Chapter 19 - Indra Comes and Eulogises Krishna

1. Vaishampayana said:—Beholding the mount Govardhana thus held up and the kine saved Purandara, the king of the celestials, was filled with great surprise and felt a desire for seeing Krishna.

2. And seated on his elephant Airavata with temporal juice trickling down and resembling a cloud without water he came down on earth.

3. Purandara saw Krishna, of unwearied actions, seated at the foot of the Govardhana hill.

4. He saw there the immortal Vishnu, assuming the guise of a milk-man and shining in his great effulgence and attained to great delight.

5. Sakra, having many eyes, saw, with all his eyes, Krishna bearing the mystic mark of Srivatsa and resembling a dark-blue lotus in hue.

6. Beholding him seated happily at the foot of the hill who was gifted with beauty and was like an immortal in the land of mortals Sakra was ashamed.

7. Disappearing from view, that foremost of birds (Garuda), feeding on serpents, was protecting him, seated at ease, against the rays of the sun with his wings.

8. Leaving behind his elephant, Indra, the slayer of Bala, approached Krishna who was playing in the forest being engaged in human actions.

9-11. His face was embellished with a crown effulgent like the sun that gives lustre to lightning, and with a pair of celestial ear-rings. His breast was adorned with a neck-lace of five layers of Padmakanta jewel constituting the ornament of the body. Beholding Vasudeva with his thousand eyes the powerful Vasava, the wielder of thunder-bolt, approached Upendra and looked more beautiful with his celestial garlands and pastes.

12. Then with his sweet voice, deep as the muttering of clouds that always issues commands to the deities, he said:—

13. "O Krishna, O you of large arms, O you the enhancer of the delight of your kinsmen, what, you have accomplished on your being pleased with your kine, is beyond the power of the gods.

14. I have been highly pleased with your saving the kine from the clouds created by me which bring about the dissolution of the world.

15. Whose mind is not filled with surprise on seeing you hold up this best of mountains by your own-begotten Yoga power like a house in the sky?

16-17. O Krishna, I was enraged on account of the suppression of my sacrifice. And therefore I sent down this excessive rain extending over seven nights and destructive of the kine which even the Devas and Danavas cannot withstand. But you have, by your own power, put down this terrible shower in my very presence.

18. I am highly pleased, O Krishna, for your, in anger, settling the entire Vaishnava energy in your human form.

19. On account of your being endued with your own energy although in a human form, the work of the gods appears to have been well accomplished.

20. O hero, while you are at the head of all the works of the gods and their guide, forsooth, every thing will be accomplished and nothing will remain undone.

21. You art alone eternal amongst the gods and in all other worlds. I do not see a second capable of carrying the weight you have held.

22. As the best of wheels is placed before a pole so dost you engage in relieving the distress of the gods sunk in an ocean of misery, O you having a bird for your carrier.

23. O Krishna, as gold is among the metals, so this universe, created by the Grand-father (Brahma) exists, in your body.

24. As a cripple cannot follow one who runs fast so even the Lord, Self-sprung (Brahma) cannot follow you in intelligence or age.

25. As the Himalaya is amongst the mountains, as the great ocean is amongst the watery expanses, as Garuda is amongst the birds so you are the foremost of the celestials.

26-31. O Krishna, underneath all is the region of water; above it are afloat the pillars of the earth; above them is the region of man; above it is the etherial region;above it is the effulgent region of the sun constituting the gate of heaven; above it is the great region of the gods forming the abode of the celestials; here I occupy the position of the king of gods; above it is the Brahmaloka where the Brahmarshis live and where move about the high-souled Soma (moon) and other luminous bodies. Above it is the Goloka stationed in the great etherial region. O Krishna, Golaka is the foremost of all regions and is protected by the Sadhyas. There dost you live carrying on Tapas which we cannot learn even when accosting the Grand-Father about it.

32. This earth is the region of actions for those who engage in them. Underneath it is the dreadful region of the iniquitous.

33. The etherial region is the refuge of moving objects like the air and heaven is the excellent refuge of the pious endued with the qualities of self-control and forbearance.

34. Those, who worship Brahma, live in the Brahmaloka. Goloka is attainable only by the kine; even by hard austerities no one else can obtain it.

35. O intelligent and heroic Krishna, in order to protect these kine, you didst hold up the mount Govardhana and suppress the calamities sent down by me.

36. Therefore at the request of the Grand Father and the cows and out of respect for you I have come here.

37. "O Krishna, I am the lord of Bhutas^[1] and of the gods and I am Purandara. Being born of Aditi I am your elder brother.

38. Do you forgive me for displaying my own energy in the shape of clouds which is but the outcome of your power.

39. O Krishna of the gait of an elephant, be you delighted now by your own gentle energy and listen to the words given vent to by Brahma and the cows.

40. Pleased with your heavenly deeds, hymning of their glories and with the work of protection the Lord Brahma and the cows of the sky have communicated this unto you.

41. Thyself protecting the great Goloka region and all the cows, our race, through the help of the bulls, will multiply itself.

42. We all, coursing at our will, shall propitiate the cultivators with bulls, their beasts of burden, the celestials with the oblation of Havi and Sri with the profusely increasing corns.

43-44. O lord, O you of great strength, you are our preceptor and saviour. Becoming our king and lord do you sprinkle your self to-day with this golden jar full of heavenly water brought by me with my own hands.

45. I am the king of the celestials and you have, although eternal, become now the king of the cows. Therefore the people of this world will hymn you as Govinda.

46. As the dignity of Indra has been bestowed on me so you are the king of cows. O Krishna, the gods will celebrate your name as Upendra.

47. Of the four months of my rainy season, I confer the latter half constituting the autumn on you.

48-49. From to-day people will recognize the first two months as mine. After the termination of the rains they will take down my flag and you shalt receive adoration. Shorn of excitement and emitting notes occasionally the peacocks will give up their pride begotten by my clouds. And all other creatures, ranging in my season and emitting notes at the view of clouds, will be silent.

50. Agastya, the regent of the star Canopus, will range like a bird in the southern quarter and the sun, of thousand rays, will distress all with his own effulgence.

51-59. Thus with the beginning of autumn the peacocks will become silent, the birds will hanker after water, the frogs will desist from leaping, the brinks of the rivers will be filled with swans and Sarasas, the Kraunchas will emit their notes, the bulls will become excited, the cows will be pleased and yield profuse milk, the clouds will disappear after filling the earth with water, the cranes will range in the dark sky, the picturesque lakes, pools and rivers will be adorned with clean water and new grown lotuses, the dark-blue fields will be full of corns, the rivers will have waters flowing in their middle^[2] the hermitages of the ascetics will also be filled with beautiful corns, the earth, abounding in many provinces, will grow charming after the rains, the roads will look beautiful, the trees will be covered with fruits, the country will be full of sugarcane and Vajapeya and other sacrifices will be undertaken. And thus the sacred autumn will set in. You shalt then get up from your bed. Men in this world and the immortals in the celestial region will worship me as Mahendra and you as Upendra in the flag-staffs on the earth.

60. The man, who reciting the great and eternal theme of our conduct as Mahendra and Upendra, will bow unto us, will not be visited by any misery".

61. Thereupon taking those jars full of heavenly water the king of gods, conversant with Yoga, sprinkled^[3] Govinda.

62. Beholding the eternal Krishna thus annointed, the cows, stationed in the celestial region, along with the bulls, sprinkled him also with a downpour of their milk through clouds.

63-64. The clear clouds in the sky sprinkled him with nectarine showers. From trees fell down moon-like drops of water. And from the sky the gods set up a leonine sound, made a downpour of flowers and blew the bugles.

65. The Maharshis, who always follow mantras, chanted his glories with becoming verses and the body of the earth was separated from one all-extending ocean.

66. The seas grew delightful and the winds began to blow for bringing about the well-being of the world. And the sun and the moon accompanied by stars stood in their respective roads.

67-68. The kings were freed of their enemies and the calamity of excessive rain was pacified. And the trees were embellished with leaves and flowers of various colours. The deer grew delighted in the forest and the elephants began to yield temporal juice and the mountains shone with trees grown on them and with metals.

69-70. And the land of mortals was satisfied with ambrosia-like juice like unto the celestial region. Thus when the ceremony of the royal unction, of the Lord Krishna, accompanied by the nectarine showers coming down from the celestial region, was over the king of gods Purandara said to the eternal Govinda, wearing celestial garlands and installed in the sovereignty of the cows.

71. "O Krishna, the first work, of installing you as the king of cows, is now over. Listen now to the next object of my coming here.

72. Slaying speedily Kamsa, the wretch of a horse Keshi, and Aristha, always committing mischief do you engage in governing your own kingdom.

73. From your father’s sister, a portion of my energy is born as a son by name Arjuna. Contracting friendship with him do you always protect him.

74. You shalt favour him and he, too, acting on your advice and following you, will acquire great fame.

75. He will be the foremost of bowmen among the descendants of Bharata and will take after you. And without your help he alone will never be pleased with his work.

76. This future war of Bharata^[4] depends on him and you the foremost of men. When you both will be united all the kings will be slain.

77-78. O Krishna, I have spoken to the gods and Rishis, that the son, begotten by me on Kunti, will be an adept in the use of weapons, the foremost of archers and the greatest of the Kurus. All the warrior-kings will speak of his learning.

79. Ever abiding by the duties of a Kshatrya he alone will be able to kill one Akshouhini of kings skilled in fighting.

80. Save you there is none among the kings or gods who will be able to weaken the power of his bow or follow the path of his weapons, O lord.

81. O Govinda, he will be your friend and help in battle. Therefore at my request, do you instruct him in spiritual knowledge.

82. You dost know well Arjuna and all the worlds. So you should always regard and take care of him as you dost me.

83. If you dost protect him in the great battle Death will not be able to extend its influence over him.

84. O Krishna, know Arjuna as me and me as identical with your own self. As I am at one with you, so is Arjuna.

85. I am your elder brother and therefore you didst, in the days of yore, acquiring the three worlds from Bali with your three footsteps, install me in the sovereignty over the gods.

86. I know you as fond of truth, as having truth for your prowess and as identical with truth. And because you are bound to the gods by a promise they have engaged you in this work of the destruction of their enemies.

87. O Krishna, Arjuna, the son of your father’s sister, is my son. As he did become your companion in the days of yore^[5] and so now he will contract friendship with you.

88. O Madhava, as a bull carries a burden, so you shalt always take care of him when either living in his house, your house or while fighting with the enemies in the battle-field.

89. When Kamsa will be slain by you, ever observant of the real purpose of things there will take place a great war of the kings.

90. Arjuna will vanquish those heroic men of superhuman deeds and you shalt adorn him with glory.

91. O Keshava, if truth, myself and the celestials are your favourites you should carry out whatever I have said".

92. Hearing the words of Sakra, Krishna, who had become a cow-keeper, with a delighted mind replied. "

93. O lord of Saci, I am happy to see you. Nothing, of whatever you have said, will be left off.

94. O Sakra, I know your heart. It is not unknown to me that my father’s sister has been given away to the high-souled Pandu and that she has given birth to Arjuna.

95-96. I know also the prince Yudhisthira begotten by Dharma. I know Bhimasena, the multiplier of Vayu’s (wind-god’s) race. I know also Nakula and Sahadeva begotten on Madri by the two Asvinis^[6] .

97. I know also Karna, now known as a charioteer’s son, begotten on my father’s sister in her maidenhood by the Sun^[7] .

98. That Pandu is dead on account of the thunder-like imprecation^[8] and that the sons of Dhiitarashtra are desirous of fighting are all known to me,

99. O king of gods, returning now to the city of the celestials increase their delight. No enemy will be able to trouble Arjuna when he will be before me.

100. When the great war of Bharata will come to its close, I shall, on account of Arjuna, consign unscathed unto Kunti all the sons of Pandu.

101. O king of gods, I am bound by affection and therefore I shall accomplish like a servant what your son Arjuna will command me."

102. Hearing these words of truthful Krishna, the king of gods returned to the city of the celestials.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

A demi-god of a particular class.

[2]:

i.e. the waters will not overflood their banks as in the rainy season.

[3]:

i.e. installed him as the king of cows. At the time of installation sacred water is sprinkled on the head of a king.

[4]:

It refers to the battle of Kurukshetra in which all the kings of the world took part.

[5]:

When Vishnu assumed the form of Narayana Arjuna became his companion as Nara.

[6]:

For a detailed account of the birth of all these sons see chapter CXXIII of Adi Parva of Mahabharata.

[7]:

Kunti, while a maid, obtained a boon from the Rishi Durvasa that whomever she would wish to have as her consort, he would at once come to her. To make an experiment she invoked the sun and Karna is the issue of her union with him. The account of his birth is described in one hundred and eleventh chapter of Adi Parva in the Mahabharata.

[8]:

Once on a time Pandu went out into a forest for hunting. He struck a Rishi’s son who was coupling with his mate in the form of a deer. He imprecated a curse on Pandu saying "As you have killed me in the form of a deer when I was full of desire, so you, O foolish man, will certainly meet with the fate that has fallen me. When you will go to your dear one, full of desire as was the case with me, you will at that time, certainly go to the land of the dead. Your wife will also follow you." See slokas 30, 31, in chapter CXVIII in Sambhava Parva of Adi Parva in the Mahabharata.