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
శ్రీశుకుడు పలికెను—ఈ విధంగా శ్రీకృష్ణుని ప్రార్థించి సురభి తన పాలను తీసుకొని ఆయనకు అభిషేకం చేసింది. దేవమాతల ఆజ్ఞతో ఇంద్రుడు దేవర్షులతో కలిసి, ఐరావత గజేంద్రుని సొండ నుండి తెచ్చిన ఆకాశగంగ జలంతో దాశార్హవంశీయుడైన శ్రీకృష్ణుని అభిషేకించి ‘గోవింద’ అని నామకరణం చేశాడు.
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.
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.