Answer
This statement should not be misunderstood.
Krishna is not saying that everyone who fails to perform Govardhana Puja will inevitably be bitten by a snake.
Rather, the statement means that a person who has the karmic reaction of suffering a snake bite due to previous sinful activities can become free from that reaction by performing Govardhana Puja as an act of devotional service.
Everyone is born with various reactions from past actions. If someone is destined to experience a snake bite because of previous karma, that reaction ordinarily cannot be avoided.
However, devotional service has the power to nullify sinful reactions.
Govardhana Puja is one such devotional activity. By sincerely performing it, the karmic reaction leading to a snake bite can be removed.
Therefore, Krishna's statement should be understood as describing the protective power of bhakti, not as a threat or an attempt to force people into worship.
If the statement were meant literally, then millions of people who never perform Govardhana Puja would constantly be suffering snake bites, which is clearly not the case.
The proper understanding is that devotional service can free a person from otherwise unavoidable karmic reactions, including those that would manifest as a snake bite.
