiś ca kuryād govardhanotsavam

Synonyms

gopī-gopāla-vṛndaiḥ—by the gopas and gopīs; ca—and; gavām—of the cows; nṛtyam—dancing; ca—and; kārayet—should make; maṅgalaiḥ—auspicious; jaya—victory; śabdaiḥ—with sounds; ca—and; kuryāt—should do; govardhana—for Govardhana Hill; utsavam—a festival.

Translation

Then he should have the gopas and gopīs dance among the cows and call out "Victory!" In this way he should perform a festival to worship Govardhana Hill.

GS 3.1.27

IAST

yatra govardhanābhāvas tatra pūjā-vidhiṁ śṛṇu go-mayair vardhanaṁ kuryāt tad-ākāraṁ paronnatam

Synonyms

yatra—where; govardhana—Govardhana Hill; abhāvaḥ—is not; tatra—there; pūjā-vidhim—the method of worship; śṛṇu—hear; go-mayaiḥ—with cow-dung; vardhanam—increased; kuryāt—should do; tad-ākāram—the form of Govardhana Hill; para-unnatam—lofty.

Translation

Now please hear how this worship should be performed when one is not near Govardhana Hill. One should make from cow-dung a model of Govardhana Hill.

GS 3.1.28

IAST

puṣpa-vyūhair latā-jālair īṣikābhiḥ samanvitaḥ pūjanīyaḥ sadā martyair girir govardhano bhuvi

Synonyms

puṣpa-vyūhaiḥ—with many flowers; latā-jālaiḥ—with a network of vines; īṣikābhiḥ—with grass; samanvitaḥ—with; pūjanīyaḥ—the object of worship; sadā—always; martyaiḥ—by human beings; giriḥ govardhanaḥ—Govardhana Hill; bhuvi—on the earth.

Translation

Human beings on this earth should decorate thet model with many flowers, blades of grass, and a network of vines, and regularly offer worship to it.

GS 3.1.29

IAST

śilā-samānaṁ puraṭaṁ kṣiptvādrau tac-chilāṁ nayet gṛhṇīyād yo vinā svarṇaṁ sa mahā-rauravaṁ vrajet

Synonyms

śilā-samānam—nuggets; puraṭam—gold; kṣiptvā—ignoring; adrau—on the hill; tac-chilām—the stone; nayet—takes; gṛhṇīyāt—may take; yaḥ—who; vinā—without; svarṇam—gold; sa—he; mahā-rauravam—to a great hell; vrajet—goes.

Translation

A person who has a mountain of gold but does not use it to worship a stone he has taken from Govardhana Hill, goes to a terrible hell.

GS 3.1.30

IAST

śālagrāmasya devasya sevanaṁ kārayet sadā pātakaṁ na spṛśet taṁ vai padma-patraṁ yathā jalam

Synonyms

śālagrāmasya—of Śālagrāma; devasya—of the Lord; sevanam—service; kārayet—should do; sadā—regularly; pātakam—to hell; na—not; spṛśet—may touch; tam—him; vai—indeed; padma—lotus; patram—leaf; yathā—as; jalam—water.

Translation

A person who regularly worships the Lord's form as Śālagrāma-śilā is not touched by hell as a lotus leaf is not touched by water.

GS 3.1.31

IAST

giri-rāja-śilā-sevāṁ yaḥ karoti dvijottamaḥ sapta-dvīpa-mahi-tīrthā- vagāha-phalam eti saḥ

Synonyms

giri-rāja—of Govardhana Hill; śilā—stone; sevām—service; yaḥ—one who; karoti—does; dvijottamaḥ—the best of brāhmaṇas; sapta-dvīpa—of the seven continents; mahi-tīrtha—in the great holy places; avagāha—of bathing; phalam—the result; eti—attains; saḥ—he.

Translation

An exalted brāhmaṇa who reularly serves a stone from Govardhana Hill attains the result of having bathed in all the holy rivers and lakes in the seven worlds.

GS 3.1.32

IAST

giri-rāja-mahā-pūjāṁ varṣe varṣe karoti yaḥ iha sarva-sukhaṁ bhuktvā- mutra mokṣaṁ prayāti saḥ

Synonyms

giri-rāja—of Govardhana Hill; mahā—great; pūjām—worship; varṣe—year; varṣe—after year; karoti—does; yaḥ—who; iha—here; sarva-sukham—all happiness; bhuktvā-—enjoying; amutra—in the next life; mokṣam—liberation; prayāti—attains; saḥ—he.

Translation

A person who year after year elaborately worships Govardhana Hill attains all happiness in this life and liberation in the next. .pa