The cowherds, led by their deep love and reverence, addressed Krishna with devotion, saying, “You, O Lord of the world, are our supreme deity—not Indra. For the welfare of cows, brahmins, gods, and all the virtuous, you exist among us.” Inspired by Brahmā’s will, they declared, “We shall anoint you as Indra, O Soul of the Universe, for you have descended to remove the earth’s burden.” Then, Śuka continued, describing the sacred events that unfolded. Surabhi, the divine cow, invited Krishna and bathed him with her own milk, while Airāvata, Indra’s majestic elephant, brought waters from the celestial Gaṅgā to complete the holy ablution. Indra himself, accompanied by the sages among the gods and guided by the mothers of the gods, anointed Krishna—the descendant of the Daśārha line—addressing him as Govinda, the protector of cows. At that auspicious moment, celestial musicians like Tumburu and Nārada arrived, joined by Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, Siddhas, and Cāraṇas. They sang the glorious deeds of Hari, whose fame purifies the worlds, while the celestial women danced with joy. The leaders of the divine hosts showered wondrous rains of flowers, and the three worlds were filled with supreme delight. The cows, overjoyed, gave forth streams of milk. Nature itself responded in bliss: rivers and trees flowed with honey, grains and herbs sprang up without cultivation, and the mountains revealed precious gems. In this atmosphere of divine harmony, even beings who were by nature cruel became free from enmity. Thus, when Krishna was anointed, peace and prosperity graced all creation. After the ceremony, Indra, having received Krishna’s permission, departed for heaven with the gods and their retinues. The worship of Krishna was then described in detail: one should honor Durgā, Vināyaka, Vyāsa, Viṣvaksena, the teachers, and the gods, each in their proper direction, with offerings and rituals such as sprinkling, bathing with sandalwood, camphor, kuṅkuma, aguru, and fragrant waters, accompanied by appropriate mantras. The worshipper should recite hymns such as the Svarṇagharman, Mahāpuruṣa-vidyā, Pauruṣa Sūkta, and Sāman hymns, and adorn the Lord with garments, sacred threads, ornaments, leaf-garlands, and fragrant ointments, all offered with love. With faith, one should present water for washing feet, for sipping, fragrance, flowers, unbroken rice, incense, lamps, and other offerings. Food offerings may include sweet rice with jaggery, clarified butter, fried cakes, rice cakes, sweets, curd, soup, and other available foods. Daily and during festivals, one should perform services such as oiling, massaging, providing mirrors, tooth-cleaning, bathing, food, drink, singing, and dancing. The fire ritual is to be conducted properly, with a consecrated fire-pit, fuel, and altar, spreading kuśa grass, sprinkling the area, placing offerings as prescribed, purifying them, and then making the offerings into the fire. The devotee should meditate on the Lord as resplendent as molten gold, with four arms bearing the conch, discus, mace, and lotus, peaceful, clad in garments the color of lotus filaments, adorned with crown, bracelets, waistband, splendid armlets, the mark of Śrīvatsa, the Kaustubha gem, and a garland of forest flowers. During worship, offerings are placed, some soaked in ghee, and after honoring the ancestors and gods, the main oblation is presented, all while meditating on the essence of Nārāyaṇa. Gifts are offered to the Lord’s attendants, and water for sipping and mouth-fresheners like betel are presented. Singing, praising, dancing, and narrating the Lord’s stories absorb the devotee’s mind. Through hymns and praises from the Purāṇas and even common speech, the devotee extols the Lord, prays for grace, and prostrates, placing his head at the Lord’s feet, arms crossed in supplication: “Protect me, O Lord! I have surrendered, frightened by the ocean of death and its snares.” With reverence, the devotee places the Lord’s remnants upon his head, and, if concluding the worship, respectfully returns the offering to the light and again to the supreme light. Wherever there is faith in worship, the Lord is to be worshipped, for he dwells in all beings and within the self as the universal soul. By the paths of ritual and yoga, both Vedic and Tantric, the sincere worshipper attains the desired perfections from the Lord. Establishing the Lord’s image, one should build a firm temple, with delightful flower gardens for worship and festivals. For ongoing worship and related rites, one should dedicate fields, shops, towns, and villages, thereby attaining the Lord’s realm. Through consecration, one gains sovereignty over the three worlds; through worship, Brahma’s world; and by threefold practice, equality with the Lord. Yet, by exclusive devotion and yoga, one attains the Lord himself, for whoever worships him obtains the path of devotion. However, the scriptures warn: whoever takes what has been offered to the gods or brahmins, whether given by oneself or others for their maintenance, incurs grave consequences. For the sake of the doer, the essence, and the approver, those who share in the actions receive the greater fruits of those deeds after death. Śuka then narrated another event. On the eleventh day, Nanda observed a fast and worshipped Janārdana. The next day, he went to bathe in the waters of the Kālindī. But, as he entered the water at night, crossing the asuric boundary, a servant of Varuṇa, an asura, seized him and brought him before Varuṇa. The cowherds, unable to find Nanda, cried out in distress, “Krishna! Rama!” Hearing their calls, Krishna, ever the protector and granter of fearlessness to his devotees, understood that his father had been taken by Varuṇa and went swiftly to that place. When Hrishikesha arrived, Varuṇa, the guardian of the world, welcomed him with great honor, worshipped him splendidly, and spoke, rejoicing at the rare festival of beholding the Lord. Varuṇa said, “Today my body is pacified; today, O Lord, my purpose is fulfilled. Those devoted to your feet, O Blessed One, have reached the end of the path.” Thus, the Lord’s glory was celebrated by gods and mortals alike, his worship enshrined in ritual, meditation, and loving devotion, bringing peace and fulfillment to all who sought his shelter.