In the beginning, when the indwelling witness—the knower of the field—entered the heart along with consciousness, the cosmic being arose from the primeval waters. Just as in a sleeping person, the life-airs, senses, mind, and intellect are present but cannot awaken him without his vital energy, so too, one with a mind engaged in yoga should, with devotion, detachment, and knowledge, discern and contemplate within oneself that innermost self. Now, Śuka continued his narration. When Krishna had lifted the mighty mountain to shelter the people of Vraja from the torrential downpour, Surabhi, the divine mother of cows, and Indra, the king of the gods, came to Krishna in Goloka. Approaching him in private, Indra—ashamed of his earlier offense—bowed low and touched Krishna’s feet with his crown, which shone like the sun. Having witnessed Krishna’s boundless power, Indra’s pride as ruler of the three worlds was utterly destroyed. With hands joined in humility, he spoke: “O Lord, your abode is pure existence itself—peaceful, composed of austerity, untouched by passion or darkness. The flow of qualities shaped by illusion does not bind you, nor do you have any attachment. How then could greed and other causes born of ignorance touch you? Yet, O Blessed One, you wield punishment to protect righteousness and restrain the wicked. “You are the father, the teacher, and the ruler of all worlds; you are insurmountable time itself, bearing the rod of chastisement. For the welfare of all, you act in forms of your own choosing, removing the pride of those who imagine themselves lords of the world. Those like me, who disregard your command and fancy themselves sovereign, quickly lose their arrogance when they see you at the right time. Even the wicked are corrected by your instruction. “Therefore, O Lord, forgive my offense, born of ignorance and pride in my own power. My mind was deluded—may such unworthy thoughts never arise in me again. Your descent, O Adhokṣaja, is for removing the earth’s burden caused by powerful rulers, for destroying armies, and for the welfare of those devoted to your feet. Salutations to you, O Supreme Person, Great Soul, Vāsudeva, Krishna, Lord of the Sātvatas! Salutations to you who assume a body at will, whose form is pure knowledge, all-pervading, the seed and soul of all beings. “It was I who, driven by pride and anger, tried to destroy this cowherd settlement with storms and winds, after the sacrifice was interrupted by arrogance. By your grace, my pride is gone and my futile effort destroyed. I have taken refuge in you, Lord, teacher, and self.” Śuka said: Thus praised by Maghavan, Krishna, the Blessed One, smiled and spoke in a voice deep as thunderclouds. “O Maghavan, I broke your sacrifice to show you favor, so you would always remember me and not be intoxicated by the glory of Indra. One blinded by pride in wealth and power fails to see the true wielder of the rod; I deprive such a one of their prosperity whenever I wish to show them mercy. Now go, Śakra; may all be well with you. Follow my instruction, remain in your 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 prayed, “Krishna, Krishna, great yogi, soul of the universe, origin of all, you protect us, 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. Prompted by Brahmā, we shall anoint you as Indra. You have descended, O Soul of the Universe, to remove the burden of the earth.” Śuka continued: Surabhi then invited Krishna and bathed him 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, the descendant of Daśārha, addressing him as Govinda. Tumburu, Nārada, and others—Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, Siddhas, and Cāraṇas—arrived, singing 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 were filled with supreme delight, and the cows gave forth streams of milk. Rivers and trees flowed with honey, grains and herbs grew abundantly without cultivation, and the mountains bore precious gems. O descendant of Kuru, when Krishna was anointed, all beings—even those cruel by nature—became free from enmity. Thus, after anointing Govinda, the lord of cows and cowherds, Indra, permitted by Krishna and accompanied by the gods and others, returned to heaven. Now, one should worship Durgā, Vināyaka, Vyāsa, Viṣvaksena, the teachers, and the gods, each facing their own direction, with offerings such as sprinkling and other rites. With sandalwood, camphor, kuṅkuma, aguru, and fragrant waters, one should bathe the deity with mantras daily, if resources allow. The worshipper should recite the Svarṇagharman hymn, the Mahāpuruṣa-vidyā, the Pauruṣa Sūkta, and Sāman hymns while performing the rites. With garments, sacred threads, ornaments, leaf-garlands, and fragrant ointments, the devotee should adorn the Lord with love, as is proper. With water for washing the feet, for sipping, with fragrance, flowers, unbroken rice, incense, lamps, and offerings, all should be presented with faith. One should prepare offerings such as sweet rice with jaggery, clarified butter, fried cakes, rice cakes, and sweets, as well as curd, soup, and other foods, if available. Oiling, massaging, mirrors, tooth-cleaning, bathing, food, drink, singing, dancing, and the like should be performed daily and on festival days. In the prescribed manner, in a consecrated fire-pit with girdle, fuel, and altar, one should kindle the fire and gather it all around, as directed by hand. After spreading kuśa grass, one should sprinkle the area, place the offerings as prescribed, purify them with water, and, having approached the fire, offer them to the Lord. Thus, the divine acts and worship of Krishna, Govinda, the Lord of all, are to be performed with devotion and faith, bringing auspiciousness to all beings.