Those who seek purification and fearlessness in fulfilling their duties are instructed to meditate upon this sacred form. Devotion to it grants true courage and dispels all apprehension. Though the Lord is difficult to reach for embodied beings, He becomes attainable to those devoted with exclusive love. Even mastery over oneself pales in comparison to the supreme state of self-realization gained through unwavering devotion. Once one has worshipped Him—who is elusive even for the virtuous and hard to approach—through such exclusive devotion, what else could they possibly desire, apart from His feet? For those who remain indifferent to death, its power cannot touch them, even as it destroys the universe with its fierce might and arched brows. Not even heaven or liberation can compare to the value of even half a moment spent in the company of the Lord’s devotees; what then of other worldly blessings? Therefore, O sinless one, let us seek the association of those whose hearts are pure and compassionate toward all beings, whose sins are washed away by bathing in the glory of Your fame. This alone is Your grace to us. The sage whose mind is undistracted by external objects and does not wander into the cave of ignorance, whose mind is purified through devotion and yoga, perceives Your path clearly. That reality in which the universe appears, which illumines all, is the supreme Brahman—the highest light, vast like space. By His own power of illusion, the Lord created this world of many forms, sustains it, and dissolves it again, remaining unchanged. The perception of difference is due only to the instability of the mind. O Lord, we recognize You as self-dependent. Yogis, with faith, worship You alone through various rituals to attain perfection. You are perceived in all beings, senses, and the mind—thus, those skilled in Veda and Tantra know You truly. You alone are the primeval Person, whose power lies dormant. By that power, the modes of passion, goodness, and darkness are differentiated; from You arise the great ego, space, air, fire, water, earth, the gods, sages, and all beings. Having entered this creation by Your own power, You dwell within the fourfold body as a portion of the self. The wise know You as the Person who, abiding within, enjoys the essence of the senses like honey. As the swift chariot of time, You drag all worlds with irresistible force. The elements, whose nature is inferred, are like masses of clouds, while You are like the wind—unbearable. While people, intoxicated and distracted by thoughts of action, greedily long for sense objects, You, ever alert, suddenly seize them like a snake licking up a mouse, O Death. What wise person would abandon Your lotus feet, the abode of honor and humility? Even the fourteen Manus, revered teachers, worshipped You out of fear, lest they fall from their position. Therefore, O Brahman, Supreme Self, You are the refuge of the wise. When the universe is struck by the fear of Rudra, You alone are the shelter free from all fear. Recite this, O noble sons of kings, remaining pure, performing your own duties, and offering your intentions to the Lord—may all be well for you. Worship that very Self, who abides within the self and is present in all beings, praising and meditating constantly on Hari. Having received the instruction in yoga, maintaining the vows of sages, and with concentrated minds, may you all practice this with reverence. Long ago, the Lord, master of creation, spoke this teaching to us, desiring to produce the sons of Bhṛgu and others, and to those wishing to create. We, all the lords of progeny, were not prompted in the creation of beings; but by this teaching, with darkness dispelled, we wished to create various creatures. Now, whoever is always engaged, reciting this attentively, soon attains the highest good, being devoted to Vāsudeva. Here, the supreme knowledge is the highest welfare for all; with the boat of knowledge, one easily crosses the difficult ocean of misfortune. Whoever, with faith, recites this praise of the Lord sung by me, worships Hari, who is otherwise hard to worship. From this song, dear to the highest welfare, a person obtains whatever he desires, swiftly. Whoever rises early, with joined palms and filled with faith, hears or recites this, is freed from the bonds of karma. O sons of men-gods, this song, this praise of the Supreme Person, the Paramātmā, has been sung by me; recite it with focused mind as great austerity, practice it, and in the end you will attain your desired goal. Meanwhile, Indra, consumed by anger, unleashed a torrent of club-like rain to protect the inhabitants of Vraja and to challenge Krishna’s lifting of Govardhana. Enraged, Indra commanded the destructive clouds called Sāṃvartaka, and spoke with authority: “Ah! The pride and greatness of these cowherds, dwellers of the forest, who rely on Krishna—a mere mortal—and have shown disrespect to the gods. Just as some, abandoning the science of inquiry, attempt to cross the ocean of existence with rituals performed by strong actions and names, so these cowherds, trusting Krishna—talkative, childish, arrogant, ignorant, thinking himself wise—have wronged me. Blinded by their own wealth, puffed up by Krishna, they destroy their pride born of prosperity and drive their cattle to ruin. I, mounting Airāvata, the elephant, will go to Vraja, accompanied by the wind-gods with great force, intent on destroying Nanda’s cowherd settlement.” Śuka narrated: Thus, commanded by Maghavan, the clouds, freed from restraint, began to afflict Nanda’s cowherd village with torrents of rain. Lightning flashed, thunder roared, and fierce winds drove the rain and hail. Streams of water, both thick and thin, poured incessantly into the chasms; the earth, flooded by torrents, was no longer visible—neither low nor high. Due to the excessive and violent wind, the animals began to tremble; the cowherds and cowherd women, afflicted by the cold, sought refuge in Govinda. Covering their heads and children with their bodies, distressed by the storm and shivering, they approached the feet of the Blessed Lord. With earnest voices, they cried, “Krishna, Krishna, greatly fortunate one, O Lord, Gokula is under your protection; you must save us from the wrath of the gods, O lover of your devotees!