Shloka 18
Indra’s Prayers and the Coronation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa as Govinda
Govindābhiṣeka
अथाह सुरभि: कृष्णमभिवन्द्यमनस्विनी । स्वसन्तानैरुपामन्त्र्य गोपरूपिणमीश्वरम् ॥ १८ ॥
athāha surabhiḥ kṛṣṇam abhivandya manasvinī sva-santānair upāmantrya gopa-rūpiṇam īśvaram
അപ്പോൾ സുരഭി മാതാവ് തന്റെ സന്തതിയായ പശുക്കളോടുകൂടെ ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണനോട് നമസ്കരിച്ചു. ഗോപ്പാലരൂപത്തിൽ മുന്നിലിരുന്ന പരമേശ്വരന്റെ ശ്രദ്ധ അപേക്ഷിച്ച്, മൃദുഹൃദയയായി ഭക്തിയോടെ സംസാരിച്ചു.
The statement here that the heavenly cow Surabhi approached Lord Kṛṣṇa along with her progeny ( sva-santānaiḥ ) is a reference to the transcendental cows who play with Lord Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana. Although Lord Kṛṣṇa’s cows are transcendental, the heavenly cow Surabhi affectionately saw them, as indeed Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself did, as related to her. Since Lord Kṛṣṇa was appearing in the form of a cowherd boy, the whole situation was quite congenial, and Surabhi took the opportunity to offer the following prayers.
FAQs
Surabhi is the celestial mother-cow; she bows to Kṛṣṇa recognizing Him as the Supreme Lord who protects cows and devotees, even while appearing as a simple cowherd.
It highlights Kṛṣṇa’s intimate, accessible sweetness (mādhurya): the Supreme Lord chooses the humble role of a Vraja cowherd to relish loving devotion and to protect His community.
Approach God with humility and gratitude—offer respect, acknowledge divine protection in daily life, and cultivate service-mindedness rather than pride.