SB 10.24.32 · Srimad Bhagavatam

Devanagari

तथा च व्यदधु: सर्वं यथाह मधुसूदन: वाचयित्वा स्वस्त्ययनं तद्‌‌द्रव्येण गिरिद्विजान् ॥ ३२ ॥ उपहृत्य बलीन् सम्यगाद‍ृता यवसं गवाम् गोधनानि पुरस्कृत्य गिरिं चक्रु: प्रदक्षिणम् ॥ ३३ ॥

Verse text

tathā ca vyadadhuḥ sarvaṁ yathāha madhusūdanaḥ vācayitvā svasty-ayanaṁ tad-dravyeṇa giri-dvijān upahṛtya balīn samyag ādṛtā yavasaṁ gavām go-dhanāni puraskṛtya giriṁ cakruḥ pradakṣiṇam

Synonyms

tathā — thus ; ca — and ; vyadadhuḥ — they executed ; sarvam — everything ; yathā — as ; āha — He spoke ; madhusūdanaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; vācayitvā — making (the brāhmaṇas ) recite ; svasti — ayanam — the auspicious chants ; tat — dravyeṇa — with the paraphernalia intended for Indra’s sacrifice ; giri — to the hill ; dvijān — and the brāhmaṇas ; upahṛtya — offering ; balīn — the presentations of tribute ; samyak — all together ; ādṛtāḥ — respectfully ; yavasam — grass ; gavām — to the cows ; go — dhanāni — the bulls, cows and calves ; puraskṛtya — placing in front ; girim — of the hill ; cakruḥ — they performed ; pradakṣiṇam — circumambulation .

Translation

The cowherd community then did all that Madhusūdana had suggested. They arranged for the brāhmaṇas to recite the auspicious Vedic mantras, and using the paraphernalia that had been intended for Indra’s sacrifice, they presented offerings to Govardhana Hill and the brāhmaṇas with reverential respect. They also gave grass to the cows. Then, placing the cows, bulls and calves in front of them, they circumambulated Govardhana.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

The cowherd community then did all that Madhusūdana had suggested. They arranged for the brāhmaṇas to recite the auspicious Vedic mantras, and using the paraphernalia that had been intended for Indra's sacrifice, they presented offerings to Govardhana Hill and the brāhmaṇas with reverential respect. They also gave grass to the cows. Then, placing the cows, bulls and calves in front of them, they circumambulated Govardhana. KB 10.24.32-33 … and executed in detail everything He advised. They performed Govardhana worship and circumambulation of the hill. (Following the inauguration of Govardhana-pūjā, people in Vṛndāvana still dress nicely and assemble near Govardhana Hill to offer worship and circumambulate the hill, leading their cows all around.) According to the instruction of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Nanda Mahārāja and the cowherd men called in learned brāhmaṇas and began to worship Govardhana Hill by chanting Vedic hymns and offering prasādam. The inhabitants of Vṛndāvana assembled together, decorated their cows and gave them grass. Keeping the cows in front, they began to circumambulate Govardhana Hill.

Purport

The residents of Vṛndāvana were simply devoted to Lord Kṛṣṇa; that was the sum and substance of their existence. Being the Lord’s eternal associates, they were ultimately not concerned with Lord Indra or ritualistic sacrifice, and they were certainly not interested in the mechanistic philosophy that Kṛṣṇa had just spoken to them. They simply loved Kṛṣṇa, and out of intense affection they did exactly what He had requested. Their simple loving mentality was not small-mindedness or ignorance, since they were devoted to the Supreme Absolute Truth, who contains within Himself all existence. Thus the residents of Vṛndāvana constantly experienced the highest, essential truth underlying all other truths — and that is Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself, the cause of all causes and that which sustains the existence of all that exists. The residents of Vṛndāvana were overwhelmed in loving service to that Supreme Absolute Truth; therefore they were the most fortunate, most intelligent and most pragmatic of all living beings.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

The cowherd men, made diligent by Krsna (adrta), offered to the brahmanas and govardhana (giridvijan) the items meant for the worship of Indra (balin). They offered grass to the cows (gavam). Putting the cows before them, the circumambulated Govardhana.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

Their actions are described. Hari-vaṁśa gives the details. ānanda-janano ghoṣo mahāmudhita-gokulaḥ tūrya-praṇāda-ghoṣaś ca vṛṣabhāṇāṁ ca garjitaiḥ haṁva-ravaiś ca vatsānām gopānām harṣa-vardhanaḥ dadhno hradaḥ sarāvartaḥ payaḥ kulyā samākulaḥ Gokula was filled with great joy and shouts generating bliss. Instruments blared and bulls and calves roared. The cowherds were joyful. There were lakes of yogurt, whirlpools of cream and rivers of milk. Kṛṣṇa is called the killer of the demon named Madhu to show his great ability and the cowherds’ lack of fear of Indra. Another meaning is that Kṛṣṇa, like the bee, enjoys sweet like honey. Thus he started the sacrifice for his dear servant and then consumed the offerings. They did exactly as Kṛṣṇa, said but in these verses the details are not mentioned. Use of the past particle ādhṛtāḥ (respected) to express the active verb (they respected) is poetic license.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

Their actions are described. Hari-vaṁśa gives the details. ānanda-janano ghoṣo mahāmudhita-gokulaḥ tūrya-praṇāda-ghoṣaś ca vṛṣabhāṇāṁ ca garjitaiḥ haṁva-ravaiś ca vatsānām gopānām harṣa-vardhanaḥ dadhno hradaḥ sarāvartaḥ payaḥ kulyā samākulaḥ Gokula was filled with great joy and shouts generating bliss. Instruments blared and bulls and calves roared. The cowherds were joyful. There were lakes of yogurt, whirlpools of cream and rivers of milk. Kṛṣṇa is called the killer of the demon named Madhu to show his great ability and the cowherds’ lack of fear of Indra. Another meaning is that Kṛṣṇa, like the bee, enjoys sweetness, like honey. Thus he started the sacrifice for his dear servant and then consumed the offerings. They made an offering using the items mentioned by Kṛṣṇa, first meant for Indra’s sacrifice and also additional items such as all the milk produces and cooked items. They offered to the mountain. It is mentioned first since that was the main object of the sacrifice. Govardhana is not mentioned by name out of respect. They did this according to Kṛṣṇa’s instructions previously mentioned. They offered (upahṛtya) with great faith, according to the rules (samyak) in front of the mountain (upa). Or they offered while being completely praised or respected by the Lord (samyag ādṛtāḥ). Or they were respected by Kṛṣṇa who assumed a huge form on top of Govardhana. Details are also given in Hari-vaṁśa. adya prabhṛti cejyo ‘haṁ goṣu ced asti vo dayā ahaṁ vaḥ prathamo devaḥ sarva-kāmakaraḥ śubhaḥ mama prabhāvāt ca gavām amṛtāny eva bhakṣyatha śivaś ca vo bhaviṣyāmi mad bhaktānām vane vane ramṣye ‘haṁ saha yuṣmābhir yathā divi gatas tathā ye ceme prathitā gopā nanda-gopa-purogamāḥ eṣām prītaḥ prayacchāmi gopānāṁ vipulaṁ dhanam paryāpnuvantu viprā māṁ gāvo vatsa-samākulāḥ evaṁ mama parā prītir bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ If you are merciful to the cows, then from today you should worship me. I am your first devatā. I fulfill all desires and am most auspicious. By my power, you drink the nectar of the cows. I will be auspicious for you, my devotees in all the forests. I will enjoy with you just as I do in the spiritual world. Being pleased with all the celebrated cowherds headed by Nanda, I will give you great wealth. The brāhmaṇas and cows along with the calves should circumambulate me. I will be most satisfied with this, without doubt.