With a mind absorbed in yoga, one should turn inward, seeking the innermost Self through devotion, detachment, and knowledge, contemplating its presence within. Meanwhile, Śuka narrated: After Krishna had lifted the mountain to shelter the people of Vraja from the torrential rains, Surabhi, the divine cow, and Indra, king of the gods, came to Krishna in Goloka. Approaching him privately, Indra, ashamed for his earlier offense, bowed low and touched Krishna’s feet with his crown, which shone like the sun. Having witnessed Krishna’s boundless power and heard of his deeds, Indra’s pride as ruler of the three worlds was shattered. With palms joined in reverence, he addressed Krishna. Indra spoke: “Your abode is pure existence, peaceful and composed of austerity, untouched by passion or darkness. The qualities shaped by illusion do not bind you, nor do you have any attachment. How could causes such as greed or ignorance arise in you, O Lord? Yet, for the protection of righteousness and the restraint of the wicked, you wield punishment. You are the father, teacher, and ruler of all worlds, insurmountable time, holding the rod of chastisement. For the welfare of all, you act through forms of your own choosing, humbling those who imagine themselves lords of the world. “Those like me, who disregard your command and imagine themselves as sovereign, upon seeing you at the proper time, lose arrogance and stray from 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 thoughts never arise in me again. “This descent of yours, O Adhokṣaja, is for removing the heavy burden of the earth caused by powerful rulers, for the destruction of armies, and for the welfare of those devoted to 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. “O Lord, it was I, driven by pride and anger, who sought to destroy this cowherd settlement with storms and winds, after the sacrifice was interrupted by arrogance. By your grace, I am freed from pride and my futile effort is destroyed; I take refuge in you, the Lord, the teacher, and the Self.” Śuka continued: Thus praised by Maghavan, Krishna, the Blessed One, smiled and spoke with a voice as deep as thunderclouds. He said, “O Maghavan, I broke your sacrifice to show you favor, so 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 prayed, “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. Prompted by Brahmā, we shall anoint you, O Indra. You have descended, O Soul of the Universe, to remove the burden of the earth.” Śuka described: After inviting Krishna, Surabhi 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 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 attained supreme delight, and the cows gave forth streams of milk. Rivers and trees flowed with honey; grains and herbs grew 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 the cows and cowherds, Indra, permitted by Krishna and accompanied by the gods and others, returned to heaven. Śuka then instructed: One should worship Durgā, Vināyaka, Vyāsa, Viṣvaksena, the teachers, and the gods, each facing their own direction, with offerings such as sprinkling and others. With sandalwood, camphor, kuṅkuma, aguru, and fragrant waters, one should bathe the deity with mantras daily, if resources allow. With the recitation of the Svarṇagharman hymn, the Mahāpuruṣa-vidyā, the Pauruṣa Sūkta, and Sāman hymns, O King, one should perform the rites. With garments, sacred threads, ornaments, leaf-garlands, and fragrant ointments, my devotee should adorn me with love, as is proper. With water for washing the feet, for sipping, with fragrance, flowers, unbroken rice, incense, lamps, and offerings, the worshipper should present them to me 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 the kuśa grass, one should sprinkle the area, place the offerings as prescribed, purify them with water, and, having approached the fire, offer them to me. One should meditate on me as resplendent as molten gold, with conch, discus, mace, and lotus, shining with four arms, peaceful, and clad in garments the color of lotus filaments. Radiant with crown, bracelets, waistband, and splendid armlets; adorned with the mark of Śrīvatsa upon the chest, shining with the Kaustubha gem and a garland of forest flowers.