Canto Ten - Chapter 27

Śrī Śuka said: After Govardhana Hill had been held aloft and Vraja protected from the downpour, Surabhi came from Goloka to see Kṛṣṇa, and Indra came as well.

Approaching Him in a secluded place, Indra felt ashamed of the disrespect he had shown. He touched Kṛṣṇa's feet with his crown, whose brilliance was like the sun.

Having witnessed and heard of immeasurably powerful Kṛṣṇa's might, Indra's pride in ruling the three worlds was destroyed. With joined palms he spoke as follows.

Indra said: Your abode is pure goodness, peaceful and filled with spiritual potency, entirely free from passion and darkness. This flow of material qualities, made of Māyā, does not exist in You, nor does any bondage arising from contact with them.

Lord, how then could greed and the other causes and effects of those qualities, which are marks of an ignorant person, exist in You? Yet Bhagavān wields punishment to protect dharma and restrain the wicked.

You are the father, teacher and supreme ruler of the worlds, invincible time bearing the rod of punishment. Acting through bodies You accept by Your own will for everyone's welfare, You shake away the pride of those who imagine themselves rulers of the world.

Ignorant people like me imagine themselves lords of the universe. But when they behold You as fearless time, they quickly abandon that pride and, freed from arrogance, take to the noble path. Even Your chastisement of the wicked is thus an act of instruction.

Almighty Lord, intoxicated by pride in my power, I offended You because I did not understand Your greatness. Please forgive this foolish-minded person. O Lord, may such corrupt intelligence never arise in me again.

Adhokṣaja, Your present descent into this world is for the destruction of military rulers whose vast forces burden the earth, and for the prosperity of those who follow Your feet.

Obeisance to You, Bhagavān, the Supreme Person and Great Self. Obeisance to Vāsudeva Kṛṣṇa, Lord of the Sātvatas.

Obeisance to You who freely assume a body by Your own will, whose form is pure knowledge, who are everything, the seed of everything and the indwelling Self of all beings.

Bhagavān, when my sacrifice was disrupted, I became proud and fiercely angry and sent the torrential rain and wind in an attempt to destroy this cowherd settlement.

Lord, You have now bestowed grace upon me: my arrogance is shattered and my futile effort defeated. I take refuge in You as my Lord, teacher and very Self.

Śrī Śuka said: Thus praised by Maghavān, Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa smiled and addressed him in a voice deep as a cloud.

Śrī Bhagavān said: Maghavān, because you were deeply intoxicated by the splendor of Indra's sovereignty, I disrupted your sacrifice as an act of grace, so that you would always remember Me.

Blinded by pride in the splendor of power, a person does not see Me standing with the rod of punishment in My hand. When I desire to bestow grace upon someone, I make that person fall from prosperity.

Go now, Śakra, and may all be well with you. Carry out My instruction: remain properly engaged in your appointed authority, self-controlled and free from pride.

Then noble Surabhi offered obeisance to Kṛṣṇa. Together with her offspring, she respectfully addressed the Lord, who had appeared in the form of a cowherd.

Surabhi said: Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, mighty yogī, Self of the universe and source of the universe! Acyuta, with You as protector of the worlds, we now possess a true guardian.

You are our supreme worshipful Lord, and You are our Indra, ruler of the universe. Please bring prosperity to the cows, the brāhmaṇas, the gods and all saintly people.

At Brahmā's command, we shall consecrate You as our Indra. Self of the universe, You have descended to remove the earth's burden.

Śrī Śuka said: Having thus addressed Kṛṣṇa, Surabhi brought her own milk, while water of the celestial Gaṅgā was raised in Airāvata's trunk.

Urged by the mothers of the gods and accompanied by the celestial sages, Indra bathed the descendant of Daśārha with those sacred waters and proclaimed Him Govinda.

Tumburu, Nārada and other Gandharvas, together with Vidyādharas, Siddhas and Cāraṇas who had assembled there, sang Hari's fame, which removes the world's impurity, while the celestial women danced with joy.

The foremost hosts of gods praised Him and showered Him with wondrous flowers. The three worlds attained supreme delight, and the cows drenched the earth with streams of milk.

Rivers flowed with streams of many flavors, trees began to drip honey, medicinal plants ripened without cultivation, and the mountains displayed gems upon their surfaces.

Descendant of Kuru, when Kṛṣṇa was consecrated, all creatures became free of mutual hostility, even those that were naturally cruel.

Thus, after consecrating Govinda as the Lord of the cows and the cowherd settlement, Śakra received His permission and returned to heaven surrounded by the gods and their attendants.