In the midst of the torrential rains unleashed by Indra, Krishna gently reassured the people of Vraja, telling them, “These places are well protected—enter without fear, and do not worry about the mountain’s descent.” With faith in his words, the cowherds gathered their herds, loaded their belongings onto carts, and, though weary, the cowherd women followed, all seeking shelter. Krishna stood firm, holding aloft the great Govardhana mountain, utterly unmoving. The people of Vraja gazed upon him with eyes full of wonder and joy, their hearts overflowing with love and praise for his astonishing deed. For seven nights, the rains poured down upon Nanda’s Gokula, urged on by Indra in his anger, intent on destroying the cowherds. Yet Krishna, the breaker of strength, held the mountain high and shielded Gokula, blocking the fury of those false-promising clouds. At last, the sky cleared. Indra, seeing his efforts thwarted and Gokula safe and joyful, accepted his defeat and returned to his own abode. Krishna then gently set Govardhana mountain back in its place, while the people of Vraja watched in awe and amazement. After this wondrous event, Indra, the lord of sacrifice, was filled with a desire to see Krishna. Mounting his great elephant Airavata, the conqueror of foes journeyed to Govardhana. There, Indra beheld Krishna—mighty, yet in the humble form of a cowherd boy, tending the cows, surrounded by his companions, and protecting the whole world. High above, Garuḍa, the king of birds, concealed by his own power, shaded Hari’s head with his wings. Dismounting at a distance, his eyes wide with joy and a smile on his face, Indra approached Krishna and addressed him with reverence: “Krishna, mighty-armed one, hear me. Do not think otherwise of my coming. You alone, supreme lord, have descended to earth for the relief of its burden. Because I opposed the sacrifice, I commanded the clouds to destroy Gokula, and thus this devastation was wrought. But you protected the cows by lifting the mountain. I am satisfied by your heroic and wondrous deed. The purpose of the gods has been fulfilled, for you held this mountain with a single hand. Prompted by the cows, I have come to you, for you have honored them greatly. Therefore, urged by their words, I shall anoint you, O Upendra, and you will become Govinda, the lord of cows.” Indra then took a golden vessel from Airavata, filled it with pure water, and performed the anointing. As he did so, the cows themselves poured forth streams of milk upon the earth. Having anointed Krishna at the request of the cows, Indra, full of affection and humility, spoke again. “This request of the cows is fulfilled. Now hear another desire of mine, O greatly fortunate one, for the relief of the earth’s burden. A portion of myself has descended as Arjuna; he must always be protected by you. That hero will assist you in lifting the earth’s burden. Protect him, O Madhusudana, as you would yourself.” Krishna replied, “I know, O descendant of Bharata, that Partha, born from your portion, has appeared. I shall protect him as long as I remain on earth. No one will defeat Arjuna in battle while I am here. When Kamsa, Ariṣṭa, Keśī, Kuvalayāpīḍa, Naraka, and others are slain, a great battle will follow, and the earth’s burden will be lifted. So do not grieve for your son; no enemy of Arjuna will prevail against him in my presence. When the war is over, I shall return all of Kunti’s sons unharmed.” Hearing these words, Indra, the king of the gods, embraced Krishna, mounted Airavata, and returned to heaven. Krishna, together with the cows and cowherds, made his way back to Vraja, along a path made sacred by the loving glances of the gopīs. When Indra had departed, the cowherds, seeing Krishna’s extraordinary deed of holding up Govardhana mountain, approached him with affection and spoke: “O mighty-armed one, you have saved us and our cows from great danger by holding up the mountain. Such deeds are not fitting for a mere cowherd boy—what is the meaning of this, dear one? Please tell us. You subdued Kāliya in the water, you struck down Pralamba, you held up Govardhana—these deeds trouble our minds. Truly, Hari of immeasurable might, seeing your acts, we cannot believe you are simply human. O Keśava, the love of all the women and children of Vraja is with you, yet these deeds of yours are impossible even for all the gods together.” Thus, the people of Vraja, full of love and wonder, marveled at Krishna’s divine play and sought to understand the mystery of the lord who walked among them as their beloved cowherd.