Lilas Of Lord Krishna

The forest was lovely and charming on account of the autumn. The water was very clear. A gentle breeze was blowing. Sri Krishna with Balarama, cows and cowherd boys, entered the forest to enjoy the beauty of the scene. Lord began to play on His flute. The Gopis forgot themselves when they heard the music. The music of the flute stole the hearts of all.

Some Gopis said, "The flute ought to have done great meritorious deeds. That is the reason why it directly enjoys the nectar of Sri Krishna's lips. The water that nourished it is thrilling with joy and the plant from which it took its birth is shedding tears of joy in the form of honey, just as devotees of God shed tears of joy when devotees take birth in their own family line."

Other Gopis said, "This Brindavan has spread the fame of the earth even to Vaikuntha, because it has obtained the grace of being marked with the footprints of Sri Krishna. How beautiful does Brindavan look from the touch of Sri Krishna's lotus feet! There is no place on earth like Brindavan!

When Sri Krishna played on His enchanting flute, the peacocks danced in joy keeping tune with the music. They took the sound to be the mild roar of cloud. Hearing the music of the flute other animals stood motionless. Even the deer heard the music of the flute and made an offering of their loving glances. Even celestial women became absorbed in the music and lost their external consciousness. The cows drank the nectar of music with ears erect and stood motionless with tears of joy in their eyes. The calves eagerly listened to the music and stood with their mother's milk in their mouths. Even the birds sat high on trees and silently heard the enrapturing music of the flute. Even the whirlpools in the rivers showed their strong desire to meet Sri Krishna. The rivers showed their love to Sri Krishna. They stopped their course to hear the sweet music of Krishna. With their arms of waves they threw offerings of lotuses and took hold of Sri Krishna's feet in order to embrace them. The clouds in the sky spread themselves over Him like an umbrella. When He played on the flute in the hot sun, they sprinkled on Him showers like offerings of tiny white flowers and thus offered themselves at the feet of Krishna.

Abolition Of Indra Worship

One day, Krishna observed that the people were preparing for the worship of Indra. He asked His father Nanda about the occasion.

Nanda replied," Indra is the Lord of the clouds. He will give us rain by worshipping him. The rains give life to all beings. Therefore, people worship Indra by these sacrificial offerings. Whatever is left after offering him in sacrifice, we use for our subsistence in order to attain the three objects of life, viz., Dharma (righteousness), Artha (earthly possessions) and Kama (worldly enjoyments). Indra is the dispenser of the fruit of our exertions."

Krishna replied, " By the force of Karma a creature is born, and by the force of Karma it passes away. The birth and death of men are shaped by their own Karma. Happiness and misery, fear, safety, these are all the effects of Karma. If there be any God who dispenses the fruits of Karma, he must also follow that Karma. He cannot act independently. When people are governed by their own Karma, where does Indra come in? What has Indra to do with creatures here who simply follow the course of their Karmas? Because he is not able to alter what is fixed for men by Nature, what is predestined by the latent potentialities of one's past deeds. Svabhava or Karmic tendency is decreed by fate. Man is subject to his nature formed by the latent Samskaras of his past deeds. He follows his own nature. The whole universe consisting of Devas, Asuras, men, etc., lives, moves and has its being in Nature. By the force of his Karma a creature attains to several corporeal existences high or low, and also loses them. Karma is one's guide. Karma is the supreme ruler. "What can Indra do? Therefore, let us make offerings to our cows, our Brahmins, our hills, and fallen people. Let dogs be properly fed. Let the cows be supplied with fodder."

Nanda and other Gopas approved what Krishna said. They did everything in accordance with Sri Krishna's instructions. They made offerings to the cows, to the Brahmins and to the hill Govardhana. They went round the hill. Krishna said, "I am the Hill." Sri Krishna assumed another gigantic form and manifested Himself on the top of the hill in order to confirm the faith of the Gopas. He told the people that He was the deity presiding over the mountain. He then began to consume the offerings that were made to the Hill.

Lifting Of Govardhana

Indra became extremely angry with Nanda and the other Gopas. He sent forth his clouds and winds and there were rains, thunder and hail-storms in Brindavan. Krishna lifted up the Govardhana hill with one hand and the people of Brindavan with their cows took shelter beneath the mountain. There was continuous rain for seven days. Sri Krishna held up the hill for seven days continuously without moving an inch.

Indra was quite amazed. His pride was destroyed. He withdrew the clouds and winds. The Gopas were struck with wonder as they saw that a boy of seven years uprooted the Govardhana hill from the earth and held it up with one hand continuously for seven days and knew that Sri Krishna was Lord of all Lords.

Indra and Surabhi came down from Heaven. Indra fell at the feet of Sri Krishna and glorified Him. Indra said, "O Lord, each of your acts is intended for the punishment and correction of the wicked. I disregarded you as I was intoxicated with the pride of wealth and power. I was devoid of pure understanding, discretion, and discrimination, and so I was ignorant of your greatness. O Lord, forgive me! Grant me pure intellect. Free me from my pride. Salutations unto Thee again and again."

Krishna said to him, "O Indra! I did you a great favour by causing a break in your Yajna. You were extremely proud of your position and power and so you forgot Me. I did this in order to make you remember Me. Power and position produce intoxication in men and Devas. They become haughty. If I wish to do favour to any one, I take away his powers and wealth. O Indra! Go to your celestial abode and do your duties in a satisfactory manner. May you be happy!"