Narayana Krishna

Maharishi Śuka continued,

“The inhabitants of Brindavan strictly abided by the advice of Madhusudana (Krishna, the destroyer of demon Madhu). The Vedic Brahmins chanted the auspicious swasti mantras. The materials collected for the purposes of Indra’s Yāga were now utilized for this Yaga in which worship was offered to Govardhana mountain, the Vedic Brahmins and to the cows. The food prepared for Indra’s Yāga was now utilized for this worship. After completing the stipulated rituals, all of the residents proceeded towards Govardhana mountain with the cows walking ahead of them. The Gopikas who had adorned themselves beautifully with all ornamentation travelled in bullock carts singing the glories of Krishna. All of them circumambulated the mountain.

In order to instil faith in His kinsmen, Krishna assumed a gigantic form and stood atop the mountain. Saying, ‘I am the mountain’, He consumed in entirety, the abundant quantities of food that had been offered to the mountain as Naivedya. Together with the residents of Gokula, He too prostrated to Mountain Govardhana, which was another form of His. ‘Aha! How amazing! This mountain has taken on a form only to bless us’- exclaimed the astounded kinsmen.”

When Krishna assumed the gigantic form of the mountain and consumed the food that was offered to it as Naivedya, the people were totally amazed.

They continued, ‘This mountain, which can assume any form per its will, resides within the forests killing those living entities that show disrespect to it. Therefore, for the well-being of our cattle and of ourselves, let us prostrate reverentially before it, our protector.’

Thus, influenced by Srikrishna, the son of Vasudeva, all the inhabitants of Brindavan offered worship to Mountain Govardhana, to the learned Vedic scholars and to the cows. After completing the worship to their satisfaction, they, together with Krishna, returned back to their abodes in Brindavan”.

With this the twenty fourth chapter of the tenth canto comes to an end.

.Canto Ten Chapter Twenty-five

In this chapter, Krishna lifts Mountain Govardhana. It is said that those who listen to this auspicious story are freed from all sins.

Maharishi Śuka continued, ‘O Emperor Parikshit! Indra came to know that Nanda and other elders of Brindavan had stopped the Yagna meant for him as they considered Krishna to be their protector. With this, he was enraged’.”

Indra was aware that the Lord had taken birth in the clan of cowherds. Yet he was angry that he had stopped the annual rituals offered to him. He was annoyed that his food supply was cut off.

“The arrogance that he was the ruler of the world caused his anger to swell infinitely”.

After all, he was the ruler of all the stars and planets. Only with his command they would shower rains, not otherwise. How could he be side-lined under such circumstances- he thought.

“He immediately summoned the host of destructive clouds known as Samvartaka, which triggered annihilation (pralaya) in the universe and commanded,

‘Aha! Just look how these cowherds who survive in the forests are swelled with pride caused due to their affluence. Seeking refuge in Krishna, who is but an ordinary mortal, they have insulted me, the Divine Lord. Yagnas, which appear to be rituals, are in reality undependable boats. Foolish people discard the knowledge of Self-realization and take recourse in them so as to cross the ocean of worldly bondages. Same is the fate of these cowherds who have sought refuge in Krishna who is a gossiper and an ignorant fool who arrogantly considers himself to be a learned scholar. This mere mortal, who is prone to death, has instigated these cowherds to denigrate me, the divinity. Listening to the words of this foolish mortal, they have cheated me.

Swelled by the arrogance caused due to their wealth, these cowherds behaved thus and Krishna has furthered their arrogance. Hence, O clouds! Proceed this very instant and crush their pride. Destroy their wealth called cattle. Demolish the entire hamlet governed by Nanda. Let the entire hamlet be submerged in water. This is what I seek. I too shall, seated on my elephant Airavata and surrounded by my Marut-ganas, accompany you to Brindavan’.

Indra thus unleashed the groups of destructive clouds, that were tightly kept under control by him and dispatched them to Brindavan. In great urgency, the clouds rushed towards Brindavan and began to show their might. Brindavan was battered by torrential rainfall. Shining brightly with their flashes of lightning, the clouds roared thunderously. The presence of the dark rainy clouds caused the skies to turn dark jet-black. The clouds showered hail stones upon the hamlet. Darkness totally concealed visibility. The rains became heavier and they splattered the hamlet incessantly. Intolerable thundering and lightning enveloped the hamlet.

Mighty destructive winds instigated the Marut-ganas causing heavy hail stones to come crashing down. The clouds caused heavy rains as thick as heavy columns to ceaselessly shower. The ground was totally submerged in heavy flowing water and as such highs and lows in the land were no longer visible. Very quickly, mountains began to get submerged in this great deluge. Tempestuous winds accompanying the torrential rainfall caused the cattle as well as all humans to shiver with cold. All of them were greatly frightened and troubled.

‘Govindam śaraṇam yayuḥ’- O Krishna you are our only refuge. Believing this, the inhabitants of Brindavan sought shelter in Śrikrishna. The cows that were badly tormented due to the unending frightful rains and which were shivering due to biting cold, rushed towards Krishna while protecting their heads and sheltering their calves under their bodies. The cowherd men and women, who were unable to withstand this onslaught any longer, collectively prayed,

Kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa mahā-bhāga tvan-nāthaḿ gokulaḿ prabho

Trātum arhasi devān naḥ kupitād bhakta-vatsala

O Srikrishna! O Krishna! O great Mahatma!”

Hare Krishna