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"Look, O companions" said Krishna, "how noble minded these trees are. They live for others. Themselves they suffer from the winds, the rains, from the sun and frost but they protect us from these. They do not send away one disappointed. They offer their leaves, their flowers, Purnendu Narayana Sinha, M. A., B. L. 293 their fruits, their shade, their roots, their bark, their fragrance, their juice, their ashes, their fuel, their buds, and what not. Of all living be- ings, such only justify their birth as do good to others by their lives, their wealth, their wisdom and their words." (This is introductory as an attack upon the selfish performances of Vedic Brahmanas. Srid- hara.) The boys became hungry and they complained to Rama and Kr- ishna. Krishna said:—"The Brahmanas are performing Angirasa Yajna. Take our names and ask them for food." The boys did as they were told but the Brahmanas heeded them not. Narrow were their desires which did not extend beyond Svarga. But for these, they went through elaborate Karma. Ignorant as they were, they thought themselves to be wise. Yajna was all in all to them but they disregarded the Lord of Yajnas, the direct manifesta- tion of Parama Purusha. They looked upon Krishna as an ordinary man and as Brahmanas they deemed themselves to be superior to Him. They said neither yea nor nay. So the boys returned unsuc- cessful to Krishna and Rama. Krishna smiled and asked them to go to the wives of the Brahmanas. This they did. The Brahmana women had heard of Krishna and they were eager to see him. Notwithstand- ing the protests of their husbands, brothers, sons and friends, they hastened to Krishna with dishes full of eatables of all sorts. The ears had heard and the eyes now saw. And it did not take the Brahmana women long to embrace Krishna and forget their grievances. Knowing that the women had given up all desires for the sake of seeing Atma, Krishna said smilingly:—"Welcome O you noble- minded ones, take your seats. What can we do for you? It is meet that you have come to see us. I am Atma and therefore the most beloved. Those that care for their Atma or self bear unconditional and unremitting Bhakti towards me. The Pranas, Buddhi, Manas, the relatives, the body, wife, children and riches all become dear for the sake of self or Atma. What can be therefore dearer, than Atma? Now that you have seen me, go back to your husbands. They have to per- form the sacrifices with your help." The Brahmana women replied:—"Lord, thou dost not deserve to speak so cruelly to us. Make good thy words (’My Bhakta does not 294 A Study of the Bhagavata Purana meet with destruction’ or "He does not again return’ Sridhdra.) We have taken the shelter of thy feet, throwing over-board all friends, that we may bear on our heads the Tulasi thrown from Thy feet. Our husbands, parents, sons, brothers, and friends will not take us back. Who else can? Grant us, O conqueror of all enemies, that we may have no other resort but Thee. ( We may not have such resorts as Svarga &c. for which our husbands are striving. We want to serve Thee. Sridhara)." Sri Krishna replied:—"Your husbands will not bear any grudge against you. By my command all people, even the Devas (in whose honor the sacrifices are made) shall approve of your conduct. Direct contact is not necessary for love. Think of me with all your heart and you shall speedily obtain me." The Brahmana women returned to their husbands and they were received well. The Brahmanas repented. But for fear of Kansa, they could not go to Vrindavana. They worshipped Krishna at home. INDRA AND THE RAISING OF GO-VARDHANA. THE INSTAL- LATION. (THE RAINY SEASON AGAIN.) SKANDHA X. CHAP. 24-27. There were great preparations for Yajna in honor of Indra. "What is this all about, father?" asked Krishna of Nanda. "What is the out- come of this sacrifice? In whose honor is it to be performed and how?" Nanda replied—"Child, Indra is the Cloud-God. He will give us rains. The rains give life to all beings. Therefore people worship Indra by these sacrificial offerings. The enjoyment of that only which remains after sacrifice conduces to Dharma, Artha and Kama." Krishna replied:—"The birth and death of men are shaped by their own Karma. Happiness, misery, fear, well-being, these are all the effects of Karma. If there be any god who dispenses the fruits of Karma, he must also follow that Karma and not act independently of it. When people are governed by their own Karma, where does Indra come in? He can not undo what follows from Svabhava (Svabhava is Karmic tendency). Karma is the Lord and Karma is to be worshipped. Purnendu Narayana Sinha, M. A., B. L. 295 It is Rajas that works the clouds. What can Indra do? We do not live in towns or villages but we live in the forest. Therefore let us make Yajna offerings to our cows, our Brahmanas and our hills. The preparations that you have already made will serve the purpose." Nanda and other Gopas approved of what Krishna said. They made offerings to the cows, the Brahmanas and the Hill. They went round the Hill to shew respect. Krishna said "I am the Hill" and assumed some form which created faith in the Gopas. He then partook himself of the offerings to the Hill. Indra became highly incensed. He sent forth his clouds and winds and there were rains and thunder-storms and hail-stones at Vrinda- vana. Krishna carelessly lifted up the Govardhana hill with one hand and the people of Vrindavana with their cows took shelter in the cave. For seven days it rained incessantly and for seven days Krishna held the hill aloft without moving an inch. Baffled and surprised, Indra withdrew his clouds and winds. The people of Vrindavana went to their own places and Krishna replaced the hill. The Gopas struck with wonder approached Nanda. They related all the previous deeds of Krishna and then referring to the last inci- dent said:— "Look here this boy only seven years old and there the holding aloft of this big hill) We wonder whether your son may not be the Atma of all beings." Nanda related to them what he had heard from Garga and they all ceased to wonder. Indra and Surabhi came down from the heavens. Indra fell at the feet of Krishna and glorified Him. Krishna said to him:—"To favour you, Indra, I caused a break in your Yajna, that, maddened as you were by your position and powers, you might not forget me. It is only when one is blinded by powers, that one does not see me sceptre in hand. I take away the powers of him whom I want to favor. Therefore go now, Indra. You are to keep to your own station and do your duties as enjoined by me void of all pride." Surabhi, the divine mother of cows, thanked Krishna for the services done to her children. She said:—"O Krishna, O thou great Yogin whose form is this Uni- verse and who art the root of this Universe, we have found our Lord 296 A Study of the Bhagavata Purana in Thee. Thou art our Supreme Deva O Lord of the Universe, thou shalt be our Indra, for the good of cows, Brahmanas and Devas, and of all that are good. By the command of Brahma, we shall install thee as our Indra." So saying, Surabhi poured her milk over Krishna’s head and Indra and other Devas, by the command of the Deva mothers, bathed Him with the waters of the Akasa Ganga. They all called him "GOVINDA." (He who attains (Vinda) as Indra the Cows or Svarga (Go) Srid- hara.) The Rishis, Gandharvas, Vidyadharas, Siddhas and Charanas all joined the Inauguration ceremony. The Deva girls danced and sang. The three Lokas became full of joy. The cows wet the earth with their milk. The rivers bore streams of milk and other drinks. The trees poured honey. The cereals bore grains without culture. The hills brought forth their precious stones. Even the wild animals became mild. KRISHNA AND VARUNA, KRISHNA AND THE GOPAS. SKANDHA X. CHAP. 28. After observing the fast of the 11th Day of the Moon, Nanda went to bathe in the river Yamuna, on the twelfth day of the Moon. It was still dark. So the Asuras had possession of the hour. An Asura servant of Varuna carried Nanda to his master. The Gopas called out to Rama and Krishna. Krishna entered the water and went to Varuna. The Lokapala worshipped him and gave back Nanda, excusing himself for the ignorance of his servant. Nanda on returning apprised the Gopas of what he had seen. Could Krishna be any other than Ishvara? The Gopas wished ardently that He might take them over to His supreme abode. The all-knowing Krishna knew this. He took the Gopas to that portion of the Yamuna called Bramha Hrada. Plunged in the waters, they saw Vaikuntha, the supreme abode of Krishna, far away from the limits of Prakriti. THE FIVE CHAPTERS ON RASA (AUTUMN AGAIN.) SKANDHA X. CHAP. 29-33. Purnendu Narayana Sinha, M. A., B. L. 297 Suka said:— "Seeing those autumnal nights, gay with Mallika flowers, Bha- gavan wished to enjoy Himself by resort to Yogamaya." (It looks odd that there should be a show of conquering the God of love by enjoyment of others’ wives. But it is really not so. For you have "By resort to Yoga Maya." "Enjoyed though self enjoyer," "The subduer of the God of Love Himself," "With enjoyment all self contained," and such like passages, which show absolute self depen- dence. Therefore this show of Rasa play is only meant to recite the conquest of Kama Deva. This is the real truth. Moreover through this love topic, the five chapters on Rasa are calculated to bring about a complete disinclination to worldly matters. Sridhara). ("Those nights" Go back to Vraja. These nights you shall enjoy with me— the nights promised by these words. Sridhara.) At that time the moon had appeared on the horizon.