Worshiping Govardhana Hill 167

father, for those who are liberal and saintly, there is no secrecy. They do
not think anyone to be a friend or enemy because they are always open
to everyone. And even for those who are not so liberal, nothing should be
secret for the family members and friends, although secrecy may be
maintained for persons who are inimical. Therefore you cannot keep any
secrets from Me. All persons are engaged in fruitive activities. Some know
what these activities are, and they know the result, and some execute
activities without knowing the purpose or the result. A person who acts
with full knowledge gets the full result; one who acts without knowledge
does not get such a perfect result. Therefore, please let Me know the
purpose of the sacrifice which you are going to perform. Is it according to
Vedic injunction? Or is it simply a popular ceremony? Kindly let Me know
in detail about the sacrifice.”

On hearing this inquiry from Krsna, Maharaja Nanda replied, “My dear
boy, this ceremonial performance is more or less traditional. Because
rainfall is due to the mercy of King Indra and the clouds are his represen-
tatives, and because water is so important for our living, we must show
some gratitude to the controller of this rainfall, Maharaja Indra. We are
arranging, therefore, to pacify King Indra, because he has very kindly sent
us clouds to pour down sufficient quantity of rain for successful agricul-
tural activities. Water is very important; without rainfall we cannot farm
or produce grains. We cannot live if there is no rainfall. It is necessary for
successful religious ceremonies, economic development, and, ultimately,
liberation. Therefore we should not give up the traditional ceremonial
function; if one gives it up, being influenced by lust, or greed or fear,
then it does not look very good for him.”

After hearing this, Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in the
presence of His father and all the cowherd men of Vrndavana, spoke in
such a way as to make heavenly King Indra very angry. He suggested
that they forego the sacrifice. His reasons for discouraging the sacrifice
performed to please Indra were twofold. First, as stated in the Bhagavad-
gita, there is no need to worship the demigods for any material advance-
ment; all results derived from worshiping the demigods are simply tem-
porary, and only those who are less intelligent are interested with tem-
porary results. Secondly, whatever temporary result one derives from
worshiping the demigods is actually granted by the permission of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is clearly stated in the Bhagavad-
gita, mayaiva vihitan hi tan. Whatever benefit is supposed to be derived
from the demigods is actually bestowed by the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. Without the permission of the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
