Shloka 22
Indra’s Prayers and the Coronation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa as Govinda
Govindābhiṣeka
श्रीशुक उवाच एवं कृष्णमुपामन्त्र्य सुरभि: पयसात्मन: । जलैराकाशगङ्गाया ऐरावतकरोद्धृतै: ॥ २२ ॥ इन्द्र: सुरर्षिभि: साकं चोदितो देवमातृभि: । अभ्यसिञ्चत दाशार्हं गोविन्द इति चाभ्यधात् ॥ २३ ॥
śṛī-śuka uvāca evaṁ kṛṣṇam upāmantrya surabhiḥ payasātmanaḥ jalair ākāśa-gaṅgāyā airāvata-karoddhṛtaiḥ
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.”
According to the ācāryas, because Indra was embarrassed by his blunder of attacking Vṛndāvana, he was reluctant to worship the Lord. Therefore the heavenly mothers, such as Aditi, encouraged him to go ahead and do so. Feeling authorized by the encouragement of demigods less offensive than he, Indra then bathed the Lord. Indra discovered that the beautiful cowherd boy named Kṛṣṇa is indeed the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
After Krishna protected Vraja by lifting Govardhana, Surabhī bathed Him with the celestial Gaṅgā’s waters, honoring Him as the supreme protector of the cows and devotees.
Surabhī, representing the divine cow community, offered reverential worship to Krishna for safeguarding the cows and Vraja, using sacred celestial water as a royal devotional bathing.
Offer gratitude and worship to the Lord who protects and sustains—expressed through sincere prayer, service to devotees, and caring for cows/nature as sacred trusts.