Devanagari
य: सप्तहायनो बाल: करेणैकेन लीलया । कथं
बिभ्रद् गिरिवरं पुष्करं गजराडिव ॥ ३ ॥
Verse text
yaḥ sapta-hāyano bālaḥ
kareṇaikena līlayā
kathaṁ bibhrad giri-varaṁ
puṣkaraṁ gaja-rāḍ iva
Synonyms
yaḥ
—
who
;
sapta
—
hāyanaḥ — seven years of age
;
bālaḥ
—
a boy
;
kareṇa
—
with a hand
;
ekena
—
one
;
līlayā
—
playfully
;
katham
—
how
;
bibhrat
—
He held up
;
giri
—
varam — the best of mountains, Govardhana
;
puṣkaram
—
a lotus flower
;
gaja
—
rāṭ — a mighty elephant
;
iva
—
as .
Translation
How could this seven-year-old boy playfully hold up the great hill Govardhana with one hand, just as a mighty elephant holds up a lotus flower?
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
How could this seven-year-old boy playfully hold up the great hill Govardhana with one hand, just as a mighty elephant holds up a lotus flower?
KB 10.26.3
“Just imagine! He is now only seven years old! How is it possible for Him to lift Govardhana Hill in one hand and hold it up just as the king of elephants holds a lotus flower? To lift a lotus flower is a most insignificant thing for an elephant, and similarly Kṛṣṇa lifted Govardhana Hill without exertion.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
"If this child is not the Lord, how could he perform such astonishing feats?" This is the intention of the next twelve verses. "How did he who is only seven years old, remain holding (vibhrat) Govardhana in one hand for seven days, like an elephant holding a lotus." In the following verses "how could he " is understood.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
He is only seven years old. He held up with only one hand not even changing hands the heaviest (varam) of mountains and so casually? And he held it up and remained in that position. How could he do this? They express astonishment since it was impossible. An example is given to show his casually lifting of the mountain. It was like an elephant lifting a lotus. This indicates the scene was most beautiful. Therefore he cannot be a normal child. In Viṣṇu Purāṇa it is described that he began to herd the cows in his seventh year on coming to Vṛndāvana in the summer:
kālena gacchatā tau tu saptavarṣau mahāvraje
sarvasya jagataḥ pālau vatsapālau babhuvatuḥ
The two boys, protectors of the universe, in time becoming seven years old in Vraja, began herding the cows.
Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that this means “The herders of calves in time became seven years old and became capable of herding the cows.” This is because previously it was said that the two boys were herding the calves. According to Viṣṇu Purāṇa, in that year or the next they played during the monsoon period. Then Kṛṣṇa subdued Kāliya. Then Dhenuka and Pralamba were killed. Then he lifted Govardhana in the autumn. (He would then be eight years old). This is contrary to what Bhāgavatam says in this verse. Thus Viṣṇu Purāṇa describes the pastime in a different kalpa. This solves the contradiction. According to Bhāgavatam, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were still in their paugaṇḍa age when Kṛṣṇa lifted Govardhana.