Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.24.36
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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namaḥ
—
obeisance
Indeclinable from √nam. The chapter's first explicit namaḥ — the proper response to the worshipped object. Gauḍīya note: nāmaḥ is the seed of mantra; planted at the foot of Govardhana here, it will flower across Vraja's daily life.
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vraja - janaiḥ
—
by the residents of Vraja
Compound: vraja + jana (person). The verse names them collectively as 'vraja-jana' — a phrase Gauḍīyas use for the supreme devotional community. Caitanya called Vraja's residents the topmost bhaktas; here they are first named as the unit.
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ātmanā-ātmane
—
by Himself, to Himself
Two cases of ātman in one breath — instrumental + dative. The verse is bluntly tat-tvam-asi-like in form yet personalist in substance: Bhagavān as Kṛṣṇa offering obeisance to Bhagavān as Govardhana. Acintya-bhedābheda in three words.
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rūpī
—
having assumed a form
Nominative of rūpin — one who has taken form. Govardhana has taken form 'in person.' Gauḍīya doctrine: even places and hills, when fully revealed, are personal — Vṛndāvana, Yamunā, Govardhana are not landscape but bhaktas in landscape-form.
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anugraham
—
mercy
From anu + √grah — 'after-taking, embracing.' Govardhana has bestowed anugraha by appearing visibly. Gauḍīya frame: when the Lord becomes available to the senses of His devotee, that visibility itself is His mercy.
It is clear from this verse that Lord Kṛṣṇa had expanded Himself and was appearing in His normal form among the festival-goers of Vṛndāvana while simultaneously manifesting Himself as the great form of Govardhana Hill. Thus, in His form as a child, Kṛṣṇa led the residents of Vṛndāvana in bowing down to His new incarnation as Govardhana Hill, and to all He pointed out the great mercy bestowed by this divine form of Govardhana. Lord Kṛṣṇa’s amazing transcendental activities were certainly in keeping with the festive atmosphere.
Krsna then paid obeisances to the hill who was himself, along with the inhabitants of Vraja. Then he made a statement in one and half verses. "See how this hill has been merciful to us. He, taking any form he wishes (such as snakes), will kill those who disrespect this sacrifice. Therefore (hi) we should offer respects to him."
He (understood from the previous verse) offered respects with the people of Vraja. Kṛṣṇa had special devotion to Govardhana and the people of Vraja are placed in a secondary role. He offered respects to that form (ātmane) himself (ātmanā). Then many people spoke. This mountain, becoming visible to us in this form (rūpī) has shown mercy to us.
- Where would my worship be deeper if I joined those worshiping rather than directing them?
- Whose mercy in my life could I notice and announce aloud as Kṛṣṇa did?
A father stands behind his small son who is making a clay model of the father — and as the son finishes, the father bows toward the model and says, 'See how the man has been kind to us!' The cowherds and Kṛṣṇa together bow to Govardhana, which is Kṛṣṇa. The Lord is having the joy of being worshipped, of leading the worship, and of being the witness to His own worship — all at once.
My note
Source: vedabase.io