42 Hence—Indra continued—I must anoint you as king with these golden jugs full of celestial fluid, poured out by hand. 43 I’m still the Indra of the gods, but you’ll be the Indra of the cows (go), and so people on earth will always praise you as Govinda. 44 You’ve been established as lord by the cows, Krishna, and because you are Indra in addition to me, the deities in heaven will hymn you as Upendra the Also-Indra.
45 The four months of the monsoon are apportioned to me, but I’ll relinquish half of them—the second half—for the season of autumn. 46 From this day forward, human beings will acknowledge just two months to be mine. In that rainy half my banner will always be worshipped, but then the peacocks will desist from the swagger that my rains have caused, 47 and all the other creatures that shout and cavort beneath the monsoon clouds will become calm too, their passion and potency on the wane. 48 Using its distinctive fiery energy to dispense heat, the sun with its thousands of rays will move into the part of the sky that’s frequented by Trishanku and Agastya.*
49 Then, when autumn is ready—when the peacocks are speechless and silent, as soon as the deluges have dispersed, and the waters are milder, 50 and the cranes are making mating calls, and the bulls are amorous, and the cows are happy and yield lots of milk; 51 after the clouds have delivered the world’s water and departed, and when the geese fly across a sky that shines like a blade, 52 and the lotuses have come out on the waters in the lakes and ponds, and the rows are maturing in the fields, with the tops of the rice-plants beginning to bend down, 53 and the rivers are transporting the waters neither too fast nor too slow, and the riverbank thick with grain could steal the heart even of a sage; 54 after the rains have gone and the earth is a wide and wondrous realm, and the webs of pathways are glorious, and the grasses are fruiting, and parties are held at places where sugarcane grows— 55 then, Krishna, when you’ve risen from your sleep, the holy autumn will roll out across this whole world, making it like the third heaven.
56 When the poles are fitted with banners, the people will revere you as well as me. Across the face of the earth, Great Indra and Upendra must both be revered. 57 People won’t be led astray if they pay their respects according to our tradition—the one named after Great Indra and Upendra.
58 Then Shakra took hold of the jugs that bore the celestial fluid. He knew the protocol, and he conferred the consecration upon Govinda.
59 When the cows who were there with their bulls saw him being anointed, they sprinkled the eternal Krishna from their streaming udders, 60 and as the eternal one was being anointed the clouds in the sky sprinkled him all over by releasing streams of nectar-bearing fluid, 61 and all the most imposing trees exuded a moon-coloured sap, and showers of blossoms rained down, and musical instruments sounded in the sky, 62 and all the sages devoted to the Veda made speeches of praise, and the jewel-bearing earth looked as she did when she was rescued from the single restless ocean. 63 The oceans became calm, breezes blew that were good for the world, diseases went into remission, kings renounced enmity, 64 the sun kept to its path and shone, the moon entered into a favourable conjunction, trees bore fruit and grew shoots and blossoms, 65 bull elephants trickled with temporin, deer enjoyed themselves in the forest, and mountains glittered with minerals and grew trees on their slopes. 66 When Krishna was consecrated the world was sprinkled with the essence of high heaven, gladdened with nectar galore, and sated, as if it were the world of the gods.
67 After changeless Govinda, wearing beautiful white clothes, had been consecrated by the cows, Shakra the king of the gods said to him:
68 That was my main task, Krishna, concerning the cows, and I’ve completed it. Now hear the other reason why I came. 69 Soon you must defeat Kamsa, and the evil horse Keshin, and Arishta who goes crazy, and then you must establish a universal sovereign.*
70 A portion of me has been born from your father’s sister. He’s as solid as I am. You must protect him, honour him, and befriend him, 71 for if you treat him well he’ll follow your lead, and when he does your bidding he’ll become extremely famous. 72 The finest archer in the Bhārata lineage, he’ll be amenable to you, and he won’t be happy without you.
73 The Bhārata war depends upon you and that supreme person. When the two of you are in conjunction, the kings will be destroyed. 74 Krishna, among the gods and seers I declare the one named Arjuna to be my son, born from Kuntī in the Kuru lineage. 75 He knows the lore of missiles in full detail, and he’s the best at drawing the bow. He’ll put all kings who fight with weapons into the shade: 76 he’ll send armies of war-wise royal champions to their deaths as they carry out their royal duties in battle. 77 The range of his arrow’s flight and the speed of his bow-work will be matched by no king, and by no god except you, my lord. 78 He’ll be your friend and companion in battles, Govinda, and you must ensure his participation on my behalf.†79 You must always view him and respect him just as if he were me. You alone understand people, and you’ll always understand Arjuna, 80 so in great battles you must always protect him, and with you protecting him he won’t be killed.
81 Krishna, with your true self you must understand that Arjuna is me, and that I am you. Just as I am forever your true self, so Arjuna is your true self as well. 82 Long ago, after you’d used your three strides to win the worlds from the hand of Bali, you made me king of the gods because I was first in order of birth. 83 But the gods know that you’re made of truth, favoured by truth, and powered by truth, and so when it comes to destroying their enemies, in truth it’s you that they approach and put to work. 84 The one named Arjuna, the son of your father’s sister, is my son, and having been your friend previously,* he must become your friend again here. 85 Whether he’s fighting, in his camp, or at home, you must guide all his forces of war, Krishna, like a bull bearing a burden.
86 You know the business of the future, Krishna: after you’ve killed Kamsa, the great war of the kings will be close at hand. 87 When it happens, Arjuna will enjoy victory over those brave men of superhuman deeds, and you’ll let him have the glory. 88 If you value me, and the gods, and the truth, lofty Krishna, you must do everything I’ve said.
89 Krishna, who had become Govinda,† listened to Shakra’s speech and replied with joy in his heart:
90 Shakra, husband of Shachī, I’m delighted just to see you. None of what you’ve mentioned will be left undone. 91 I know your rank, and I know of Arjuna’s birth. I know that my father’s sister was given away to King Pāndu. 92 I know that young Yudhishthira was made by Dharma the god of duty, I know that Bhīmasena is a body bred from Vāyu the wind god, 93 and indeed I know that Nakula and Sahadeva, the handsome pair of sons who grew in Mādrī’s womb, were sired by the Ashvins. 94 I also know that the first son was Karna, the son of the sun: my father’s sister had him when she was young girl, and he became a royal retainer. 95 And I know all of Dhritarāshtra’s sons, who are spoiling for a fight, and I know that Pāndu has died, struck by the thunderbolt of a curse.‡
96 So go back to the third heaven, Shakra, for the good of its inhabitants. No enemy of Arjuna will prevail while I’m present. 97 When the Bhārata war is over, I’ll return all the Pāndavas to Kuntī unhurt in battle, for Arjuna’s sake. 98 And whatever your son Arjuna might tell me to do, I’ll do it like a servant, Shakra, compelled by my love for you.
99 Krishna was happy and he kept his promises, and after hearing his precious words in person, the lord of the thirty gods departed for the third heaven.
63. Playing with the Cowgirls
1 Vaishampāyana said:
After Shakra had left, Krishna the glorious bearer of Govardhana returned to the herding station. As he entered, the inhabitants paid him their respects. 2 The elders praised him, as did his relatives and companions. They said:
You did us a kindness by lifting up the mountain, and we’re fortunate. 3 Glorious and godlike Govinda, by your grace the cows have been saved from the dangerous storm, and we’ve been saved from great danger.
4 Lord of cows, we saw your sup
erhuman deeds. Because you held up the mountain, we know that you, Krishna, are eternal. 5 Which of the Rudras or Maruts or Vasus are you, mighty man, and what’s your plan? Vasudeva is your father, 6 and you play childhood games in the forest, and your birth among us is a lowly one, but Krishna, your deeds are those of a god, and so there are doubts in our hearts. 7 Why are you playing among us in lowly fashion, in the form of a cowherd? Why are you looking after cows when you’re like one of the world-guardians? 8 Whether you’re a god who’s been born as our relative, or a Dānava, a dark-elf, or even a light-elf—whoever you are, homage to you. 9 Whether you’re living here by chance or because there’s something you need to get done, we are all of us your followers, and we look to you for refuge.
10 Lotus-eyed Krishna listened to what the cowherds said, and then he smiled and replied to all his assembled relatives:
11 You’re all tremendously bold, but you won’t understand me by thinking of me like that. I’m a relative, one of your own kind. 12 If you really need to hear who I am, you must wait for the right time, and then you’ll hear about me and see me as I truly am. 13 In the meantime, if I’m a relative of yours who’s as praiseworthy as a god, and if this suits me, then why would you need to know more?
14 When Vāsudeva told the cowherds this, they all dispersed silently, keeping their mouths shut.
15 One moonlit night, Krishna noticed the new youth, and he turned his thoughts towards the enjoyment of the autumn nights. 16 The virile lad organised fights between amorous bulls in the herding station’s cowpat-stained streets, 17 and the virile lad made the tall and strong cowherds fight against each other, and in the forest the virile master played at catching hold of cows in the way that a crocodile does. 18 And knowing when the time was right for it, he gathered the nubile cowgirls and made merry with them at night, honouring their adolescence.
19 At night the lovely cowherd women drank up his lovely face with glances from their eyes, as if it were the moon come to earth. 20 Krishna was all the lovelier for being dressed in fine silk clothes that shone as yellow as wet orpiment. 21 Fitted with a crown and armbands and decorated with a colourful forest garland, Govinda was the decoration of the herding station. 22 Having witnessed the amazing deeds that luminary had done in the cattle station, the cowgirls gave voice to their adoration for Dāmodara. 23 Gorgeous women pressed their breasts against him with their nipples erect, and gazed at him from faces with fluttering eyes. 24 Though their fathers, brothers, and mothers told them not to, the cowherder women pursued Krishna at night, bent on pleasure. 25 The cowgirls all got into groups, and as they sang duets about Krishna’s deeds, they gave delight to the one who delighted their hearts.
26 Their eyes fixed upon him, lovely young women imitated Krishna’s tricks and walked with Krishna’s gait, 27 while others in the forest groves clapped a rhythm with the palms of their hands. The cowherd women did everything that Krishna did: 28 joyful cowherd women had fun copying his dancing, his singing, and his flirtatious smiles and glances. 29 Gorgeous women devoted to Dāmodara roamed the cattle station in transports of delight, singing sweet songs of love.
30 Their bodies smeared with dung and dirt, they surrounded Krishna, delighting him as cow elephants in heat delight a bull elephant. 31 Some women, doe-eyed, unsated, drank Krishna in with eyes bright with love, smiles on their faces. 32 Other cowgirls, still thirsty after gazing upon his face, found another kind of pleasure in the night and, lost in passion, drank him in. 33 When Dāmodara cried out those gorgeous women were thrilled, and they seized upon the sounds he made and the words he willingly spoke.
34 The hair of the cowherd women was parted and plaited, but it came loose, disordered by their passionate thoughts, and fell beautifully onto their nipples. 35 And that’s how Krishna, adorned by a ring of cowgirls, enjoyed himself with pleasure during the moonlit autumn nights.
64. The Killing of Arishta
1 Vaishampāyana said:
One time, halfway through the evening, while Krishna was lost in pleasure, crazy Arishta appeared, terrorising the cowpens.
2 Dark like a second god Death, he looked like a cloud or a burned-out coal, with sharp horns, eyes like suns, and hoof-tips as sharp as razors. 3 Licking his lips with his tongue again and again with a rasping sound, he had stiff shoulders and joints, and he swung his tail haughtily. 4 He was built to a great height with his hump: formidable because of his size, his body was smeared with dung and urine. He caused great distress to the cows. 5 With his massive behind, massive maw, massive knees, and massive belly, he went around tossing his horns, the skin at his throat swinging, 6 and when it came to mounting cows, he was quick. His face marked from attacking trees, his horn-tips itching for a fight, he was a killer of rival bulls. 7 This nasty-looking Daitya in the form of a bull was named Arishta Bad Luck, and he was bad luck for the cows: he rampaged around the cowpens.
8 The wild bull went around making the cows miscarry their calves. On he went, swiftly helping himself to the heifers. 9 Crazy and fierce amid the cows, lashing out using his horns as weapons, that bull in the cowpens wasn’t going to be happy without a fight.
10 The evil bull frightened some cows who were close to Krishna, and at that very same moment he stepped into the path of Yama Vaivasvata. 11 As that great bull emptied the cattlepen of bulls and male calves and yearlings, he’d been bellowing like a stormcloud struck by Indra’s lightning. 12 Krishna Govinda ran towards that Daitya in the form of a bull, disorienting him by clapping his hands and roaring like a lion.
13 When the bull saw Krishna, its eyes widened and its tail stood on end. Irritated by the handclaps and craving a fight, it gave out a roar. 14 When Krishna saw that the agitated Dānava bull was charging towards him, he stood still on the spot like an immovable mountain. 15 The bull steadied its head and trained its gaze upon Krishna’s armpits. It wanted to kill him, and it bore down upon him at speed.
16 As it charged onto him looking like black kohl, Krishna received the insufferable beast as if it were bull against bull. 17 Connecting with Krishna as if with a bull, the great bull spat foam from its mouth and snorted through its nose. 18 Krishna and the bull both looked brilliant in that encounter, each with their body held back by the other, like two rainclouds joining together in the monsoon season.
19 Having struck at the power of his pride, Krishna placed a foot in between Arishta’s horns and wrung his neck as if it were wet clothing. 20 Then he tore Arishta’s left horn out and used it as Yama’s staff, ramming it into his face. Hideously wounded, Arishta died. 21 Horns split, face smashed, shoulders smashed, the Dānava fell down gushing with blood, like a raincloud gushing water.
22 When they saw that Govinda had killed the wild Dānava bull, creatures praised that deed of his with shouts of approval. 23 And after killing the bull at the start of the night, Upendra shone with majesty once more, his face lovely, his eyes like lotuses. 24 All those whose livelihood was the cattle were delighted, and they paid homage to lotus-eyed Krishna just as the immortals pay homage to Shakra in heaven.
65. Kamsa Sends Akrūra to Fetch Krishna
1 Vaishampāyana said:
Kamsa heard that Krishna had escaped to the cattle station and was growing like a fire, and as a result he became agitated, fearing danger. 2 After Pūtanā had been killed, and Kāliya defeated, and Dhenuka led to his doom, and Pralamba cast down, 3 and Govardhana lifted, and Shakra’s punishment neutered, and the cows rescued by an inimitable deed, 4 and after Arishta with the hump had been killed, and the cowherds made happy, and when Kamsa’s death had started coming into view, and great danger was near, 5 Kamsa heard about those incredible deeds against multiplying enemies, done by a child whose deeds—such as dragging two trees—were not those of a child, 6 and the lord of Mathurā considered himself to have received an omen of bad luck. His body and senses became unresponsive, as if he were dead.
7 Then one night, when Mathurā was silent and still, the leader of the people—a man of cruel punishments—assembled his re
latives and his father. 8 He summoned godlike Vasudeva, Satyaka, Dāruka, Kahva Yādava, Kahva’s younger brother, 9 Vaitarana the Bhoja, mighty Vikadru, prince Bhayesakha, glorious Viprithu, 10 Babhru the generous master, Kritavarman, and brilliant, immovable Bhūrishravas. 11 Ugrasena’s son, the king and lord of Mathurā, instructed all these Yādavas to listen, and continued:
12 You gentlemen know your every duty. You’re conversant with every Shāstra, skilled in narration and argumentation, and you promote the triple set.*13 Like the world’s gods, you do the things that need doing. You’re like mountains that don’t tremble before the important task of staying still. 14 You’re all honest in your conduct and diligent in important tasks. You’re all counsellors to the king, and you’re all masters of the bow. 15 Your reputations are lanterns for the people. You’re eager to expound scriptural meanings, you know the nature of the four estates and the ranking of the four social classes, 16 and you’re strict teachers, guides, and exemplars of good conduct. You break up enemy kingdoms and protect those who seek refuge. 17 So you eminent experts with your untarnished reputations could even keep heaven happy, never mind earth.
18 You’re like the seers in your conduct, the Maruts in your strength, the Rudras in your anger, and the Āngirasas in your radiance. 19 You’re heroes famous for your glory, and even as it splits apart you hold the great Yadu clan in place, just as the mountains hold the earth’s surface in place. 20 So, when you gentlemen are active and obedient to my will, why is something that’s bad for me growing up without you noticing?
21 In the cattle station someone called Krishna, the son of cowherd Nanda, is building up like a raincloud. He’ll cut us out by the roots. 22 The son of cowherd Nanda is safe in his house, but only because I’m alone with no ministers and my spies are blind! 23 The villain is getting stronger like an unnoticed disease, like a swelling raincloud, like a rumbling stormcloud at the end of the hot season. 24 He was raised in cowherd Nanda’s house and his deeds are extraordinary, but I don’t know his movements, his method, or his purpose.
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