21 - Preparation of an Indrayaga by Nanda

Narayana said - О sage, once Nanda delightfully made an announcement in the city at the time of performing of Indrayaga, that all the cowherds, cowherdesses, boys, girls, Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vais'hyas and Shudras living in Vraja, should bring with devotion, curd, milk, ghee, butter milk, butter, guda and honey besides other materials for the adoration of Indra. 

Thus, making an announcement, he installed a flag-post delightfully in a vast area and it was decorated with silken garments and beautiful garlands of flowers. The face was decorated with sandal-paste, aguru, kasturi and saffron. 

After taking a bath and completing other daily routines Nanda clad himself in two new garments, washing his lotus-like feet, got himself seated on the golden seat. At that point of time many Brahmanas holding different types of vases, the priests, cowherds, cowherdesses, the boys and the girls also arrived there. 

In the meantime, all the people of the city arrived there carrying the materials with them together with various types of presents. 

The sages well-versed in the Vedic and post-Vedic literature, shining with their divine lustre, having a divine vision also arrived there with their pupils. 

He sages like Garga, Galava, Sakalya, Sakat ayana, Gautama, Karusa, Kanva, Vatsya, Katyayana, Saubhari, Vamadeva, Yajnavalkya, Panini, Rusya’shrunga, Gauramukha, Bharadvaja, Vamana, Krishna-dvaipayana, Shrungi, Sumantu, Jaimini, Kacha, Parashara, Maitreya, Vaishampayana, together with many Brahmanas, beggars, bards, kings, Vaishyas and Shudras also arrive to attend the function.

Looking at the sages, the Brahmanas and the kings, Nanda got up from the golden pedestal and with him all the people of Vraja also stood up. 

Bowing in reverence to the sages, Brahmanas and the kings, he made them seated appropriately and with their permission he also took his seat. 

He then commanded a hundred Brahmanas, the Brahmanas well-versed in cooking, "You start cooking besides the flag-post." The place was illuminated with burning lamps of diamonds. With the burning of incense, the place was plunged into darkness with its smoke and also filled with fragrance. 

О Narada, the place was filled with various types of flowers, several types of divine eatables, Seshamum balls and many other sweets.

О sage, there were thousands of pitchers filled with sugar. The sweet balls were made of the flour of wheat and barley, which were fried by the Brahmanas in ghee. There were several pitchers filled with them. О Narada, the beautiful bananas which were ripened in the trees themselves and a large quantity of fruits of the season, a lakh of pitchers filled with milk and an equal number of pitchers filled with curd were also lying there. 

There were a hundred pitchers of honey, a thousand pitchers of ghee and three lakh pitchers of buttermilk placed there. 

There were five lakhs of vases filled with guda and a thousand vases filled with Seshamum oil were available there. 

The consumable articles were transported by bulls and various types of vases of gold and silver were also placed there. 

О Brahman, by the side of that flag-post, there were pedestals of gold, beautiful costumes for wearing besides beautiful ornaments.  

During the festivities, those who played on musical instruments were doing so in a sweet tone issuing various types of tunes. 

Thousands of he-goats, a hundred he-buffaloes and a lakh of sheep were also brought there. 

Hundreds of rhinoceroses arrived near the flag post and several articles were put on show there, well-guarded.

Who could count the number of boys, girls, trees, creepers and young boys and young girls? 

In the beautiful function all the people were engrossed in the music and dance festivities. 

О Brahman, in that function Radha, Urvasi, Menaka, Ghratachi, Mohini, Rati, Prabhavati, Bhanumati, Viprachitti, Tilottama, Chandraprabha, Suprabha, Ratnamala, Madalasa and beautiful Renuka also arrived. By looking at the dance and music, the breasts, faces and the pelvic region of the damsels and their overall beauty, besides the side-glances, the people got fainted. 

In the meantime, Gopala accompanied by valorous Balabhadra arrived there himself. On their arrival and looking at them all the people felt delighted and suddenly got up. Their hair stood on end, and they felt panicky from a distance. 

Sri Krishna was returning from the playground; his peaceful appearance was quite charming. The sweet sound of the flute was accompanied by the sound of vina, horn and other musical instruments played at the same time. He was adored with the best of ornaments studded with gems together with the kaustubha gem. His dark-complexioned body was plastered with sandal paste and aguru. 

Не was looking at the mirror of diamonds, his face which resembled the glory of the mid-day lotus of the winter season. A spot of kasturi decorated his forehead on which the sandal-paste was also applied, and it looked like the moon. 

With this on his forehead he seemed as if he was decorated with the moon shining in the sky.  He had a dark-complexioned throat; the chest was decorated with the garland of jasmine flowers and was shinning like a line of skylarks flying in the sky in the winter season. He was clad in pitambara which added to the beauty of the dark-complexioned body. It appeared as if lightning appeared from the clouds. He wore a crown on his head which was tilted towards one side, with the peacock feather and the garland of fragrant flowers were decorating it. It appeared as if the rainbow was decorated with the constellation in the sky. His smiling face had the gem-studded kundalas decorating the ears which emitted lustre like the blossomed lotus flower of the summer season. 

 О sage, thus looking at him, all the Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vais'hyas and cowherds bowed in reverence to him and made him sit on the gem-studded lion-throne. While thus seated on the gem-studded lion-throne, the lord of the universe, looked as if the full moon of the winter season was surrounded by stars. Thus, visualising the entire situation all the people said, "O lord of the universe you are beyond qualities, illustrious and eternal." Looking at the festivities Sri Krishna well-versed in the scriptures, at once spoke to his father the words which were inaccessible to all. 

Sri Krishna said - О lord of the Vallabas and best of the devotees, what is all this you are doing? "Who is your family god?" What is the form of this puja? After performing this puja what reward shall accrue the reform? And with that reward which one of the tasks would be established? By performing it which one of the desires would be fulfilled? In case this puja is not performed what shall be the reaction of the gods and what harm can come to us? And in case he is pleased what type of reward of the world or heaven could be bestowed by the gods on us.  

Some of the adoration provide us reward for this world only and not beyond the life. Some of the adorations provide no benefit to the performer either in this world or the next, while some of the adorations provide benefit for the present world as well as the future one. 

Such of the adoration, which is not prescribed in the Vedas, is bound to cause harm. Is this adoration of modern or ancient origin? 

Where have you visualised the god who is being adored? Does your god consume food in visible and invisible form? Such of the god who appears in visible form, his adoration is blissful. 

It has been prescribed in the Vedas that the Brahmanas are like the gods for us. О father, the adoration of the Brahmana is more purposeful than adoring any other gods. 

The Brahmanas in the form of Janardana consumes the offerings. When the Brahmana is satisfied all the gods get satisfied. 

The one, who engages himself in the adoration of the Brahmana, for him the adoration of the gods is of no consequence. The one who has adored the Brahmanas had adored all the gods. 

After offering the food to the gods if the Brahmana shall not be served with the same, in that case the entire offering is reduced to ashes and the entire adoration becomes of no consequence. 

By offering food to the Brahmanas, one achieves merit without measure and the gods getting pleased dwell in his home.

In case a foolish one offers food to the gods without offering the same to the Brahmanas or consumes himself, then he is termed as one who had stolen the riches of the gods and thereafter, he has to fall into hell. Therefore, except the food offered to the lord one should not accept the same offered food to the gods. The same would not be eaten by anyone else which is offered to the gods. The food offered to Vishnu can be consumed by everyone. 

The one, who does not offer food to Vishnu, the food and the water so consumed are like refuse and urine. This system has to be followed by everyone but more particularly by the Brahmanas. If an intelligent person without offering the food to the gods offers it to the Brahmanas, then with the food so consumed by the Brahmanas, the gods are pleased and retire to heaven. 

Therefore, making all the efforts one should adore the Brahmanas because by serving them, one would be benefited in this as well as in the future life. 

The performing of japam, tapas, puja, yajna, charities, festivities would end at the serving of Brahmanas to their satisfaction.  

All the gods reside in the body of a Brahmana and all the holy places dwell in his feet. With the dust of his feet all the merits are achieved. 

The water with which the feet of the Brahmanas are washed, all the holy places reside there. With the very touch of it, one achieves the merits of taking baths in all the holy places.  

О Ballava, if one consumes with devotion the  water of the Brahmanas, all his ailments  disappear and he is relieved of all the sins  committed by him during the past seven births.  There is no doubt about it. 

The one who bows before the Brahmana after committing five types of sins, is relieved of all of them like his taking baths in the holy places.  

With the very touch of the Brahmana a sinner is relieved of all the sins and by looking at him, all the sins disappear. This has been ordained in the Vedas. 

All the well-read as well as the foolish Brahmanas represent the body of lord Vishnu.  Such of the Brahmanas who adore lord Vishnu are dearer to the lord than his own life. The influence of the Brahmanas who are devoted to the lord, has been commanded in the Vedas. With the fall of dust from the feet of the Brahmanas, even the sin committed in the holy places vanish. Their embrace, sweet conversation, audience with them and their touch, relieves the people of all the sins.

The merit one gets by visiting all the holy places and taking baths in them, the same merit is achieved with the mere look of the Brahmana who is devoted to lord Vishnu. 

Such of the Brahmanas who always consume food first offering to the lord and by consuming such food a person achieves the slavehood of the lord. 

If anyone consumes the food by mistake without offering first to the lord, it becomes like refuse and the water becomes like wine.

A true devotee of Hari always remains anxious to consume the food after offering the same to the lord. He offers uncooked food to the lord and then consumes the food cooked by him. 

As the Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras have no right to adore Salagrama, similarly the Shudras have no right for adoring Hari. 

О lord of the cowherds, in case all these articles are not given to the Brahmana, then they will be reduced to ashes. There is no doubt about it. 

The food can be given to all the people for earning merits but by offering the same to specific personalities, one achieves special merit. 

Therefore, by offering food to the humans one gets eight times the merits and by offering the same to a special type of Shudras, one gets double the merit. 

By offering food to the Vais'hyas, one gets eight time more merits. One gets double the merit by giving food to the Shudras as compared to the Vaishyas. 

One earns double the merit, if in case the food is served to the Kshatriyas in place of the Vaishyas.  One gets a hundred times more merit by offering food to the Brahmanas as compared to the food given to the Kshatriyas. In case the food is given to a Brahmana, well-versed in the scriptures, one achieves a hundred times more merit than serving food to an ordinary Brahmana. By serving food to a Brahmana who is devoted to the lord, one achieves a hundred times more merits than giving food to the Brahmanas well versed in the scriptures. Offering food to Hari one should consume it gracefully. By giving away riches in charity to a Brahmana devoted to Vishnu and the merit one earns by that, the same is achieved by offering food to a Brahmana devoted to the lord. 

When the devotee of the lord is pleased, lord Hari himself is pleased, as with the watering of the trees at the roots, the new branches are sprouted.

In case the eatables are offered to one single god only then the others get annoyed and what shall the one god do in the presence of all other gods. 

Therefore, you offer half of the eatable material collected now to mountain Govardhana.  The mountain is called Govardhana because it increases the flock of cows.  

О father, there is no one more meritorious than Govardhana on earth, because the same provides fresh grass to the cows daily. 

Visit to the holy places, feeding the Brahmanas, performing all the vratas and fasting, service to the lord, going round the earth, being truthful and performing all the yajnas, the person gets great merit, but the same merit is achieved by offering green grass to the cows. 

The one who deliberately prevents a cow from grazing, earns the sin of Brahmahatya and can be purified after repentance.  

О father, all the gods dwell in all the limbs of the cow, while all the sacred places dwell in her hoofs. Lakshmi herself dwells in her body. 

The one who applied tilakam on his head from the dust of the hoofs of the cow, earns the merit of having a bath in all the sacred places and faces victory at every step. The place where the cows are kept, becomes like the sacred place and in case one meets his end at that place, he gets redeemed at once. The one who strikes a blow on the limbs of the Brahmanas and the cows, such a wicked person earns the sin of Brahmahatya. There is no doubt about it. 

Such of the degraded people who kill the Brahmanas and the cows who are the amsha of Narayana, have to fall in kalasutra hell and remain there up to the life of the sun and the moon. 

О Narada, thus speaking lord Krishna kept quiet. Thereafter Nanda with a delightful mind said to him, wearing a serene smile on his face. 

Narada said - We are performing this traditional puja for lord Indra. It is for the cause of good rain and abundance of harvest. 

The cereals are the life of the people which keep the people alive. The people of Vraja have been performing this puja traditionally for Indra.  This function is performed at the end of the year for the removal of obstruction and the welfare of all.

On hearing these words, Krishna together with Balabhadra laughed aloud and joyfully spoke to their father. 

Sri Krishna said - We have listened to your most astonishing and surprising talk, which could be denounced by the people, the scriptures and the Vedas and are nothing short of a joke. It is nowhere prescribed that it rains because of Indra.  We have only come to know from your mouth today these unprecedented words. 

О father, don't indulge in such improper things. You listen to the same council of the intellectuals, the people who are well aware of the words of the Samaveda. 

You kindly consult your courtiers in the assembly and other intellectuals, whether it is Indra alone who causes the rain. 

The water is collected by the rays of the sun and from the water, the cereals, the creepers and the trees grow. The cereals and the fruits grow from the same source which provides life to the people. 

The water which is dried up by the sun with its rays, the same causes the rain during the rainy season. The sun and the clouds are the creations of the lord. Such of the clouds which are considered as the elephants the ocean, those who have been declared as the lords of the cereals and the minister; they are all created by the lord.  

The quantity of greenery, the grass is decided every year besides the water. According to the same decision the process is repeated every year since time immemorial. 

The sun extracting the water from the ocean hands it over to the clouds and the clouds with the help of the wind drops the rains appropriately on the earth at different times. The water is created with the will of the lord and no obstruction can be created in the process. 

О father, the present, past and future, degraded, mediocre and the high-ranking people are created by Brahma, who can negate it. 

He has created this movable and immovable universe at the command of the lord. First of all, the arrangement for the food is made and then the jiva appears. With the repetition of the process, the arrangement is called nature. One performs everything by nature and by performing the deeds, people have to face pleasure and pain. 

The pain, birth and death, ailment, grief, fear, riches, danger, learnings, poetry, glory, denouncement, merit, living in heaven, sin, living in hell, devotion, deliberation, rage and the slavehood of the lord are achieved by the people according to their karmas. 

The lord is the creator of all. The humble nature and the reward for the deeds performed are given by the lord. Whatever happens, happens due to the will of the lord. 

He created Virat, all the tattvas, Prakruti, globe, tortoise, Sesha, Pruthivi and the creatures right from Brahma to the straw. 

At the command of the lord the wind supports the tortoise, the tortoise supports Sesha and Sesha carries the earth on his head and the earth carries all the moveable and immovable creatures. 

At his command, the wind which is the life of the universe, blows in all the three worlds, the sun with sharp rays burns while moving around. 

The fire burns, the death overpowers all the creatures; the trees are grown and blossom timely. 

By his command the ocean remains lodged at the proper place and goes down quickly, therefore, the same lord should be adored with devotion. What can Indra do? 

With whose frowning, several of the globes playfully come into being and disappear and several of the Brahma emerge and then disappeared. 

He happens to be the death for the death and death for the god of death and happens to be Brahma for Brahma. О father, let us take refuge with him, he will surely protect you. 

Alas, with the fall of twentyeight Indras whose one day is counted and the fall of a hundred and eight Brahmas the creator of the universe, equate with the winking of his eyes and as such the adoration of Indra in preference to such a lord would just be a fallacy. 

О Narada, thus speaking lord Krishna kept quiet, the sages and all other courtiers highly appreciated the words of lord Krishna and praised him. 

Narada also felt delighted and the hair on his body stood on end, while the tears started flowing from his eyes. When the father gets defeated at the hands of his own son, one achieves a peculiar delight. Nanda accepting the command of lord Krishna recited svastivachana invoking all the gods.  

He then adored the mountains and the sages and distributed to the learned Brahmanas the cows and also consecrated fire.

In the festivities of the yajna when the puja came to an end, thundering sounds were heard from all sides. 

The sounds of victory echoed in the sky besides the blowing of conches and reciting of the name of Hari. Garga the best of the sages recited the Vedas. 

Dindi who was the best of the bards and was very close to Kamsha started reciting the verses of welfare in loud voice. 

Sri Krishna went to the Govardhana mountain and taking to another form, he said, "I am the mount Govardhana and am consuming the stuff offered to me. You ask from me.". 

At that point of time, Sri Krishna said to Nanda, "O father, you look at the mountain in the front and ask for a boon from him which could bestow welfare on you. 

Then Nanda, the chief of the Ballava, prayed to him, "You bestow on me the slavehood of the lord and his devotion." Consuming the eatables and pronouncing a boon that form disappears. 

Nanda, the protector of the cows, served the Brahmanas and the bards with food. He also offered riches to the sages and the Brahmanas. 

After distributing the riches among the Brahmanas and the sages, Nanda felt delighted and placing Balarama and Krishna ahead of the cowherds, they moved on to their abodes. 

They also provided the bards with gold, silver, garments, beautiful horses and several other eatables. 

All the sages and the Brahmanas retired to their respective abodes after bowing in reverence to Balarama and Krishna. All the apsaras, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Ballavas who had arrived to participate in the function, returned to their respective abodes bowing before lord Krishna.

In the meantime, Indra finding the yajna having been disturbed and hearing about his denouncement, was immensely enraged. His lips started fluttering. He, accompanied by the winds and the clouds mounted on the chariot arrived in the city of Nanda located in Vrundavana.

O Narada, thereafter the gods who were well versed in the warfare also held the weapons in their hands getting enraged and mounting on the chariot, they also went away. 

The thundering of the clouds, the blowing of the winds and the sound was created by the terrific movement of the soldiers. The entire populace of the city was frightened together with Nanda.

Nanda who was well-versed in polity, summoned his wife and attendants in seclusion and spoke to them getting dejected. 

Nanda said - "O Yashoda, О Rohini, come here and listen to my words. О dear one, you move from here to a distant place from Vraja.

Let the boys and girls besides the ladies also move at some distant place and only the strong people should remain here.

We shall leave this place only when we are faced with death." Thus, speaking Nanda, the best of the Ballavas started reciting the name of Hari in panic. 

With folded hands bowing his head he started praising Indra with stotra prescribed in the Kanva-sakha. 

Nanda said - О Indra, Surapati, Shakra, Ditija, Pavanagraja, Sahasraksha, Bhaganga, Kashyapangaja, Vidouja, Sunasira, Marutvan, Pakashasana, Jayanta-janaka, Shriman, Sachisha, Daityastidana, Vajrahasta, Kamasakha, destroyer of the vrata of Gautami, killer of Vrutraha, Vasava, desirous of the body of Dadhichi, Jishnu, brother of Vamana, Puruhuta, Purandara, Divaspati, Shatamakha, Sutrama, Gotrabhid, Vibhu, Lekharsabha, Balarati, Jambhabhedi, Surashraya, Sarhkrandana, Duschyavana, Turasat, Meghavahana, Akhandala, Harihaya, killer of Namuchi, Vaddhashrava, Vursa and the destroyer of the pride of the demons. These forty-six names of Indra surely remove the sins.

Whosoever recites this stotra contained in the Kauthumi-sakha, Indra protects him holding a vajra during all the dangers. 

Since Indra himself becomes the protector, one is not afraid of the excess of rains, hail-storm and the falling of vajra. 

О Narada, the house in which this auspicious stotra of Indra is recited the same is protected from the falling of vajra as well as the hail storm. 

On hearing the stotra from the mouth of Nanda, Madhusudana felt enraged. Illumining with the divine lustre, he spoke to his father the most appropriate words, "O coward, to whom are you offering this prayer. Who is Indra? You shed away all the fears in my presence. I can reduce him to dust in a moment. 

Placing the cows, the calves, the boys and the women in the caves of Govardhana, you become free from fear. 

On hearing the words of the boy, Nanda did so with pleasure and lord Krishna then lifted up that mountain like a rod upwards. 

О sage, in the meantime the entire place in spite of having been illuminated with the gems, was covered with darkness due to the dust. The clouds accompanied by the wind covered the entire sky and torrential rains started falling in Vrundavana. 

There were hail-storms, rain of vajras and the falling of comets were also seen but strangely enough all these, while touching Govardhana were thrown apart at a distance. 

О sage, thus the entire exercise of Indra became infructuous like the effort of an ordinary person. Finding his efforts becoming unsuccessful, Indra was enraged. 

He picked up the infallible vajra made of the bones of Dadhich in his hands. Finding vajra in the hands of Indra Madhusudana started laughing. 

He made the hands of Indra together with the vajra motionless. He made the hand of Indra holding the vajra motionless. Not only this, the lord also made the clouds to be static together with the gods which made them look like puppets studded in a wall. They at once became motionless. With the rendering of the gods immensely motionless Indra was over-powered by swoon. 

In his swoon, Indra witnessed the entire universe in the form of Krishna alone. He held flutes in all the hands and was adorned with all the ornaments, clad in pitambara, seated on a gem-studded lion-throne, wearing a serene smile on his face, anxious to bestow grace on his devotees and all whose limbs of the body were plastered with sandal-paste. With the sight of this astonishing scene, Indra got fainted. 

He then started reciting the mantra given to him by his teacher. At that point of time, he found a block of lustre on the thousand pettalled lotus. 

In the meantime he found the great lord having the charming and divine body, the complexion of the new clouds, having the beautiful form, wearing the gem-studded kundalas, a mukuta adorning his head, with the kaustubha gem decorating his chest and the neck, wearing the armlets, anklets and wristlets who projected the same form inside as well as outside. He then started adorning the lord. 

Indra said - You are indestructible, the eternal Brahman, form of lustre, eternal, devoid of qualities, formless, having your own will, beyond measure, taking to many forms for the sake of your devotees and appear in different complexions like white, red and yellow and dark according to the exigencies of the lord. 

In Satyayuga, your lustre appears in white complexion and stands for truth; in the Tretayuga, the divine lustre illumines in the saffron complexion; in Dvapara you have a yellow complexion and are adorned with pitambara while in Kaliyuga you have the dark complexion having the name of Krishna. In all these forms you happen to be the only great soul.

Your form has the complexion of new clouds which is dark and beautiful. I bow in reverence to the lord who happens to be the son of Nanda of Yashoda. 

You are the one who steals away the hearts of the cowherdesses and are dearer to Radha than her life. Playfully you hold the flute in your hands, the sound of which echoes everywhere. Your beauty is beyond description, you are clad in the gem-studded ornaments, you are more beautiful than the crores of gods of love, are peaceful, the great lord and indulge in divine plays in Vrundavana. You rest you your head on the breasts of Radha in a secluded place in Vrundavana, while sometimes you indulge in water-sports with her. Sometimes you comb the hair of Radha and sometimes you apply paint on the feet of Radha, while sometimes you chew the betel already used by Radha, delightfully. 

Sometimes you look at Radha who stares at you with side-glances and sometimes you hand over the garlands of flowers made by you, yourself. 

Sometimes you visit Rasamandala with Radha and sometimes you adorn your neck with the flower garland provided to you by Radha. 

Sometimes, you roam about in Vrundavana with the cowherdesses and sometimes you move about with Radha while at times you move alone.

At places you consume the food provided by the wives of the Brahmanas and sometimes you consume the tala fruits supplied to you by the boys. 

Sometimes you steal away the costumes of the cowherdesses and sometimes you call for the cows and cowherds. 

At times you. place your feet on the hood of serpent Kaliya and sometimes you play on the flute with pleasure. Sometimes you sing beautiful song in the company of the cowherd boys. Thus, offering prayer to Krishna, Indra bowed in reverence to him. 

In earlier times Bruhaspati had given this stotra to Indra at the time of war with Vrutraasura. First of all, lord Krishna compassionately gave it to Brahma who had performed this eleven-letter mantra together with the kavacha and the stotra. Thereafter, Brahma gave it to Kumara in Pushkara region and Kumara in turn gave it to Angira, while Angira gave it to Bruhaspati. 

Therefore, whosoever regularly recites this stotra composed by Indra, achieves the deep devotion and slave hood of-the lord undoubtedly. Such a person is freed from the birth, death, old age, disease and grief. He does not have to witness the messengers of Yama or the hell even in dream. 

Narayana said - On listening to the words of Indra, the lord of Lakshmi felt delighted and blessing Indra he re-established the mountain.

Indra then bowing before Krishna returned to his abode with his attendants. Thereafter all the people came out of the caves of the mountain and went back to their homes. 

All of them took Krishna to be the complete Brahman, the lord also returned to his abode together with all the people of Vraja. Nanda felt overwhelmed with delight and his mind was filled with devotion. The tears started emerging out of his eyes. With his heart filled with delight, he adored his son who was eternal Brahman. 

Nanda said - О bestower of welfare, the well-wisher of the cows and Brahmanas and the one who wished well of the entire universe, I bow in reverence to such a Krishna also known as Govinda. 

You are the one who always delights the Brahmanas, the form of Brahman, the eternal great soul, the abode of crores of Brahmanas. I bow in reverence to you. 

О son, you are the life of the Adityas, are without any qualities, formless, I bow in reverence to you. 

You are smaller than the smallest and harder than the hardest, the lord of all, the form of all, lustre of all, I bow in reverence to you. 

You are invisible, the one who is difficult to be achieved by the yogis even after great tapas; you are adorned by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, are eternal, adored by people of all the varnas in all the four yugas, spotless, red, yellow and dark complexioned, possess qualities; you are the form of yogis, the form of the form of the yoga, the teacher of the yogis, lord of the siddhas, form of the siddhas, besides being the teacher of the siddhas, I bow in reverence to you. You are the one who is beyond the prayers of Brahma and Vishnu and even Shiva, Sesha, Dharma, Surya, Ganesha, Karttikeya and Sanaka; besides other sages are unable to offer prayer to him. You are the one and even Nara-Narayana cannot offer their prayers to you. The one who is beyond everyone, then how can a person having no wisdom offer prayer to you. 

The one who even the Vedas, speech, Lakshmi, Sarasvati and Radha are unable to offer prayers, then who else can venture to offer prayers to you.

O Brahman, I am feeling sinful at every moment; therefore, you kindly forgive me. О ocean of mercy, well-wisher of the down trodden, you kindly protect me in the ocean of the universe. In the earlier time, I had performed great tapas and after visiting holy places, I achieved you as a son. You kindly bestow the devotion of your lotus-like feet and your slave hood. 

The Brahmanhood, eternal ship and the salvations like Salokya do not weigh even one sixteenth part of the pleasure of achieving your slavehood. Then the place of Indra, the god hood, the siddhis, heaven, the kingship and long life shall be of no consequence. 

Whatever has been spoken by me about Brahman does not compare to the pleasure one achieves by keeping the company of your devotees even for a moment. 

Because your devotees are always like you. Then who can measure your glory? By talking to your devotees even for half of a moment, it makes one to cross over the ocean of the universe. 

Keeping the company of your devotees, the devotion always sprouts, in the form of the clouds like your devotees and the conversation with them seems like the pouring of rain and with the supply of that water, the devotion in one's mind sprouts. 

Such of the people who are not devoted to the lord, sprouting dries away while talking to them and with the watering of the same reciting the glory of the lord and his devotees, they go on increasing. 

When the devotion in one's mind appears and grows up, then it never vanishes, it always continues to increase every moment and every day. 

Thereafter such a devotee achieves the highest stage of Brahman and for his welfare, the eternal slave hood is bestowed on him. 

When someone becomes the slave of the lord, achieving the inaccessible slave hood, he is freed from all the fetters. 

With his mind filled with devotion Nanda spoke all this and thereafter he stood before the lord. Thereafter lord Krishna wearing a smile on his face bestows the desired boon to him. Tier

Thus, whosoever recites with devotion the stotra recited by Nanda, with deep devotion achieves the slave hood of the lord. 

In the earlier times Drona was performing tapas with Dhara in Pushkara region and this inaccessible stotra was bestowed by Brahma to them. In this world, the sage Saubhari with an extremely delightful mind gave to Brahma the six-letter mantra of Hari together with the base of kavacha. The same kavacha, the same stotra and the same inaccessible mantra was given by Garga to Nanda who was engaged in tapas. In earlier times the one who achieved whichever mantra, stotra, kavacha, the family god, teacher and the learnings, the same person never parted. Thus, the story of Krishna as well as his stotra has been spelt out which bestow pleasure, salvation, essence of all and relieves one of the worldly bondages.