Praying to Krsna to accept the post of Indra, Surabhi then bathed Krsna in her milk. Then Indra, ordered by Aditi and other heavenly mothers, bathed Krsna. Indra, thinking himself a fallen servant, first remained standing there, and only being ordered by Aditi and others, taking their order as qualification, he performed the bathing. Though Krsna was known as belonging to the dasarha lineage of the Yadu dynasty, because he had a greater desire to be a cowherd, they named him Govinda. Go means cows and vinda means to protect. Go can also mean svarga. With that meaning govinda means one who enjoys the position of Indra. Ga can also mean senses. Govinda then means one who protects or nourishes (vind) the devotees by attracting their senses.

Having requested that Kṛṣṇa accept the position of Indra of the cows (evam), Surabhi on her own volition bathed him, though Kṛṣṇa did not accept out of shyness. But silence is the sign of consent (maunaṁ sammati-lakṣaṇam). Indra did not bath Kṛṣṇa by himself, but did so along with the sages, on being ordered by the mothers of the devatās who had come there. “Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, has a heart soft with mercy and is affectionate to those who surrender. In the company of his dear associates you should come. The time is appropriate. Therefore do not fear. Perform a festival with devotion.” Then, along with the sages, he bathed Kṛṣṇa. He bathed him in Gaṅgā water brought in jeweled pots using Amravati’s trunk while ringing a jeweled bell according to Viṣṇu Purāṇa. Using the elephant, he was very quickly able to gather water from sacred places. Govinda means “Indra of the cows” for that name is indicated with the words prīyān na indro gavām: may Indra of the cows be pleased with us. (SB 10.26.25) It will be said in verse 28 iti go-gokula-patiṁ govindam abhiṣicya saḥ: he bathed Govinda, who is the master of the cows and the cowherd community. Elision and mutation of letters (gavām indra=govinda) sometimes takes place in words as in prṣodara. (Pāṇini 6.3.109) Though Kṛṣṇa was also named Dāśārha, he was named Govinda since that was a superior name.

Having requested that Kṛṣṇa accept the position of Indra of the cows (evam), Surabhi on her own volition bathed him, though Kṛṣṇa did not accept out of shyness. But silence is the sign of consent (maunaṁ sammati-lakṣaṇam). She did it on the strength of her bhakti, or by the inspiration of Brahmā. Indra however fearing his great offense and not seeing the Lord’s mercy, did not personally participate. The devatās who had come out of affection for Indra and were invisible and mothers of the devatās encouraged him. After Kṛṣṇa broke the carts the mothers of the devatās came to perform abhiṣeka at Gopīśvara-tīrtha. ??? They said, “Kṛṣna is bhagavān. His heart is soft with mercy. He is affectionate to the surrendered. You have come to his dear place in association with his devotees. This time is proper. Do not fear him. Perform the festival with devotion.” Then along with devatās and sages he bathed Kṛṣṇa. Using Airavata’s trunk to hold jeweled pots of water, he bathed him. Otherwise there would not have been pure water available immediately. It also gave Airavata a chance to show his special bhakti. Surabhi and Indra named he who had appeared in the Yadu dynasty Govinda, a name related to pastimes in Gokula, to glorify him and show their affection for the Lord. Deva can also be an address to Parikṣti. O deva, since you are a naradeva, you can understand this. Or he calls out “O glowing one (deva)” on seeing Parīkit glow in joy on hearing of Kṛṣṇa’s abhiṣeka.