Upon the summit of Govardhana, Krishna took on a wondrous form and declared to all assembled, “I am the mountain!” With this proclamation, he began to partake of the abundant offerings brought by the foremost of the cowherds. Simultaneously, in another form, Krishna joined the cowherds and ascended the mountain’s peak, worshipping it alongside them. Thus, he manifested yet another body of himself, delighting in their devotion. When at last Krishna withdrew his visible presence, the cowherds, having received his blessings, encircled the mountain as their sacred enclosure and returned peacefully to their own pastures. Meanwhile, the sacrifice to Indra had been disrupted. Śrī Parāśara narrates that Indra, the king of the gods, was seized with great anger. He summoned the mighty rain-bearing clouds known as Samvartaka and commanded them, “O clouds, heed my words and fulfill my command at once, without hesitation. Nanda, the cowherd, and his people, relying on Krishna’s strength, have destroyed the sacrifice due to their poor judgment. Their livelihood depends on their cows—so let those cows be afflicted by your downpour, as I instruct you. I myself shall ascend the lofty mountain, like a mighty elephant, and join you in unleashing wind and water.” Thus commanded, the Samvartaka clouds unleashed a terrible storm. Fierce winds and torrents of rain lashed down, causing great distress to the cows and all the people of Vraja. In an instant, the earth, the directions, and the very sky were swallowed by a single, unbroken flood. The thunderous clouds, split by relentless lightning, filled the world with deafening sound as the deluge poured in unending streams. Darkness enveloped everything above, below, and all around; the world seemed submerged. The cows suffered greatly beneath the pelting rain and roaring winds. Their bodies weakened—backs, thighs, heads, and necks bowed under the force. Some, clinging to their calves, stood firm despite the storm, while others, separated from their young, were swept away by the rising waters. The calves, their faces marked by distress, necks quivering in the cold wind, called out faintly to Krishna, as if pleading for his help. Seeing his people—cowherds, cows, and cowherd women—all in such anguish, Hari, the compassionate Krishna, reflected deeply. He understood that this torment was wrought by mighty Indra, angered by the broken sacrifice. Krishna resolved within himself, “Now I must protect this entire pasture. With courage, I shall uproot this great mountain, with all its peaks, and hold it above the land like a vast umbrella.” With playful ease, Krishna uprooted Govardhana with a single hand and held it high above. Smiling, he called to the cowherds, “Come quickly! The rain is stopped here. Enter this shelter—do not fear the mountain’s descent, for you are safe.” Encouraged by Krishna’s words, the cowherds entered with their herds, their goods loaded on carts, and the cowherd women, though weary, followed. Krishna stood unmoving, bearing the mountain aloft while all the people of Vraja gazed upon him with wonder and joy. The cowherds and their families, their hearts overflowing with love, praised Krishna for his marvelous deed. For seven nights, the great clouds, urged on by Indra, poured relentless rain upon Nanda’s Gokula, seeking to destroy the cowherds. Yet Krishna, holding the mountain high, shielded Gokula from harm and thwarted the purpose of those clouds, whose promise proved false. At last, when the sky cleared, Indra, seeing Gokula joyful and his own power rendered vain, departed and returned to his celestial abode. Krishna then gently set Govardhana back in its place, watched by the people of Vraja, their faces shining with astonishment and gratitude. Śrī Parāśara continues: When Govardhana had been restored and Gokula saved, Indra, the lord of sacrifice, longed to see Krishna. Mounting Airavata, his great elephant, Indra descended to Govardhana’s slopes. There he beheld Krishna, mighty and radiant, tending the cows in the humble form of a cowherd, surrounded by his companions—protector of the world. Above, Garuḍa, the king of birds, concealed by his own might, shaded Krishna’s head with his expansive wings. Indra dismounted from Airavata at a respectful distance, his eyes wide with joy and a smile on his face. Approaching Madhusudana, he spoke: “Krishna, Krishna, hear why I have come. Do not think otherwise of my actions, mighty-armed one. You alone, supreme Lord, have descended to earth to relieve its burden. Because the sacrifice was denied, I commanded the great clouds to destroy Gokula, and devastation followed. Yet you protected the cows by lifting the mountain. I am satisfied by your wondrous deed, and I believe the gods’ purpose has been fulfilled, for you held that great mountain with a single hand. “Prompted by the cows, O Krishna, I have come to you. You have offered them the highest protection and honor. Therefore, at the urging of the cows, I shall anoint you. O Upendra, you shall be known as Govinda, the lord of cows.” Thus, with reverence and awe, Indra honored Krishna, who had protected all of Vraja and revealed his divine glory to gods and mortals alike.