Sri Krishna Madbhagavatam
24. Worshiping Govardhana Hill
While engaged
with the brāhmaṇas
who were too involved in the performance of Vedic sacrifices, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma also saw that the
cowherd men were preparing a similar sacrifice in order to pacify Indra, the
King of heaven, who is responsible for supplying water. As stated in the
Caitanya-caritāmṛta,
a devotee of Kṛṣṇa
has strong and firm faith in the understanding that if he is simply engaged in
Kṛṣṇa consciousness and Kṛṣṇa's transcendental loving service, then
he is freed from all other obligations. A pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa doesn't have to perform any of the
ritualistic functions enjoined in the Vedas; nor is he required to worship any
demigods. Being a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one is understood to have performed all kinds of Vedic rituals
and all kinds of worship to the demigods. Just by performing the Vedic
ritualistic ceremonies or worshiping the demigods, one does not develop
devotional service for Kṛṣṇa
but one who is engaged fully in the service of the Lord has already finished
all Vedic injunctions.
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Kṛṣṇa
ordered a stop to all such activities by His devotees, for He wanted to firmly
establish exclusive devotional service during His presence in Vṛndāvana. Kṛṣṇa
knew that the cowherd men were preparing for the Indra sacrifice beause He is
the omniscient Personality of Godhead, but as a matter of etiquette, He began
to inquire with great honor and submission from elder personalities like
Mahārāja Nanda and others.
Kṛṣṇa
asked His father, "My dear father, what is this arrangement going on for
a great sacrifice? What is the result of such sacrifice, and for whom is it
meant? How is it performed? Will you kindly let Me know? I am very anxious to
know this procedure, so please explain to Me the purpose of this
sacrifice." Upon this inquiry, His father, Nanda Mahārāja, remained
silent, thinking that his young boy would not be able to understand the
intricacies of performing the yajña. Kṛṣṇa,
however, persisted: "My dear father, for those who are liberal and
saintly, there is no secrecy. They do not think anyone to be a friend or
enemy because they are always open to everyone. And even for those who are
not so liberal, nothing should be secret for the family members and friends,
although secrecy may be maintained for persons who are inimical. Therefore
you cannot keep any secrets from Me. All persons are engaged in fruitive
activities. Some know what these activities are, and they know the result,
and some execute activities without knowing the purpose or the result. A
person who acts with full knowledge gets the full result; one who acts
without knowledge does not get such a perfect result. Therefore, please let
Me know the purpose of the sacrifice which you are going to perform. Is it
according to Vedic injunction? Or is it simply a popular ceremony? Kindly let
Me know in detail about the sacrifice."
On hearing this inquiry from Kṛṣṇa, Mahārāja Nanda replied, "My dear boy,
this ceremonial performance is more or less traditional. Because rainfall is
due to the mercy of King Indra and the clouds are his representatives, and
because water is so important for our living, we must show some gratitude to
the controller of this rainfall, Mahārāja Indra. We are arranging, therefore,
to pacify King Indra, because he has very kindly sent us clouds to pour down
sufficient quantity of rain for successful agricultural activities. Water is
very important; without rainfall we cannot farm or produce grains. We cannot
live if there is no rainfall. It is necessary for successful religious
ceremonies, economic development, and, ultimately, liberation. Therefore we
should not give up the traditional ceremonial function; if one gives it up,
being influenced by lust, or greed or fear, then it does not look very good
for him."
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After hearing this, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in the
presence of His father and all the cowherd men of Vṛndāvana, spoke in such a way as to make heavenly
King Indra very angry. He suggested that they forgo the sacrifice. His reasons
for discouraging the sacrifice performed to please Indra were twofold. First,
as stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, there is no need to worship the demigods for
any material advancement; all results derived from worshiping the demigods are
simply temporary, and only those who are less intelligent are interested with
temporary results. Secondly, whatever temporary result one derives from worshiping
the demigods is actually granted by the permission of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. It is clearly stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, mayaiva vihitān hi tān.
Whatever benefit is supposed to be derived from the demigods is actually
bestowed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Without the permission of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, one cannot bestow any benefit upon others. But
sometimes the demigods become puffed up by the influence of material nature;
thinking themselves as all in all, they try to forget the supremacy of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, it is clearly stated
that in this instance Kṛṣṇa wanted to make King Indra angry. Kṛṣṇa's advent was especially meant for the
annihilation of the demons and protection of the devotees. King Indra was
certainly a devotee, not a demon, but because he was puffed up, Kṛṣṇa wanted to teach him a lesson. He first tried to
make Indra angry by stopping the Indra Pūjā, which was arranged by the cowherd
men in Vṛndāvana.
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With this purpose in mind, Kṛṣṇa began to talk as if He were an atheist
supporting the philosophy of karma-mīmāṁsā.
Advocates of this type of philosophy do not accept the supreme authority of
the Personality of Godhead. They put forward the argument that if anyone
works nicely, the result is sure to come. Their opinion is that even if there
is a God who gives man the result of his fruitive activities, there is no
need to worship Him because unless man works He cannot bestow any good
result. They say that instead of worshiping a demigod or God, people should
give attention to their own duties, and thus the good result will surely
come. Lord Kṛṣṇa began to speak to His father according to these
principles of the karma-mīmāṁsā philosophy.
"My dear father," He said, "I don't think you need to worship
any demigod for the successful performance of your agricultural activities.
Every living being is born according to his past karma and leaves this life
simply taking the result of his present karma. Everyone is born in different
types or species of life according to his past activities, and he gets his
next birth according to the activities of this life. Different grades of
material happiness and distress, comforts and disadvantages of life, are
different results of different kinds of activities, either from the past or
present life."
Mahārāja Nanda and other elderly
members argued that without satisfying the predominating god, one cannot
derive any good result simply by material activities. This is actually the
fact. For example, it is sometimes found that, in spite of first-class
medical help and treatment by a first-class physician, a diseased person
dies. It is concluded, therefore, that first-class medical treatment or the
attempts of a first-class physician are not in themselves the cause for
curing a patient; there must be the hand of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. Similarly, a father's and mother's taking care of their children is
not the cause of the children's comfort. Sometimes it is found that in spite
of all care by the parents, the children go bad or succumb to death.
Therefore material causes are not sufficient for results. There must be the
sanction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Nanda Mahārāja therefore
advocated that, in order to get good results for agricultural activities,
they must satisfy Indra, the superintending deity of the rain supply. Lord Kṛṣṇa nullified this argument, saying that the
demigods give results only to persons who have executed their prescribed
duties; therefore demigods are dependent on the execution of duties and are
not absolute in awarding good results to anyone.
"My dear father, there is no
need to worship the demigod Indra," Lord Kṛṣṇa
said. "Everyone has to achieve the result of his own work. We can
actually see that one becomes busy according to the natural tendency of his
work; and according to that natural tendency, all living entities--either
human beings or demigods--achieve their respective results. All living
entities achieve higher or lower bodies and create enemies, friends or
neutral parties only because of their different kinds of work. One should be
careful to discharge duties according to his natural instinct and not divert
attention to the worship of various demigods. The demigods will be satisfied
by proper execution of all duties, so there is no need to worship them. Let
us, rather, perform our prescribed duties very nicely. Actually one cannot be
happy without executing his proper prescribed duty. One who does not,
therefore, properly discharge his prescribed duties, is compared with an
unchaste woman. The proper prescribed duty of the brāhmaṇas is the study of the Vedas; the proper duty of
the royal order, the kṣatriyas, is engagement in protecting the
citizens; the proper duty of the vaiśya community is agriculture, trade and
protection of the cows; and the proper duty of the śūdras is service to the
higher classes, namely the brāhmaṇas,
kṣatriyas, and vaiśyas. We belong to the vaiśya
community, and our proper duty is to farm, or to trade with the agricultural
produce, to protect cows, or take to banking."
Kṛṣṇa
identified Himself with the vaiśya community because Nanda Mahārāja was
protecting many cows, and Kṛṣṇa
was taking care of them. He enumerated four kinds of business engagements for
the vaiśya community, namely agriculture, trade, protection of cows and
banking. Although the vaiśyas can take to any of these occupations, the men
of Vṛndāvana were engaged primarily in the protection
of cows.
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After hearing this statement by Kṛṣṇa, Nanda Mahārāja replied, "My dear boy, since You are asking, I shall arrange for a separate sacrifice for the local brāhmaṇas and Govardhana Hill. But for the present let me execute this sacrifice known as Indra-yajña."
But Kṛṣṇa replied, "My dear father, don't delay. The sacrifice you propose for Govardhana and the local brāhmaṇas will take much time. Better take the arrangement and paraphernalia you have already made for sacrificing Indra-yajña and immediately engage it to satisfy Govardhana Hill and the local brāhmaṇas."
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Mahārāja Nanda finally relented. The
cowherd men then inquired from Kṛṣṇa
how He wanted the yajña performed, and Kṛṣṇa
gave them the following directions. "Prepare very nice foodstuffs of all
descriptions from the grains and ghee collected for the yajña. Prepare rice,
dahl, then halavah, pākorā, puri and all kinds of milk preparations like
sweet rice, sweetballs, sandeśa, rasagullā and lāḍḍu and invite the learned brāhmaṇas who can chant the Vedic hymns and offer
oblations to the fire. The brāhmaṇas
should be given all kinds of grains in charity. Then decorate all the cows
and feed them well. After performing this, give money in charity to the
brāhmaṇas. As far as the lower animals are concerned,
such as the dogs, and the lower grades of people, such as the cāṇḍālas, or the fifth class of men who are
considered untouchable, they also may be given sumptuous prasādam. After
giving nice grasses to the cows, the sacrifice known as Govardhana Pūjā may
immediately begin. This sacrifice will very much satisfy Me."
In this statement, Lord Kṛṣṇa practically described the whole economy of the
vaiśya community. In all communities of human society, and in the animal
kingdom, among the cows, dogs, goats, etc., everyone has his part to play.
Each is to work in cooperation for the total benefit of all society, which
includes not only animate objects but also inanimate objects like hills and
land. The vaiśya community is specifically responsible for the economic
improvement of the society by producing grains, by giving protection to the
cows, by transporting food when needed, and by banking and finance.
From this statement we learn also
that the cats and dogs, although not so important, are not to be neglected.
Cow protection is actually more important than protection of cats and dogs.
Another hint we get from this statement is that the cāṇḍālas or the untouchables are also not to be
neglected by the higher classes. Everyone is important, but some are directly
responsible for the advancement of human society, and some are only
indirectly responsible. However, when Kṛṣṇa
consciousness is there, then everyone's total benefit is taken care of.
The sacrifice known as Govardhana
Pūjā is observed in the Kṛṣṇa
consciousness movement. Lord Caitanya has recommended that since Kṛṣṇa is worshipable, so His land, Vṛndāvana and Govardhana Hill, are also
worshipable. To confirm this statement, Lord Kṛṣṇa
said that Govardhana Pūjā is as good as worship of Him. From that day, the
Govardhana Pūjā has been still going on and is known as Annakūṭa. In all the temples of Vṛndāvana or outside of Vṛndāvana, huge quantities of food are prepared in
this ceremony and are very sumptuously distributed to the general population.
Sometimes the food is thrown to the crowds, and they enjoy collecting it off
the ground. From these instances, we can understand that prasādam offered to
Kṛṣṇa never becomes polluted or contaminated, even if
it is thrown on the ground. The people, therefore, collect it and eat with
great satisfaction.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, therefore advised the cowherd men to stop the
Indra-yajña and begin the Govardhana Pūjā in order to chastise Indra who was
very much puffed up at being the supreme controller of the heavenly planets.
The honest and simple cowherd men headed by Nanda Mahārāja accepted Kṛṣṇa's proposal and executed in detail everything He
advised. They performed Govardhana worship and circumambulation of the hill.
(Following the inauguration of Govardhana Pūjā, people in Vṛndāvana still dress nicely and assemble near
Govardhana Hill to offer worship and circumambulate the hill, leading their
cows all around.) According to the instruction of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Nanda Mahārāja and the cowherd men called in
learned brāhmaṇas and began to worship Govardhana Hill by
chanting Vedic hymns and offering prasādam. The inhabitants of Vṛndāvana assembled together, decorated their cows
and gave them grass. Keeping the cows in front, they began to circumambulate
Govardhana Hill. The gopīs also dressed themselves very luxuriantly and sat
in bull-driven carts, chanting the glories of Kṛṣṇa's
pastimes. Assembled there to act as priests for Govardhana Pūjā, the brāhmaṇas offered their blessings to the cowherd men and
their wives, the gopīs.
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When everything was complete, Kṛṣṇa assumed a great transcendental form and declared
to the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana that He was Himself Govardhana Hill in
order to convince the devotees that Govardhana Hill and Kṛṣṇa Himself are identical. Then Kṛṣṇa began to eat all the food offered there. The
identity of Kṛṣṇa and Govardhana Hill is still honored, and great
devotees take rocks from Govardhana Hill and worship them exactly as they
worship the Deity of Kṛṣṇa in the temples. Devotees therefore collect small
rocks or pebbles from Govardhana Hill and worship them at home, because this
worship is as good as Deity worship. The form of Kṛṣṇa who began to eat the offerings was separately
constituted, and Kṛṣṇa Himself along with other inhabitants of Vṛndāvana began to offer obeisances to the Deity as
well as Govardhana Hill. In offering obeisances to the huge form of Kṛṣṇa Himself and Govardhana Hill, Kṛṣṇa declared, "Just see how Govardhana Hill has
assumed this huge form and is favoring us by accepting all the offerings."
Kṛṣṇa also declared at that meeting, "One who
neglects the worship of Govardhana Pūjā, as I am personally conducting it, will
not be happy. There are many snakes on Govardhana Hill, and persons neglecting
the prescribed duty of Govardhana Pūjā will be bitten by these snakes and
killed. In order to assure the good fortune of the cows and themselves, all
people of Vṛndāvana near Govardhana must worship the hill, as
prescribed by Me."
Thus performing the Govardhana Pūjā
sacrifice, all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana
followed the instructions of Kṛṣṇa, the son of
Vasudeva, and afterwards they returned to their respective homes.
25. Devastating Rainfall in Vṛndāvana
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When Indra understood that the
sacrifice offered by the cowherd men in Vṛndāvana
was stopped by Kṛṣṇa, he became angry, and he vented his anger upon
the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, who were headed by Nanda Mahārāja,
although Indra knew perfectly well that Kṛṣṇa
was personally protecting them. As the director of different kinds of clouds,
Indra called for the sāṁvartaka. This cloud is invited when there is a
need to devastate the whole cosmic manifestation. The sāṁvartaka was ordered by Indra to go over Vṛndāvana and inundate the whole area with an
extensive flood. Demonically, Indra thought himself to be the all-powerful
supreme personality. When demons become very powerful, they defy the supreme
controller, Personality of Godhead. Indra, though not a demon, was puffed up
by his material position, and he wanted to challenge the supreme controller.
He thought himself, at least for the time being, as powerful as Kṛṣṇa. Indra said, "Just see the impudence of
the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana! They are simply inhabitants of the
forest, but being infatuated with their friend Kṛṣṇa, who is nothing but an ordinary human being,
they have dared to defy the demigods."
Kṛṣṇa
has declared in the Bhagavad-gītā that the worshipers of the demigods are not
very intelligent. He has also declared that one has to give up all kinds of
worship and simply concentrate on Kṛṣṇa
consciousness. Kṛṣṇa's invoking the anger of Indra and later on
chastising him is a clear indication to His devotee that those who are
engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness have no need to worship any
demigod, even if it is found that the demigod has become angry. Kṛṣṇa gives His devotees all protection, and they
should completely depend on His mercy.
Indra cursed the action of the
inhabitants of Vṛndāvana and said, "By defying the authority
of the demigods, the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana
will suffer in material existence. Having neglected the sacrifice to the
demigods, they cannot cross over the impediments of the ocean of material
miseries." Indra further declared, "These cowherd men in Vṛndāvana have neglected my authority on the advice
of this talkative boy who is known as Kṛṣṇa.
He is nothing but a child, and by believing this child, they have enraged
me." Thus he ordered the sāṁvartaka
cloud to go and destroy the prosperity of Vṛndāvana.
"The men of Vṛndāvana," said Indra, "have become too
puffed up over their material opulence and their confidence in the presence
of their tiny friend, Kṛṣṇa. He is simply talkative, childish, and unaware
of the complete cosmic situation, although He is thinking Himself very
advanced in knowledge. Because they have taken Kṛṣṇa so seriously, they must be punished, and so I
have ordered the sāṁvartaka cloud to go to there and inundate the
place. They should be destroyed with their cows."
It is indicated here that in the
villages or outside the towns, the inhabitants must depend on the cows for
their prosperity. When the cows are destroyed, the people are destitute of all
kinds of opulences. When King Indra ordered the sāṁvartaka and companion clouds to go to Vṛndāvana, the clouds were afraid of the
assignment. But King Indra assured them, "You go ahead, and I will also
go, riding on my elephant, accompanied by great storms. And I shall apply all
my strength to punish the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana."
Ordered by King Indra, all the
dangerous clouds appeared above Vṛndāvana
and began to pour water incessantly, with all their strength and power. There
was constant lightning and thunder, blowing of severe wind and incessant
falling of rain. The rainfall seemed to fall like piercing sharp arrows. By
pouring water as thick as pillars, without cessation, the clouds gradually
filled all the lands in Vṛndāvana with water,
and there was no visible distinction between higher and lower land. The
situation was very dangerous, especially for the animals. The rainfall was
accompanied by great winds, and every living creature in Vṛndāvana began to tremble from the severe cold.
Unable to find any other source of deliverance, they all approached Govinda
to take shelter at His lotus feet. The cows especially, being much aggrieved
from the heavy rain, bowed down their heads, and taking their calves
underneath their bodies, they approached the Supreme Personality of Godhead
to take shelter of His lotus feet. At that time all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana began to pray to Lord Kṛṣṇa. "Dear Kṛṣṇa,"
they prayed, "You are all-powerful, and You are very affectionate to
Your devotees. Now please protect us who have been much harassed by angry
Indra."
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Upon hearing their prayer, Kṛṣṇa could also understand that Indra, being bereft
of his sacrificial honor, was pouring down rain that was accompanied by heavy
pieces of ice and strong winds, although all this was out of season. Kṛṣṇa understood that this was a deliberate
exhibition of anger by Indra. He therefore concluded, "This demigod who
thinks himself supreme has shown his great power, but I shall answer him
according to My position, and I shall teach him that he is not autonomous in
managing universal affairs. I am the Supreme Lord over all, and I shall thus
take away his false prestige which has risen from his power. The demigods are
My devotees, and therefore it is not possible for them to forget My
supremacy, but somehow or other he has become puffed up with material power
and thus is now maddened. I shall act in such a way to relieve him of this
false prestige. I shall give protection to My pure devotees in Vṛndāvana, who are at present completely at My
mercy and whom I have taken completely under My protection. I will save them
by My mystic power."
Thinking in this way, Lord Kṛṣṇa immediately picked up Govardhana Hill with one
hand, exactly as a child picks up a mushroom from the ground. Thus He
exhibited His transcendental pastime of lifting Govardhana Hill. Lord Kṛṣṇa then began to address His devotees, "My
dear brothers, My dear father, My dear inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, you can now safely enter under the
umbrella of Govardhana Hill, which I have just lifted. Do not be afraid of
the hill and think that it will fall from My hand. You have been too much
afflicted from the heavy rain and strong wind; therefore I have lifted this
hill, which will protect you exactly like a huge umbrella. I think this is a
proper arrangement to relieve you from your immediate distress. Be happy
along with your animals underneath this great umbrella." Being assured
by Lord Kṛṣṇa, all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana entered beneath the great hill and
appeared to be safe along with their property and animals.
The inhabitants of Vṛndāvana and their animals remained there for one
week without being disturbed by hunger, thirst or any other discomforts. They
were simply astonished to see how Kṛṣṇa
was holding up the mountain with the little finger of His left hand. Seeing
the extraordinary mystic power of Kṛṣṇa,
Indra, the King of heaven, was thunderstruck and baffled in his determination.
He immediately called for all the clouds and asked them to desist. When the
sky became completely cleared of all clouds and there was sunrise again, the
strong winds stopped. At that time Kṛṣṇa,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, known now as the lifter of Govardhana
Hill, said, "My dear cowherd men, now you can leave and take your wives,
children, cows and valuables, because everything is ended. The inundation has
gone down, along with the swelling waters of the river."
All the men loaded their valuables on
carts and slowly left with their cows and other paraphernalia. After they had
cleared out everything, Lord Kṛṣṇa
very slowly replaced Govardhana Hill exactly in the same position as it had
been before. When everything was done, all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana approached Kṛṣṇa and embraced Him with great ecstasy. The gopīs,
being naturally very affectionate to Kṛṣṇa,
began to offer Him curd mixed with their tears, and they poured incessant
blessings upon Him. Mother Yaśodā, mother Rohiṇī,
Nanda, and Balarāma, who is the strongest of the strong, embraced Kṛṣṇa one after another and, from spontaneous
feelings of affection, blessed Him over and over again. In the heavens,
different demigods from different planetary systems, such as Siddhaloka, Gandharvaloka
and Cāraṇaloka, also began to show their complete
satisfaction. They poured showers of flowers on the surface of the earth and
sounded different conchshells. There was beating of drums, and being inspired
by godly feelings, residents of Gandharvaloka began to play on their
tampouras to please the Lord. After this incident, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, surrounded by His dear friends and animals, returned to His home. As
usual, the gopīs began to chant the glorious pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa with great feeling, for they were chanting from
the heart.
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26. Wonderful Kṛṣṇa
Without
understanding the intricacies of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and without knowing His
uncommon spiritual opulences, the innocent cowherd boys and men of Vṛndāvana began to discuss the wonderful
activities of Kṛṣṇa
which surpass the activities of all men.
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One of them said, "My dear
friends, considering His wonderful activities, how is it possible that such
an uncommon boy would come and live with us in Vṛndāvana? It is really not possible. Just imagine!
He is now only seven years old! How was it possible for Him to lift
Govardhana Hill in one hand and hold it up just like the king of elephants
holds a lotus flower? To lift a lotus flower is a most insignificant thing
for an elephant, and similarly Kṛṣṇa
lifted Govardhana Hill without exertion. When He was simply a small baby and
could not even see properly, He killed a great demon, Pūtanā. While sucking
her breast, He also sucked out her life-air. Kṛṣṇa
killed the Pūtanā demon exactly as eternal time kills a living creature in
due course. When He was only three months old, He was sleeping underneath a
hand-driven cart. Being hungry for His mother's breast, He began to cry and
throw His legs upwards. And from the kicking of His small feet the cart
immediately broke apart and fell to pieces. When He was only one year old, He
was carried away by the Tṛṇāvarta
demon disguised as a whirlwind, and although He was taken very high in the
sky, He simply hung on the neck of the demon and forced him to fall from the
sky and immediately die. Once His mother, being disturbed by His stealing
butter, tied Him to a wooden mortar, and the child pushed it towards a pair
of trees known as yamala arjuna and caused them to fall. Once, when He was
engaged in tending the calves in the forest along with His elder brother,
Balarāma, a demon named Bakāsura appeared, and Kṛṣṇa at once bifurcated the demon's beaks. When the
demon known as Vatsāsura entered among the calves tended by Kṛṣṇa with a desire to kill Him, He immediately
detected the demon, killed him, and threw him into a tree. When Kṛṣṇa, along with His brother, Balarāma, entered the
Tālavana forest, the demon known as Dhenukāsura, in the shape of an ass,
attacked Them and was immediately killed by Balarāma, who caught his hind
legs and threw him in a palm tree. Although the Dhenukāsura demon was
assisted by his cohorts, also in the shape of asses, all were killed, and the
Tālavana forest was then open for the use of the animals and inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. When Pralambāsura entered amongst His
cowherd boy friends, He caused his death by Balarāma. Thereafter, Kṛṣṇa saved His friends and cows from the severe
forest fire, and He chastised the Kāliya serpent in the lake of Yamunā and
forced him to leave the vicinity of the Yamunā River; He thereby made the
water of the Yamunā poisonless."
Another one of the friends of Nanda
Mahārāja said, "My dear Nanda, we do not know why we are so attracted by
your son Kṛṣṇa. We want to forget Him, but this is impossible.
Why are we so naturally affectionate toward Him? Just imagine how wonderful
it is! On one hand He is only a boy of seven years old, and on the other hand
there is a huge hill like Govardhana Hill, and He lifted it so easily! O Nanda
Mahārāja, we are now in great doubt--your son Kṛṣṇa
must be one of the demigods. He is not at all an ordinary boy. Maybe He is
the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
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On hearing the praises of the cowherd
men in Vṛndāvana, King Nanda said, "My dear friends,
in reply to you I can simply present the statement of Gargamuni so that your
doubts may be cleared. When he came to perform the name-giving ceremony, he
said that this boy descends in different periods of time in different colors
and that this time He has appeared in Vṛndāvana
in a dark color and is known as Kṛṣṇa.
Previously, He has white color, then red color, then yellow color. He also
said that this boy was once the son of Vasudeva, and everyone who knows of
His previous birth calls Him Vāsudeva. Actually he said that my son has many
varieties of names, according to His different qualities and activities.
Gargācārya assured me that this boy will be all-auspicious for my family and
that He will be able to give transcendental blissful pleasure to all the
cowherd men and cows in Vṛndāvana. Even
though we will be put into various kinds of difficulties, by the grace of
this boy we will be very easily freed from them. He also said that formerly
this boy saved the world from an unregulated condition, and He saved all
honest men from the hands of the dishonest. He also said that any fortunate
man who becomes attached to this boy, Kṛṣṇa,
is never vanquished or defeated by his enemy. On the whole, He is exactly
like Lord Viṣṇu, who always takes the side of the demigods, who
are consequently never defeated by the demons. Gargācārya thus concluded that
my child would grow to be exactly like Viṣṇu
in transcendental beauty, qualification, activities, influence and opulence,
and so we should not be very astonished by His wonderful activities. After
telling me this, Gargācārya returned home, and since then we have been
continually seeing the wonderful activities of this child. According to the
version of Gargācārya, I consider that He must be Nārāyaṇa Himself, or maybe a plenary portion of Nārāyaṇa."
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When all the
cowherd men very attentively heard the statements of Gargācārya through Nanda
Mahārāja, they better appreciated the wonderful activities of Kṛṣṇa and became very jubilant and
satisfied. They began to praise Nanda Mahārāja, because by consulting him their
doubts about Kṛṣṇa
were cleared. They said, "Let Kṛṣṇa, who is so kind, beautiful and merciful, protect us. When angry
Indra sent torrents of rain, accompanied by showers of ice blocks and high
wind, He immediately took compassion upon us and saved us and our families,
cows and valuable possessions by picking up the Govardhana Hill, just as a
child picks up a mushroom. He saved us so wonderfully. May He continue to
mercifully glance over us and our cows. May we live peacefully under the
protection of wonderful Kṛṣṇa."
Om
Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My humble salutations H H Swami Sri Prabhupada ji, Sri Krishnalilas
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