Adhyaya 27

Verse 1

श्रीशुक उवाच गोवर्धने धृते शैले आसाराद् रक्षिते व्रजे । गोलोकादाव्रजत्कृष्णं सुरभि: शक्र एव च ॥ १ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After Kṛṣṇa lifted Govardhana Hill and protected Vraja from the dreadful downpour, Surabhi, the mother of the cows, came from Goloka to see Kṛṣṇa, accompanied by Indra.

Verse 2

विविक्त उपसङ्गम्य व्रीडीत: कृतहेलन: । पस्पर्श पादयोरेनं किरीटेनार्कवर्चसा ॥ २ ॥

Ashamed of his offense to the Lord, Indra approached Him in a secluded place, fell down, and with his helmet—radiant like the sun—touched the Lord’s lotus feet.

Verse 3

द‍ृष्टश्रुतानुभावोऽस्य कृष्णस्यामिततेजस: । नष्टत्रिलोकेशमद इदमाह कृताञ्जलि: ॥ ३ ॥

Having seen and heard the transcendental might of all-powerful Kṛṣṇa, whose splendor is immeasurable, Indra’s false pride as lord of the three worlds was destroyed. With folded hands, he addressed the Lord as follows.

Verse 4

इन्द्र उवाच विशुद्धसत्त्वं तव धाम शान्तंतपोमयं ध्वस्तरजस्तमस्कम् । मायामयोऽयं गुणसम्प्रवाहोन विद्यते तेऽग्रहणानुबन्ध: ॥ ४ ॥

Indra said: Your abode and form are pure sattva—serene, imbued with spiritual austerity, and free from rajas and tamas. In You there is no mighty current of the guṇas born of māyā, nor any bond with ignorance.

Verse 5

कुतो नु तद्धेतव ईश तत्कृतालोभादयो येऽबुधलिङ्गभावा: । तथापि दण्डं भगवान् बिभर्तिधर्मस्य गुप्‍त्यै लनिग्रहाय ॥ ५ ॥

O Lord, how could there be in You the marks of ignorance—greed, lust, anger, and envy—born of prior material entanglement and leading to further bondage in saṁsāra? And yet, as Bhagavān, You wield punishment to protect dharma and restrain the wicked.

Verse 6

पिता गुरुस्त्वं जगतामधीशोदुरत्यय: काल उपात्तदण्ड: । हिताय चेच्छातनुभि: समीहसेमानं विधुन्वन् जगदीशमानिनाम् ॥ ६ ॥

You are the father and spiritual master of the entire universe, and its supreme ruler as well. You are insurmountable Time, bearing the rod of punishment, and for the sinner’s own good You administer chastisement. Indeed, in the incarnations You choose by Your own free will, You act decisively to shake away the false pride of those who presume themselves masters of this world.

Verse 7

ये मद्विधाज्ञा जगदीशमानिन-स्त्वां वीक्ष्य कालेऽभयमाशु तन्मदम् । हित्वार्यमार्गं प्रभजन्त्यपस्मयाईहा खलानामपि तेऽनुशासनम् ॥ ७ ॥

Even fools like me, proudly imagining ourselves lords of the universe, quickly abandon that arrogance when we behold You fearless even before Time, and we take up the noble path of spiritual progress. Thus Your punishment of the wicked is also Your instruction to them.

Verse 8

स त्वं ममैश्वर्यमदप्लुतस्यकृतागसस्तेऽविदुष: प्रभावम् । क्षन्तुं प्रभोऽथार्हसि मूढचेतसोमैवं पुनर्भून्मतिरीश मेऽसती ॥ ८ ॥

Intoxicated by pride in my dominion, and ignorant of Your majesty, I committed an offense against You. O Lord, please forgive me. My intelligence was bewildered; O Īśa, may my consciousness never again become so impure.

Verse 9

तवावतारोऽयमधोक्षजेहभुवो भराणामुरुभारजन्मनाम् । चमूपतीनामभवाय देवभवाय युष्मच्चरणानुवर्तिनाम् ॥ ९ ॥

O Adhokṣaja, transcendent Lord, You descend into this world to destroy the warlike kings and commanders who burden the earth and cause terrible upheavals. O Lord, at the same time You act for the welfare of those who faithfully follow Your lotus feet.

Verse 10

नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते पुरुषाय महात्मने । वासुदेवाय कृष्णाय सात्वतां पतये नम: ॥ १० ॥

Obeisances to You, Bhagavān, the Supreme Puruṣa, the great Soul. Obeisances to Vāsudeva Kṛṣṇa, Lord of the Sātvatas (the Yadu dynasty).

Verse 11

स्वच्छन्दोपात्तदेहाय विशुद्धज्ञानमूर्तये । सर्वस्मै सर्वबीजाय सर्वभूतात्मने नम: ॥ ११ ॥

Obeisances to Him who freely assumes a transcendental body according to the desire of His devotees; whose very form is pure knowledge; who is everything, the seed of everything, and the Soul of all beings.

Verse 12

मयेदं भगवन् गोष्ठनाशायासारवायुभि: । चेष्टितं विहते यज्ञे मानिना तीव्रमन्युना ॥ १२ ॥

My Lord, when my sacrifice was thwarted, false pride inflamed me with fierce anger; thus I sought to destroy Your cowherd community with violent rain and wind.

Verse 13

त्वयेशानुगृहीतोऽस्मि ध्वस्तस्तम्भो वृथोद्यम: । ईश्वरं गुरुमात्मानं त्वामहं शरणं गत: ॥ १३ ॥

O Lord, You have shown me mercy by shattering my false pride and defeating my futile attempt. To You—the Supreme Lord, the spiritual master, and the Paramatma—I have now come for shelter.

Verse 14

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं सङ्कीर्तित: कृष्णो मघोना भगवानमुम् । मेघगम्भीरया वाचा प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत् ॥ १४ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus praised by Indra, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, smiled and then spoke to him in a voice deep and resonant like the clouds.

Verse 15

श्रीभगवानुवाच मया तेऽकारि मघवन् मखभङ्गोऽनुगृह्णता । मदनुस्मृतये नित्यं मत्तस्येन्द्र श्रिया भृशम् ॥ १५ ॥

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Indra (Maghavan), out of mercy I stopped the sacrifice meant for you. Intoxicated by your splendor as king of heaven, you had forgotten; therefore I wished you to remember Me always.

Verse 16

मामैश्वर्यश्रीमदान्धो दण्डपाणिं न पश्यति । तं भ्रंशयामि सम्पद्‌भ्यो यस्य चेच्छाम्यनुग्रहम् ॥ १६ ॥

One blinded by the intoxication of power and opulence cannot see Me nearby, holding the rod of punishment. If I desire his true welfare, I pull him down from his materially fortunate position.

Verse 17

गम्यतां शक्र भद्रं व: क्रियतां मेऽनुशासनम् । स्थीयतां स्वाधिकारेषु युक्तैर्व: स्तम्भवर्जितै: ॥ १७ ॥

O Śakra (Indra), you may now depart; carry out My command. Remain in your appointed office as king of heaven, sober and free from false pride.

Verse 18

अथाह सुरभि: कृष्णमभिवन्द्यमनस्विनी । स्वसन्तानैरुपामन्‍त्र्य गोपरूपिणमीश्वरम् ॥ १८ ॥

Then Mother Surabhi, together with her offspring—the cows—offered obeisances to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Respectfully seeking His attention, the gentle lady addressed the Supreme Lord, who stood before her as a cowherd boy.

Verse 19

सुरभिरुवाच कृष्ण कृष्ण महायोगिन् विश्वात्मन् विश्वसम्भव । भवता लोकनाथेन सनाथा वयमच्युत ॥ १९ ॥

Surabhi said: O Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, greatest of yogīs! O Soul and source of the universe! O Acyuta, You are the Lord of the worlds; by Your grace we have You as our shelter and master.

Verse 20

त्वं न: परमकं दैवं त्वं न इन्द्रो जगत्पते । भवाय भव गोविप्रदेवानां ये च साधव: ॥ २० ॥

You are our supreme worshipable Deity; O Lord of the universe, You are our Indra. For the welfare of the cows, the brāhmaṇas, the devas, and all saintly souls, please become our Indra.

Verse 21

इन्द्रं नस्त्वाभिषेक्ष्यामो ब्रह्मणा चोदिता वयम् । अवतीर्णोऽसि विश्वात्मन् भूमेर्भारापनुत्तये ॥ २१ ॥

By Brahmā’s order, we shall perform Your sacred bathing ceremony to enthrone You as Indra. O Soul of the universe, You descend to lighten the burden of the earth.

Verse 22

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं कृष्णमुपामन्‍त्र्य सुरभि: पयसात्मन: । जलैराकाशगङ्गाया ऐरावतकरोद्‌धृतै: ॥ २२ ॥ इन्द्र: सुरर्षिभि: साकं चोदितो देवमातृभि: । अभ्यसिञ्चत दाशार्हं गोविन्द इति चाभ्यधात् ॥ २३ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus having appealed to Lord Kṛṣṇa, mother Surabhi bathed Him in consecration with her own milk. Then Indra, urged by Aditi and the other mothers of the devas, together with the sages of heaven, anointed Kṛṣṇa, descendant of Daśārha, with the celestial Gaṅgā water carried in Airāvata’s trunk, crowned Him, and bestowed upon Him the name “Govinda.”

Verse 23

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं कृष्णमुपामन्‍त्र्य सुरभि: पयसात्मन: । जलैराकाशगङ्गाया ऐरावतकरोद्‌धृतै: ॥ २२ ॥ इन्द्र: सुरर्षिभि: साकं चोदितो देवमातृभि: । अभ्यसिञ्चत दाशार्हं गोविन्द इति चाभ्यधात् ॥ २३ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Urged by the mothers of the devas and accompanied by the sages of heaven, Indra anointed Kṛṣṇa, the descendant of Daśārha, with the celestial Gaṅgā water brought by Airāvata, and proclaimed His sacred name, “Govinda.”

Verse 24

तत्रागतास्तुम्बुरुनारदादयोगन्धर्वविद्याधरसिद्धचारणा: । जगुर्यशो लोकमलापहं हरे:सुराङ्गना: सन्ननृतुर्मुदान्विता: ॥ २४ ॥

Tumburu, Nārada and other Gandharvas came there with the Vidyādharas, Siddhas and Cāraṇas, and they sang the glories of Lord Hari, which cleanse the whole world. The wives of the devas, filled with joy, danced together in the Lord’s honor.

Verse 25

तं तुष्टुवुर्देवनिकायकेतवोह्यवाकिरंश्चाद्भुतपुष्पवृष्टिभि: । लोका: परां निर्वृतिमाप्नुवंस्त्रयोगावस्तदा गामनयन् पयोद्रुताम् ॥ २५ ॥

The foremost devas praised the Lord and showered Him on all sides with wondrous rains of flowers. The three worlds felt supreme contentment, and the cows drenched the earth’s surface with their milk.

Verse 26

नानारसौघा: सरितो वृक्षा आसन् मधुस्रवा: । अकृष्टपच्यौषधयो गिरयोऽबिभ्रनुन्मणीन् ॥ २६ ॥

Rivers flowed with many kinds of delicious liquids, trees dripped with honey, edible herbs ripened without cultivation, and the hills brought forth jewels that had long been hidden within them.

Verse 27

कृष्णेऽभिषिक्त एतानि सर्वाणि कुरुनन्दन । निर्वैराण्यभवंस्तात क्रूराण्यपि निसर्गत: ॥ २७ ॥

O Parīkṣit, beloved of the Kuru dynasty, when Lord Kṛṣṇa was ceremonially bathed (abhiṣeka), all creatures—even those cruel by nature—became wholly free of enmity.

Verse 28

इति गोगोकुलपतिं गोविन्दमभिषिच्य स: । अनुज्ञातो ययौ शक्रो वृतो देवादिभिर्दिवम् ॥ २८ ॥

Thus, after performing the ceremonial bathing (abhiṣeka) of Lord Govinda, master of the cows and of Gokula, Śakra (Indra) took the Lord’s permission and, surrounded by the devas and other exalted beings, returned to his heavenly abode.