Canto Ten - Chapter 25

Śrī Śuka said: O King, when Indra learned that his worship had been stopped, he became angry with Nanda and the other cowherds, whose Lord was Kṛṣṇa.

Enraged and imagining himself the supreme ruler, Indra summoned the annihilating clouds called Sāṃvartaka and gave them this command.

Just see the greatness of the cowherds' pride in their prosperity! These forest dwellers have taken shelter of a mortal named Kṛṣṇa and insulted the gods.

They are like foolish people who abandon the spiritual science of discrimination and try to cross the ocean of material existence in the name-only boats of fragile, fruitive sacrifices.

Relying upon that talkative, childish, arrogant and ignorant Kṛṣṇa, who considers Himself learned, the cowherds have offended me.

They are intoxicated by wealth, and Kṛṣṇa has further inflated their pride. Shatter the rigid arrogance born of their prosperity and bring their livestock to destruction.

I too will mount the elephant Airāvata and follow you to Vraja with the swift companies of the Maruts, intent upon destroying Nanda's cowherd settlement.

Śrī Śuka said: Thus commanded by Maghavān, the clouds were released from all restraint. With tremendous force they tormented Nanda's Gokula with torrents of rain.

Flashing with lightning, roaring with thunder and driven by fierce companies of winds, they showered down hailstones.

As the clouds repeatedly released columns of rain thick as pillars, the earth became submerged beneath floods, and neither high ground nor low could be seen.

The animals began trembling beneath the violent downpour and powerful wind. Afflicted by the cold, the cowherd men and women sought shelter in Govinda.

Covering their heads and children with their own bodies, battered by the torrents and shivering, they approached the shelter of Bhagavān's feet.

Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, greatly fortunate Lord! Gokula has You as its master. Lover of Your devotees, please save us from the angry gods.

Seeing the people struck unconscious by the hail and fierce wind, Bhagavān Hari understood that the angry Indra had caused the storm.

Because we disrupted his sacrifice, Indra is sending this untimely, exceedingly violent storm of wind, rain and hail to destroy us.

I shall employ My own yogic power to provide the proper countermeasure. I will destroy the dark, foolish pride born of prosperity in those who imagine themselves rulers of the world.

The gods, who are endowed with goodness, should not possess the conceit that they are supreme rulers. When I break the pride of the unrighteous, it serves to bring them peace.

Therefore, by My own yogic power I shall protect this cowherd community, which has taken shelter of Me, accepts Me as its Lord and belongs to Me. This is the vow I have undertaken.

Having spoken thus, Viṣṇu lifted Govardhana Hill with one hand and playfully held it aloft like a child holding a mushroom.

Bhagavān then said to the cowherds: Mothers, fathers and residents of Vraja, enter the shelter beneath the hill at your ease, together with all your cattle.

Do not fear that the mountain will fall from My hand. You have endured enough fear from the wind and rain; I have arranged this protection for you.

Their hearts reassured by Kṛṣṇa, they entered beneath the hill with their herds, possessions, families and all who depended upon them, each finding sufficient space.

As the residents of Vraja gazed upon Him, He held the hill for seven days without moving from His place, forgetting hunger, thirst, discomfort and any concern for His own ease.

When Indra witnessed the power of Kṛṣṇa's yoga, he was utterly amazed. His pride broken and his purpose thwarted, he ordered his clouds to withdraw.

Seeing that the sky was free of clouds, the sun had risen and the dreadful wind and rain had ceased, the lifter of Govardhana spoke to the cowherds.

Come out now, cowherds, together with your wives, possessions and children, and give up your fear. The wind and rain have stopped, and the rivers have nearly drained away.

The cowherds then slowly came out, each taking his own cattle. The women, children and elderly followed, along with their supplies loaded upon carts.

While every living being looked on, almighty Bhagavān playfully returned the hill to its former position, exactly where it had stood before.

Overwhelmed by the force of love, the residents of Vraja approached Him with embraces and other expressions of affection. The gopīs lovingly worshiped Him with joy, offering yogurt and unbroken rice grains and bestowing excellent blessings.

Yaśodā, Rohiṇī, Nanda and Rāma, foremost of the strong, embraced Kṛṣṇa and, trembling with affection, showered Him with blessings.

O King, in the heavens the hosts of gods, Siddhas, Sādhyas, Gandharvas and Cāraṇas praised Him and, greatly pleased, released showers of flowers.

Conchshells and kettledrums sounded in heaven at the gods' command, O King, and the foremost Gandharvas, led by Tumburu, sang.

Then, O King, surrounded by loving cowherds, Hari returned with Balarāma to His own cowherd settlement. The joyful gopīs followed, singing heart-touching songs about the wondrous deeds He had performed.