> > he <
t (ear ta
27/ Prayers by Indra, the King of Heaven

When Krsna saved the inhabitants of Vrndavana from the wrath of Indra
by lifting Govardhana Hill, a surabhi cow from Goloka Vrndavana, as well
as King Indra from the heavenly planet, appeared before Him. Indra, the
King of heaven, was conscious of his offence before Krsna; therefore he
stealthily appeared before Him from a secluded place. He immediately fell
down at the lotus feet of Krsna, although his own crown was dazzling like
sunshine. Indra knew about the exalted position of Krsna because Krsna
is the master of Indra, but he could not believe that Krsna could come
down and live in Vrndavana among the cowherd men. When Krsna defied
the authority of Indra, Indra became angry because he thought that he was
all in all within this universe and that no one was as powerful as he. But
after this incident, his false puffed up prestige was destroyed. Being con-
scious of his subordinate position, he appeared before Krsna with folded
hands and began to offer the following prayers.

“My dear Lord,” Indra said, “being puffed up by my false prestige, I
thought that You had offended me by not allowing the cowherd men to
perform the Indra-yajia, and I thought that You wanted to enjoy the
offerings that were arranged for the sacrifice. I thought that in the name of
a Govardhana sacrifice, You were taking my share of profit, and therefore
I mistook Your position. Now by Your grace I can understand that You
are the Supreme Lord, Personality of Godhead, and that You are transcen-
dental to all the material qualities. Your transcendental position is
visuddha-sattvam, which is above the platform of the material mode of
goodness, and Your transcendental abode is beyond the disturbance of
the material qualities. Your name, fame, form, quality and pastimes are
all beyond this material nature, and they are never disturbed by the three
material modes. Your abode is accessible only for one who undergoes
severe austerities and penances and who is completely freed from the

180
