Devastating Rainfall in Vrndavana 175
accompanied by heavy pieces of ice and strong winds, although all this
was out of season. Krsna understood that this was a deliberate exhibition
of anger by Indra. He therefore concluded, “This demigod who thinks
himself supreme has shown his great power, but I shall answer him
according to My position, and I shall teach him that he is not autonomous
in managing universal affairs. I am the Supreme Lord over all, and I shall
thus take away his false prestige which has risen from his power. The
demigods are My devotees, and therefore it is not possible for them to
forget My supremacy, but somehow or other he has become puffed up
with material power and thus is now maddened. | shall act in such a way
to relieve him of this false prestige. I shall give protection to My pure
devotees in Vrndavana, who are at present completely at My mercy and
whom I have taken completely under My protection. I will save them by
My mystic power.”

Thinking in this way, Lord Krsna immediately picked up Govardhana
Hill with one hand, exactly as a child picks up a mushroom from the
sround. Thus He exhibited His transcendental pastime of lifting Govar-
dhana Hill. Lord Krsna then began to address His devotees, ‘My dear
brothers, My dear father, My dear inhabitants of Vrndavana, you can now
safely enter under the umbrella of Govardhana Hill, which I have just
lifted. Do not be afraid of the hill and think that it will fall from My hand.
You have been too much afflicted from the heavy rain and strong wind;
therefore I have lifted this hill, which will protect you exactly like a huge
umbrella. I think this is a proper arrangement to relieve you from your
immediate distress. Be happy along with your animals underneath this
sreat umbrella.” Being assured by Lord Krsna, all the inhabitants of
Vrndavana entered beneath the great hill and appeared to be safe along
with their property and animals.

The inhabitants of Vrndavana and their animals remained there for one
week without being disturbed by hunger, thirst or any other discomforts.
They were simply astonished to see how Krsna was holding up the
mountain with the little finger of His left hand. Seeing the extraordinary
mystic power of Krsna, Indra, the King of heaven, was thunderstruck and
baffled in his determination. He immediately called for all the clouds and
asked them to desist. When the sky became completely cleared of all
clouds and there was sunrise again, the strong winds stopped. At that time
Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, known now as the lifter of
Govardhana Hill, said, ““My dear cowherd men, now you can leave and
take your wives, children, cows and valuables, because everything is ended.
The inundation has gone down, along with the swelling waters of the river.”
