Seeing the cowherds of Vraja bustling with excitement and joy as they prepared for a grand celebration, Krishna, wise and ever curious, approached the elders. With a gentle and respectful voice, he addressed Nanda, the chief among the cowherds: “Father, who is this Indra, whose name brings you all such delight?” Nanda replied with reverence, “Indra is the king of the gods, the lord of clouds and waters. By his urging, the clouds pour down rain upon the earth. From that rain, crops grow, and we, along with others, are nourished by them. These crops not only feed us, but they are also offered to the gods as acts of devotion. Our cows, full of milk and strong calves, are satisfied and thrive because of the grass that grows from Indra’s rain. Wherever the rain-bearing clouds appear, there is abundance—no shortage of food, no lack of grass, and no one suffers from hunger. The earth is like a cow to be milked, the clouds are the waters of the sun, and Parjanya, the rain, falls for the welfare of all beings. Therefore, in the rainy season, all kings, filled with happiness, worship Indra with sacrifices, as do we and others.” Hearing Nanda’s explanation of Indra’s worship, Krishna—called Damodara—spoke again, his words subtly challenging the lord of the gods and stirring his anger. “Father, we are not farmers, nor do we live by trade. For us, the cows are our true divinity, for we dwell in the forest. There are four branches of knowledge: philosophy, the three Vedas, trade, and governance. Now, listen as I explain trade. The three main livelihoods are farming, trade, and cattle-rearing. Trade, in truth, is one branch that depends on these three occupations. Farmers live by farming, merchants by trade, and for us, the highest livelihood is the care of cows. Thus, trade is divided according to these three paths. “For each person, the branch of knowledge they practice is their highest divinity; it alone is to be worshipped and honored, for it is their true support. Whoever worships another by offering what belongs to someone else gains no auspicious result, neither in this life nor in the next. Our true refuge is the boundary at the end of the fields, the forests beyond, and the mountains that rise beyond the forests. We have no gates or enclosures, no householders or landowners; in all the world, none are as happy as those who wander with the wheel, moving freely with their herds. “It is said that in these mountains and forests, beings of many forms appear as they wish, delighting on their own slopes. When they are driven out, the dwellers of the forests are then endangered by the mountains, which take on forms such as lions and other fierce creatures. Therefore, let us perform the mountain sacrifice and the cow sacrifice; what need have we for Indra? Cows, mountains, horses, and the deities of our land are ours. Brahmins are devoted to mantra-sacrifices, farmers to ploughing-sacrifices; as for us, who live in forests and mountains, our devotion is to the mountain and the cows. “Let Govardhana mountain be worshipped and honored by you with various offerings; let sacrificial animals be properly offered according to the rites. Let all the people of our settlement gather without hesitation; let the Brahmins and all who desire partake of the feast. When the worship is complete, the fire offerings made, and the Brahmins have eaten, let the herds of cows roam, adorned with garlands of autumn flowers. If my words are followed with joy, satisfaction will come to the cows, the mountain, and to me as well.” Hearing Krishna’s words, Nanda and all the people of Vraja were delighted. Their faces shone with happiness as they exclaimed, “Excellent, excellent! Child, your counsel is wise; we shall do as you say and perform the mountain sacrifice.” Thus, the people of Vraja made offerings to Govardhana mountain—curd, rice pudding, meat, and many other things. They fed Brahmins by the hundreds and thousands, and all others who had come, just as Krishna had instructed. The cows, having been honored, circled the mountain, while the bulls bellowed loudly, sounding like rainclouds full of water. Krishna then manifested a great form upon the summit of Govardhana, declaring, “I am the mountain!” He consumed the vast offerings brought by the foremost of the cowherds. At the same time, in another form, Krishna joined the cowherds in ascending the mountain and worshipping it, thus appearing in two bodies at once. When the worship was complete and Krishna’s divine form vanished from their sight, the cowherds, having received blessings, made the mountain their enclosure and returned to their pastures. Meanwhile, Śrī Parāśara tells us, when the sacrifice to Indra was thus interrupted, Indra was seized by great anger. He called forth the Samvartaka clouds—the fierce, rain-bearing clouds—and addressed them: “O clouds, hear my words and carry out my command at once, without hesitation. Nanda and the other cowherds, relying on Krishna’s strength, have destroyed the sacrifice due to their ignorance. Their lives depend on their cows; therefore, let those cows suffer under relentless rainfall, as I command. I myself will ascend the lofty mountain, like a mighty elephant, and join you in unleashing storm and flood.” At Indra’s command, the rain clouds unleashed a dreadful storm of wind and rain, causing great distress to the cows. In an instant, the earth, the directions, and the sky were overwhelmed by a single, massive torrent, threatening all the beings of Vraja.