In the beginning, as the cosmic being was formed, his veins were opened and filled with blood, from which the rivers came into existence. When his abdomen was opened, hunger and thirst arose within him, and the ocean became their support. His heart was split, and from the heart, the mind emerged. From the mind, the moon was born; from intellect, the lord of speech appeared; from ego, Rudra came forth; and from consciousness, the inner witness—the knower within—was born. These deities, having arisen, sought to awaken the cosmic being, but none could make him rise. Each returned to their own place, attempting in turn to stir him. Fire entered his mouth as speech, yet the cosmic being remained unmoved. Air entered his nostrils as smell, but still he did not rise. The sun entered his eyes as sight, but the being was not awakened. The directions entered his ears as hearing, but there was no response. Herbs entered his skin with hair, waters entered his genitals with semen, death entered his anus with apāna, Indra entered his hands with strength, Viṣṇu entered his feet with movement, rivers entered his veins with blood, the ocean entered his abdomen with hunger and thirst, the moon entered his heart with the mind, Brahmā entered his heart with intellect, and Rudra entered his heart with ego—but none could rouse the cosmic being. At last, when the inner witness, the knower of the field, entered the heart with consciousness, the cosmic being arose from the waters. Just as in a sleeping person, the life-airs, senses, mind, and intellect exist but cannot awaken him without the presence of vital energy, so too, one whose mind is engaged in yoga should discern and contemplate within oneself that innermost self, through devotion, detachment, and knowledge. Later, Śuka narrated that when Krishna lifted the mountain to shelter the people of Vraja from the torrential rains, Surabhi and Indra came to Krishna in Goloka. Indra, ashamed for his offense, approached Krishna privately and touched his feet, his crown shining like the sun. Having witnessed Krishna’s boundless power and with the pride of the rulers of the three worlds destroyed, Indra spoke with joined palms. Indra said, “Your abode is pure existence, peaceful, composed of austerity, free from passion and darkness. The flow of qualities shaped by illusion does not bind you, nor do you have any attachment. How could there be causes such as greed and others, which arise from ignorance? Yet, O Blessed One, you wield punishment for the protection of righteousness and the restraint of the wicked. You are the father, teacher, ruler of all worlds, insurmountable time, who has taken up the rod of chastisement. For the welfare of all, you act through your own chosen forms, removing the pride of those who consider themselves lords of the world. Those like me, who disregard your command and imagine themselves as lords, upon seeing you at the proper time, quickly lose their arrogance and abandon the noble path, acting with disrespect. Even for the wicked, your instruction is effective. Therefore, O Lord, please forgive my offense, committed out of ignorance and pride in my own power. My mind was deluded; may such unworthy thoughts never arise in me again. This descent of yours, O Adhokṣaja, is for the removal of the earth’s heavy burden caused by powerful rulers, for the destruction of armies and for the welfare of those who follow your feet. Salutations to you, O Blessed One, Supreme Person, Great Soul; salutations to Vāsudeva, to Krishna, to the Lord of the Sātvatas. Salutations to the one who assumes a body at will, whose form is pure knowledge, to the all-pervading, the seed of all, the soul of all beings. It was I who, driven by pride and intense anger, acted to destroy this cowherd settlement with storms and winds, after the sacrifice was interrupted by the arrogant. By your grace, I am freed from pride and my futile effort is destroyed; I have taken refuge in you, the Lord, the teacher, and the self.” Śuka continued: Thus Krishna was praised by Maghavan (Indra), and the Blessed One, smiling, spoke with a voice deep as thunderclouds. Krishna said, “O Maghavan, I broke your sacrifice to show you favor, so that you would always remember me and not be intoxicated by Indra’s glory. One blinded by pride in wealth and power does not see the wielder of the rod; I deprive such a person of their prosperity whenever I wish to show them mercy. Go now, Śakra; may all be well with you. Let my instruction be followed. Remain in your own duties, free from pride and properly engaged.” Then Surabhi, thoughtful, approached Krishna, the Lord in the form of a cowherd, along with her offspring, and offered her respects. She said, “Krishna, Krishna, great yogi, soul of the universe, origin of all, by you, the Lord of the worlds, we are protected, O infallible one. You are our supreme deity, not Indra, O Lord of the world; for the welfare of cows, brahmins, gods, and the virtuous, you exist. We, prompted by Brahmā, shall anoint you, O Indra. You have descended, O Soul of the Universe, to remove the burden of the earth.” Śuka described how Surabhi bathed Krishna with her own milk, and with waters brought by Airāvata from the celestial Gaṅgā. Indra, together with the sages among the gods and prompted by the mothers of the gods, anointed Krishna, addressing him as Govinda. Tumburu, Nārada, and others—Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, Siddhas, and Cāraṇas—arrived and sang the fame of Hari, which destroys the impurities of the worlds, while the celestial women danced with joy. The leaders of the divine hosts praised him and showered wondrous rains of flowers; the three worlds attained supreme delight, and the cows then gave forth streams of milk. Rivers and trees flowed with honey; grains and herbs grew without cultivation, and the mountains bore precious gems. Thus, in this sacred celebration, the glory of Krishna was recognized by gods and sages alike, and all creation rejoiced in his presence.