Parāçara said—Being thus disappointed of offerings in the sacrifice, O
Maitreya, Sakra, greatly angry, addressed the attendant clouds called
Samvarttaka saying—"O ye clouds! hear what I say and do ye speedily
execute without any judgment my behests. The foolish cow-herd Nanda and
his companions, relying upon the protection of Krishna have withheld the
usual offerings to us. Now therefore, distress the cattle, with wind and
rain at my command, that are their subsistance and whence their
occupation is derived. Ascending my elephant, huge as a mountain summit,
I will give you assistance in strengthening the tempest".
Parsara said:—O twice-born one, being thus commanded by the
celestial-chief, the clouds came down in a fearful storm of rain and
wind to destroy the cattle. In a moment, the earth the points of the
horizon and the sky were all blended into one by the heavy and incessant
showers. Being afraid of the lightning's scourge, the clouds filled the
quarters with their muttering and pouring down uninterrupted torrents.
The clouds pouring down waters day and night, the earth was filled with
darkness; and above below and on every side the world was filled with
water. The cattle, pelted by the storm, shrank cowering into the
smallest size or gave up their breath. Some covered their calves with
flanks and some saw their young ones carried away by the flood.
Trembling in the wind, the calves cast their piteous looks at their
mothers or begged, in low moans, as if, the help of Krishna. Beholding
all Gokula moved with terror and cow-herds and cow-herdesses and cattle
stricken with consternations, Hari thus thought "This is the work of
Mahendra, who has been offended for withholding sacrifices from me; it
is therefore my duty to defend this village of herdsmen. I will uplift
this spacious mountain from its snowy base and hold it up as a large
umbrella over the cow-pens". Having thus made up his mind, Krishna
immediately upheld the mountain Govardhana with one hand as if in sport,
and said to the cow-herds—"Behold the mountain is on high; enter beneath
it speedily, and it will shelter you from the storm; here you will be
secure and happy in places defended from the wind; enter speedily and
fear not that the mountain will fall". Thereupon, all the people with
their cattle, wagons, goods, women, afflicted as they were by rain, went
to the shelter of the mountain which he held steadily over their heads;
and Krishna, as he supported the mountain, was contemplated with delight
and astonishment by the inhabitants of Vraja. As his eyes expanded with
joy and wonder, the cow-herds and cow-herdesses sang his glories. For
seven days and nights did the vast clouds, despatched by Indra, pour
down showers upon the Gokula of Nanda, to destroy the dwellers, but they
were protected by the height of the mountain. And being baffled in his
purpose, the Indra, the destroyer of Bala, ordered the clouds to cease.
The threats of Indra having been fruitless and the sky clear, all the
inhabitants of Gokula came out from the shelter and went back to their
respective habitations. Then Krishna, in the presence of the inhabitants
of the forests filled with surprise, restored the great mountain
Govardhana to its original site.