Traditionally, the residents of Vrindavan including Nanda Maharaj and all the cowherd men would annually worshipped Indra, the King of Heaven, who is responsible for supplying water. One day, Krishna observed that the people were preparing for the worship of Indra. He asked His father Nanda "Tell me, O father! What is this occasion for your great festivity? What is the object? To whom is it intended? By whom and how is the sacrifice to be performed?"
Nanda replied, "My beloved child! Indra is the Lord of the clouds. He will give us rain by worshiping 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."
However, Krishna convinced his father to forgo the sacrifice to Indra and instead worship Govardhan Hill. He explained to his father Nanda Maharaj “This cosmic manifestation is going on under the influence of three modes of material nature—goodness, passion and ignorance. These three modes are the causes of creation, maintenance and destruction. The cloud is caused by the action of the mode of passion; therefore it is the mode of passion which causes the rainfall. And after the rainfall, the living entities derive the result—success in agricultural work. What, then, has Indra to do in this affair? Even if you do not please Indra, what can he do? We do not derive any special benefit from Indra. Even if he is there, he pours water on the ocean also, where there is no need of water. So he is pouring water on the ocean or on the land; it does not depend on our worshiping him. As far as we are concerned, we do not need to go to another city or village. There are palatial buildings in the cities, but we are satisfied living in this forest of Vrindavan.
Our specific relationship is with Govardhana Hill and Vrindavan forest and nothing more"O revered father! 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. 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?. I therefore request you, My dear father, to begin a sacrifice which will satisfy the local brahmanas and Govardhana Hill, and let us have nothing to do with Indra.” 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."
Krishna thereafter instructed Nanda Maharaj to proceed with the Govardhan puja by preparing various foodstuffs to offer to Govardhan, give charity to brahmanas and decorate the cows and feed them. The ceremony of offering various foodstuffs to the Govardhan is also called Annakuta festival.
Krishna thereafter instructed Nanda Maharaj to proceed with the Govardhan puja by preparing various foodstuffs to offer to Govardhan, give charity to brahmanas and decorate the cows and feed them. The ceremony of offering various foodstuffs to the Govardhan is also called Annakuta festival.
Dasakam: 062 -- Slokam: 01
कदाचिद्गोपालान् विहितमखसम्भारविभवान्निरीक्ष्य त्वं शौरे मघवमदमुद्ध्वंसितुमना: ।
विजानन्नप्येतान् विनयमृदु नन्दादिपशुपा-
नपृच्छ: को वाऽयं जनक भवतामुद्यम इति ॥१॥
kadaachidgOpaalaan vihita makhasambhaara vibhavaan
niriikshya tvaM shaure maghavamada mudhdvamsitumanaaH |
vijaanannapyetaan vinaya mR^idu nandaadi pashupaan
apR^ichChaH kO vaa(a)yaM janaka bhavataamudyama iti || 1
Oh God who was born in the clan of Surasena,Once you saw the Gopas collecting things to perform a Yaga,And deciding to put an end to the pride of Indra,In spite of knowing all about it asked Nanda and others, cowherds,“Oh father , What, about the purpose of these preparations.?
बभाषे नन्दस्त्वां सुत ननु विधेयो मघवतो
मखो वर्षे वर्षे सुखयति स वर्षेण पृथिवीम् ।
नृणां वर्षायत्तं निखिलमुपजीव्यं महितले
विशेषादस्माकं तृणसलिलजीवा हि पशव: ॥२॥
babhaaShe nandastvaaM suta nanu vidheyO maghavatO
makhO varShe varShe sukhayati sa varSheNa pR^ithiviim |
nR^iNaaM varShaayattaM nikhilamupajiivyaM mahitale
visheShaadasmaakaM tR^iNasalilajiivaa hi pashavaH || 2
Nanda replied that every year a sacrifice needed to be performed to propitiate Indra, He gives happiness to the earth by rain. The livelyhood of all human beings on earth depends on rain. Especially so for us, because our cattle live on grass and water alone.'
धिगेतन्नो सत्यं मघवजनिता वृष्टिरिति यत् ।
अदृष्टं जीवानां सृजति खलु वृष्टिं समुचितां
महारण्ये वृक्षा: किमिव बलिमिन्द्राय ददते ॥३॥
iti shrutvaa vaachaM piturayi bhavaanaaha sarasaM
dhigetannO satyaM maghavajanitaa vR^iShTiriti yat |
adR^iShTaM jiivaanaaM sR^ijati khalu vR^iShTiM samuchitaaM
mahaaraNye vR^ikshaaH kimiva balimindraaya dadate || 3
O Lord! Hearing this, Thou said with sweet reasoning, 'Oh no, this is not true, to say that the rain is generated by Indra. Rain is generated by the unseen past actions of the living beings, as required. In this big forest, . Indeed, what do large trees in the forest offer to Indra? Thou asked.
Dasakam: 062 -- Slokam: 04
तदाजीव्यायासौ बलिरचलभर्त्रे समुचित: ।
सुरेभ्योऽप्युत्कृष्टा ननु धरणिदेवा: क्षितितले
ततस्तेऽप्याराध्या इति जगदिथ त्वं निजजनान् ॥४॥
idaM taavatsatyaM yadiha pashavO naH kuladhanaM
tadaajiivyaayaasau balirachalabhartre samuchitaH |
surebhyO(a)pyutkR^iShTaa nanu dharaNi devaaH kshititale
tataste(a)pyaaraadhyaa iti jagaditha tvaM nijajanaan ||4
Thou said to Thy people,'this is true that the cows are the wealth of our tribe. This mountain (Govardhana) provides them with their requisite grass and water. So the offerings should be made to the mountain. The holy men on the earth are indeed greater than the gods, so they also deserve to be worshipped.'
Dasakam: 062 -- Slokam: 05
द्विजेन्द्रानर्चन्तो बलिमददुरुच्चै: क्षितिभृते ।
व्यधु: प्रादक्षिण्यं सुभृशमनमन्नादरयुता-
स्त्वमादश्शैलात्मा बलिमखिलमाभीरपुरत: ॥५॥
bhavadvaacham shrutvaa bahumatiyutaaste(a)pi pashupaaH
dvijendraanarchantO balimadaduruchchaiH kshitibhR^ite |
vyadhuH praadakshiNyaM subhR^ishamanamannaadarayutaastvamaadashshailaatmaa
balimakhilamaabhiirapurataH || 5
Hearing Thy words the cowherds also worshipped the holy men with high regards offered worship,To the Brahmins with more care and devotion,And performed a very great sacrifice to please the mountain,And also went round the mountain and offered salutations to it. Thou becoming the soul of the mountain ate all the entire offerings in front of the cowherds.
अवोचश्चैवं तान् किमिह वितथं मे निगदितं
गिरीन्द्रो नन्वेष स्वबलिमुपभुङ्क्ते स्ववपुषा ।
अयं गोत्रो गोत्रद्विषि च कुपिते रक्षितुमलं
समस्तानित्युक्ता जहृषुरखिला गोकुलजुष: ॥६॥
avOchashchaivaM taan kimiha vitathaM me nigaditaM
giriindrO nanveSha svabalimupabhunkte svavapuShaa |
ayaM gOtrO gOtradviShi cha kupite rakshitumalaM
samastaanityuktaa jahR^iShurakhilaa gOkulajuShaH || 6
You also told them, "Do you now believe my words ?Did you not see the Mountain personally receiving the sacrifice,And I am sure that even if Indra becomes angry with us, this mountain is capable of protecting everyoneand hearing your words,All the people of the entire Gokula became happy.
Dasakam: 062 -- Slokam: 07
व्रजं यावत्तावन्निजमखविभङ्गं निशमयन् ।
भवन्तं जानन्नप्यधिकरजसाऽऽक्रान्तहृदयो
न सेहे देवेन्द्रस्त्वदुपरचितात्मोन्नतिरपि ॥७॥
paripriitaa yaataaH khalu bhavadupetaa vrajajuShO
vrajaM yaavattaavannija makhavibhangaM nishamayan |
bhavantaM jaanannapyadhika rajasaa(a)(a)kraantahR^idayO
na sehe devendrastvaduparachitaatmOnnatirapi || 7
As the Gopas, along with Thee, returned home,Indra knowing that the sacrifice addressed to him has been stopped, he did not tolerate it because his mind was overcome by Rajo Guna. Indra knew Thee well and was also aware that his own high position was given by you, yet he was enraged.
मनुष्यत्वं यातो मधुभिदपि देवेष्वविनयं
विधत्ते चेन्नष्टस्त्रिदशसदसां कोऽपि महिमा ।
ततश्च ध्वंसिष्ये पशुपहतकस्य श्रियमिति
प्रवृत्तस्त्वां जेतुं स किल मघवा दुर्मदनिधि: ॥८॥
manuShyatvaM yaatO madhubhidapi deveShvavinayaM
vidhatte chennaShTasitradashasadasaaM kO(a)pi mahimaa |
tatashcha dhvamsiShye pashupahatakasya shriyamiti
pravR^ittastvaaM jetuM sa kila maghavaa durmadanidhiH || 8
Indra was full of false pride and set out to win Thee. He reasoned that even if it was Vishnu himself, the slayer of Madhu, in human form, if he shows disrespect to the gods, whatever their prestige, would be lost. So he made up his mind to destroy the lowly cowherd (Krishna) and all his prosperity, and to win Thee.
Dasakam: 062 -- Slokam: 09
प्रहिण्वन् बिभ्राण; कुलिशमयमभ्रेभगमन: ।
प्रतस्थेऽन्यैरन्तर्दहनमरुदाद्यैविंहसितो
भवन्माया नैव त्रिभुवनपते मोहयति कम् ॥९॥
tvadaavaasaM hantuM pralayajaladaanambarabhuvi
prahiNvan bibhraaNaH kulishamayamabhrebhagamanaH |
pratasthe(a)nyairantardahana marudaadyairvihasitO
bhavanmaayaa naiva tribhuvanapate mOhayatikam || 9
To destroy Thy residence Vraja, Indra released deluge causing clouds in the skies. He took along thunderbolt and set out riding on his white elephant Airaavata. He was accompanied by other gods, fire(Agni), wind(Vaayu),etc., who cautiously contempted him. And Oh Guruvayurappa , whom does not Thy Maya afflict? By your illusion , for all the world obeys your word.
Dasakam: 062 -- Slokam:1 0
सुरेन्द्र: क्रुद्धश्चेत् द्विजकरुणया शैलकृपयाऽ-प्यनातङ्कोऽस्माकं नियत इति विश्वास्य पशुपान् ।
अहो किन्नायातो गिरिभिदिति सञ्चिन्त्य निवसन्
मरुद्गेहाधीश प्रणुद मुरवैरिन् मम गदान् ॥१०॥
surendraH kruddhashchet dvijakaruNayaa shailakR^ipayaa(a)-
pyanaatankO(a)smaakaM niyata iti vishvaasya pashupaan |
ahO kinnaayaatO giribhiditi sanchintya nivasan
marudgehaadhiisha praNuda muravairin mama gadaan ||10
You consoled the cowherds by the words,“ we need not be upset by the rage of Devendra,Because we have the blessings of Brahmins,And the mercy shown by Govardhana towards us,” saying so Thou certainly convinced the cowherds. Then Thou stood waiting and wondering why Indra had not yet come. O Lord of Guruvaayurappa! O Slayer of Mura! Do eradicate my ailments.
