Chapter 80 - Coronation of Lord Kṛṣṇa

Vyāsa said:

1. When his festival was thus hindered, Indra became extremely infuriated. He spoke thus to the clouds named Saṃvartaka.

Indra said:

2-5. O clouds, even as I speak, listen to my words and immediately thereafter carry out my behest without any lingering thought or hesitation.

The wicked Nandagopa, puffed up with the pride of the strength he derives from the support of Kṛṣṇa, and assisted by other cowherds has now broken (the line of) my festivals.

Hence, at my instance, let their cows be harassed due to a heavy downpour. It is the cow that supports them to a large extent and contributes to their successful cattle breeding.

I too shall assist you, riding on my lofty elephant that resembles the peak of a great mountain. You will have the collaboration of winds as well.

Vyāsa said:

6. O brahmins, on being commended thus by the lord of Devas, those clouds let down a terrible gust of wind and downpour for the annihilation of cows.

7. Then, O brahmins, Ear h, sky and quarters became one as it were, due to the great showers that filled them all.

8. The cows began to tremble as the winds blew and the showers fell. They gave up their lives and fell down with their heads and faces directed sideways.

9. O excellent brahmins, other cows stood over their calves covering them with their laps. Still other cows were deprived of their calves by the heavy downpour of water.

10. The distressed calves exhibited their wretched faces. The chill wind made their necks shiver. They seemed to tell Kṛṣṇa “O save us, O save us” by uttering few feeble words.

11. On seeing the entire cowherds’ colony bewildered with the cows, cowherds and cowherdesses in utter confusion, Hari thought of the means of saving them. He said.

12-13. “This is wrought by lord Indra who is opposed to us due to the break in the sense of festivals in his honour. Hence this entire cowherds’ colony should be protected by me now. I shall uproot this mountain with my prowess. I shall hold up its big rocky ridge over the cowherds’ colony like a big umbrella.”

Vyāsa said:

14. After thinking thus, Kṛṣṇa uprooted the Govardhana mountain and playfully held it aloft with a single hand.

15-16. The lord of the universe said to the cowherds after uprooting the mountain: “Enter ye all together. The shower has been prevented (here). Be seated in befitting places where there is no terrible gust of wind. Be fearless. After entering this place you should not be afraid of this that the mountain may fall.

17. On being advised thus by him the cowherds and the cowherdesses who had been afflicted by the heavy downpour, entered the sheltered spot along with their cattle wealth. They kept their utensils and belongings loaded in carts.

18-19. Kṛṣṇa held the mountain, aloft very steedily. He was then watched by the residents of the cowherds’ colony with delight and wonder manifest in their eyes. He was observed by cowherds and cowherdesses with their eyes widely dilated due to joy. His conduct and exploit was eulogised by them. Thus Kṛṣṇa held the mountain aloft.

20. The great clouds prompted by Indra who was desirous of destroying the cowherds showered for seven nights in the cowherds’ colony.

21. As the great mountain was thus held aloft and the herds of cows were saved, Indra’s vow became falsified. So he withdrew the clouds.

22. When the sky was cleared of clouds, when Indra’s a dvice became futile and the lord of Devas became disappointed the delighted colony of cowherds was re-established in its own place.

23. Kṛṣṇa then released the great mountain Govardhana and replaced it in its spot, closely watched by the residents of Vraja with wonderment evident in their faces.

Vyāsa said:

24. When the mountain Govardhana was held up and the herds of cows were saved by Kṛṣṇa, the chastiser of Pāka (i.e. Indra) desired to visit Kṛṣṇa.

25. The Jord of Devas, the conqueror of enemies rode on Airāvata his great elephant and paid a visit to Kṛṣṇa on the mountain Govardhana.

26. The lord of great prowess, the protector of the universe had assumed the form of a cowherd. Surrounded by cowherd lads he was grazing the cows there.

27. O brahmins, he saw Garuḍa the leading bird, who had created a shadow over the head of Hari from above by means of his wing and who remained invisible for others.

28. Dismounted from his elephant Airāvata, with his eyes enlarged due to pleasure Indra smilingly spoke to Viṣṇu.

Indra said:

29. O Kṛṣṇa, O Kṛṣṇa of mighty great arms, listen, why I have come near you. This should not be misunderstood (and thought otherwise) by you.

30. You are indeed the great lord, the support of everything. You have incarnated on the surface of the Earth in order to remove the burden of the Earth.

31. Becoming inimical to you because of the break in the series of my festivals great clouds had been directed by me to destroy herds of cows. This great havoc was perpetrated by them.

32. The cows were saved by you by uprooting the great mountain. O heroic one, I am delighted by this extremely wonderful feat of yours.

33. O Kṛṣṇa, I think, the purpose of Devas has been served today. This excellent mountain has been held aloft with a single hand by you.

34. Moreover, O Kṛṣṇa, I have come near you, after being prompted by the cows saved by you. It is very much for your sake also, you are the cause of causes.

35. Urged by the words of cows, I shall crown you as Upendra (younger brother of Indra). You shall become Govinda, the lord of cows.

36. Then he brought the bell from his vehicle, Airāvata. Filling it with sacred waters he performed the rite of coronation.

37. When Kṛṣṇa’s coronation was performed, the cows made the Earth wet with the milk flowing from their udders.

38. After crowning Śrī Kṛṣṇa at the instance of cows, the husband of Śacī, Devendra spoke to Kṛṣṇa again humbly and lovingly.

Indra said:

39-41. This has been done due to the utterance of cows. Similarly, listen to another matter also which I am going to say, O Highly blessed one, due to my desire to remove the burden of the Earth.

O sustainer of the Earth, my own part, a tiger among men named Arjuna has incarnated on the Earth. He should always be protected by you.

He will be your associate and friend in the act of removing the burden of the Earth. O slayer of Madhu, he should be protected by you in the same manner as your soul.

The lord said:

42. I know Pārtha born into the Bharata family from a part of yours. As long as I continue to live on the surface of the Earth, I shall protect him.

43. O Indra, lord of Devas, O suppressor of foes, as long as I stay on the Earth, no one will conquer Arjuna, in battle.

44-45. O lord of Devas, when the asura of mighty prowess named Kaṃsa, other ones (named) Ariṣṭa, Keśin, Kuvalayāpīḍa and Naraka have been killed there shall be a great battle. O thousand-eyed one, know that in the course of that battle the burden of the Earth shall be removed.

46. Go, it does not behove you to be sad and anxious for the sake of your son. No enemy of Arjuna, howsoever great, will be too powerful in my presence.

47. For the sake of Arjuna I shall protect Yudhiṣṭhira and others also. When the Bhārata battle is concluded I shall hand over to Kunti all these persons led by Yudhiṣṭhira, (safe and) unwounded.

Vyāsa said:

48. On being assured thus the king of Devas embraced Kṛṣṇa and mounted on his elephant Airāvata went back to heaven once again.

49. Accompanied by cowherds and cows Krṣṇa returned to the Vraja along the path sanctified by the loving glances of cowherd lasses.