Having witnessed firsthand the boundless power of Krishna and heard of his wondrous deeds, Indra—the king of heaven—found his pride as ruler of the three worlds utterly dispelled. With his arrogance dissolved, Indra approached Krishna with folded hands and spoke humbly. He said, “Your abode is pure existence itself—serene, composed of austerity, untouched by passion or ignorance. The play of qualities shaped by illusion does not bind you, nor do you harbor any attachment. How, then, could greed or other faults born of ignorance ever touch you, O Lord? Yet, for the protection of righteousness and the restraint of the wicked, you wield the rod of punishment. “You are the father, the teacher, the ruler of all worlds—insurmountable time itself—who has taken up chastisement for the welfare of all. Through your chosen forms, you humble those who imagine themselves lords of the world. Those like me, who disregard your command and become intoxicated with their own power, quickly lose their arrogance when they see you at the right moment. Even the wicked are corrected by your instruction. “Therefore, O Lord, forgive my offense, committed out of ignorance and pride in my own strength. My mind was deluded—may such thoughts never arise in me again. Your descent, O Adhokṣaja, is for removing the earth’s heavy burden caused by powerful rulers—for destroying hostile 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 you who assume a body at will, whose form is pure knowledge, who pervades all, the seed and soul of all beings. “It was I, driven by pride and anger, who tried to destroy this cowherd settlement with storms and winds after the sacrifice was interrupted by the arrogant. By your grace, my pride is destroyed and my futile effort ended. I have taken refuge in you, my Lord, my teacher, my very self.” As Indra thus praised Krishna, Śuka said, the Blessed One smiled, his voice as deep as thunderclouds. Krishna spoke gently to Indra: “O Maghavan, I broke your sacrifice to show you favor, so you would always remember me and not become intoxicated by the glory of your office. One blinded by pride in wealth and power does not see the true chastiser; I deprive such a person of their prosperity whenever I wish to show them mercy. “Now go, Śakra. May all be well with you. Abide by my instruction—remain in your own duties, free from pride, and properly engaged.” At that moment, Surabhi, the divine mother of cows, approached Krishna thoughtfully, accompanied by her offspring. She offered her respects and spoke: “Krishna, Krishna, great yogi, soul of the universe, origin of all! By you, O Lord of the worlds, we are protected, O infallible one. You are our supreme deity, not Indra. For the welfare of cows, brahmins, gods, and the virtuous, you exist. Prompted by Brahmā, we shall anoint you, O Indra of the cows. You have descended, O Soul of the Universe, to remove the earth’s burden.” Śuka continued: Surabhi then bathed Krishna with her own milk, while Airāvata, Indra’s elephant, brought waters from the celestial Gaṅgā for the abhiṣeka ceremony. 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 other Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, Siddhas, and Cāraṇas arrived, singing the glories of Hari which destroy the impurities of the worlds, while celestial women danced with joy. The leaders of the divine hosts praised Krishna and showered wondrous rains of flowers. The three worlds rejoiced; the cows gave streams of milk, rivers and trees flowed with honey, grains and herbs grew without cultivation, and the mountains yielded precious gems. At that time, even those beings who were 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—returned to heaven. Śuka then described the worship that should be offered. One should worship Durgā, Vināyaka, Vyāsa, Viṣvaksena, the teachers, and the gods, each facing their proper direction, with offerings such as sprinkling and others. With sandalwood, camphor, kuṅkuma, aguru, and fragrant waters, one should bathe the deity daily with mantras, if resources allow. Recite the Svarṇagharman hymn, the Mahāpuruṣa-vidyā, the Pauruṣa Sūkta, and Sāman hymns while performing the rites. With garments, sacred threads, ornaments, garlands of leaves, and fragrant ointments, my devotee should adorn me with love, as is proper. Present water for washing the feet, for sipping, with fragrance, flowers, unbroken rice, incense, lamps, and offerings with faith. Prepare offerings such as sweet rice with jaggery, clarified butter, fried cakes, rice cakes, sweets, curd, soup, and other foods as available. Oiling, massaging, mirrors, tooth-cleaning, bathing, food and drink, singing, dancing, and similar acts should be performed daily and on festival days. In the prescribed manner, in a consecrated fire-pit with girdle, fuel, and altar, kindle the fire and gather it all around as directed. After spreading kuśa grass, sprinkle the area, place the offerings as prescribed, purify them with water, and approach the fire to offer them to me. Meditate on me as resplendent as molten gold, with conch, discus, mace, and lotus, shining with four arms, peaceful, clad in garments the color of lotus filaments, radiant with crown, bracelets, waistband, splendid armlets, adorned with the mark of Śrīvatsa on the chest, shining with the Kaustubha gem and a garland of forest flowers. Meditating and worshipping in this way, offer the wooden offerings and those soaked in clarified butter; after offering ghee for the ancestors and gods, present the oblation immersed in ghee. Having worshipped and bowed, offer gifts to the attendants; recite the root mantra, contemplate Brahman, and remember the essence of Nārāyaṇa. After giving water for sipping and the remnants, prepare them for Viṣvaksena; then, with fragrant mouth-fresheners such as betel, offer them accordingly. Thus, the Supreme Lord Krishna, honored by the gods and all beings, revealed the proper way to worship, bringing peace and prosperity to the worlds.