In the twenty fourth chapter, Krsna discusses with his father, and, stopping the sacrifice to Indra, introduces the worship of Govardhana. Nanda and his brothers, arriving at the cow pastures, began engaging other cowherd men in the preparations for a sacrifice to Indra. Krsna arrived there and observed the men busy in the preparations.

Previously Kṛṣṇa had promised the unmarried gopīs. yātābalā vrajaṁ siddhā mayemā raṁsyathā kṣapāḥ: go now, girls, and return to Vraja; your desire is fulfilled, for in my company you will enjoy the coming nights. (SB 10.22.27) That was in the winter season. The Lord enjoyed with them in the next autumn season. These nights of autumn must have some time after stealing their clothing. The enjoyment began on the full moon of the autumn season, as will be explained later. That was the full moon of Āśvina month in the autumn season. Worship of Govardhana occurred on the first lunar day of the waxing phase of Kārtika month, and that pastimes was imitated later by the gopīs during the rāsa-līlā. Going to Varuṇa’s place to rescue Nanda occurred after worship of Govardhana. Therefore the order is as follows: worship of Govardhana (autumn), going to Varuṇa’s place, stealing the gopīs’ clothing (winter), begging food from the bṛāhmaṇas’ wives (summer) and then the rāsa-līlā (the next autumn). After the killing of Kaṁsa, Kṛṣṇa’s age will be discussed. Śukadeva recited the pastimes out of order (Govardhana is described after begging from the brāhmaṇas’ wives) because of his lack of control arising from prema and to some degree because of similarity of the pastimes. The cowherds went to a special place near the village for performing the sacrifice and lived there while preparing for the sacrifice. Kṛṣṇa, living there with Balarāma, watched the cowherds preparing for the sacrifice. With a desire to perform different worship with the materials, at first he did not say anything. Viṣṇu Purāṇa says: vimalāmbara-nakṣatre kāle cābhyāgato vrajam dadarśendra mahārambhāyodyatāṁs tān vrjaukasaḥ When the sky was clear, approaching Vraja, he saw the people of Vraja preparing for a huge sacrifice for Indra. Hari-vaṁśa says: vrajamājagmatus tau tu vraje śuśruvatus tadā prāptaṁ śatraṁ mahāvīrau gopāṁś cotsava-lālasān Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, approaching Vraja, which was preparing for a sacrifice, desired to hear from the cowherds who were desirous of performing the festival. The first is a general describe and the second has more detail. This happened on the first lunar day of the waxing moon of Kārtika since this festival for Indra is celebrated at this time in the middle states of India. partv aty-ulbaṇaṁ varṣam ati-vātaṁ śilā-mayam: because we have stopped his sacrifice, Indra has caused this unusually fierce wind. (SB 10.25.15) Padma Purāṇa says after offering lamps on the dark moon prātar govardhanaḥ pūjyo rātrau dyutaṁ pravartate: in the morning one should worship Govardhana and in the evening begin playing dice. Hari-vaṁśa describes that the event took place between the monsoon and autumn, like the border between the ocean and the shore. This is because sometimes the monsoon continues through all of Āśvina month (thus including the first part of autumn) in the middle states.

The pastimes during the sixth and seventh years beginning with herding cows have been described. Now four chapters describe the principle pastimes at the beginning of the eighth year. Having great attachment, Kṛṣṇa lived in Vraja. Absorbed in pastimes there the people were most fortunate. That was described. The word api means “acting in the way previously described.” Or the brāhmaṇas did not go to Vraja, and the Lord also (bhagavān api) did not go to them, but stayed in Vraja. He was with Balarāma. He did not send Balarāma to appease them. Since he had appeared in order to benefit this world by manifesting qualities like mercy, even the brāhmaṇas would get benefit. Or api indicates certainty. Kṛṣṇa definitely stayed with Balarāma in Vraja because he was Bhagavān. If he went elsewhere with Balarāma he could not reveal his unlimited powers to the same extent of excellence. To show this a new story begins. Kṛṣṇa saw the cowherds engaged in gathering ingredients for worship of Indra, by raising a flag for Indira etc. at the place called Indra-dvaya-kuṇḍa, east of Govardhana. Though they did these activities every year with worship of Indra, and Kṛṣṇa saw it, now he saw it in a special way. Previously he was indifferent but now when the time was proper, he saw it as the opportunity for stopping Indra’s sacrifice and lifting Govardhana. This pastime took place during the monsoon in the autumn season. Taṁ śarat kusumāpiḍāḥ parivārya pradakṣiṇam Gāvo girivaraṁ sarvās tato yāntu punar vrajam Prāptā kileyaṁ hi gavāṁ svādutoṣa-tṛṇair guṇaiḥ Śarat pramuditā ramyā gatamegha-jalāśayā Decorated with autumn flowers the cows should go around Govardhana and then return to Vraja. When autumn comes the place is filled good qualities and abundant, tasty grass for the cows. It is pleasant, with no clouds or flooding. Viṣṇu Purāṇa 16.12-13 Later it is said: apartv aty-ulbaṇaṁ varṣam ati-vātaṁ śilā-mayam sva-yāge vihate ‘smābhir indro nāśāya varṣati [Kṛṣṇa said to Himself:] Because we have stopped his sacrifice, Indra has caused this unusually fierce, unseasonable rain, together with terrible winds and hail. SB 10.25.15