Chapter twenty seven describes the prayers Indra recited out of fear, Krsna’s mercy on him, and his abhiseka by surabhi, on account of which Krsna is called Govinda. Seeing that Vraja had been protected from the rain, Indra out of fear approached Krsna. The Surabhi came on the order of Brahma to bathe Krsna and help Indra. Surabhi says in verse 11: I have been sent by Brahma. Goloka referred to in this verse is a place in svargaloka, not the spiritual world. Krsna’s surabhi from the spiritual world could not be with Indra in svarga loka.

Govardhana means “increasing the cows.” With the help of the mountain, the cows did not fall into suffering because of the great rain, but rather flourished because of the abundant grass. Vraja refers to the people, animals and birds there as well. Surabhi came from her planet, which is not the spiritual planet which is a special manifestation of Gokula. Indra could not associate with the spiritual Surabhi from the spiritual world. The spiritual Goloka will be shown at the end of the Twenty-eighth chapter. Indra came with Surabhi because he knew that Kṛṣṇa liked cows. She came first. Indra went to her planet to bring her and then came to Vraja. It is mentioned in verse 21 that they were sent by Brahmā. Indra was sent by Brahmā. Brahmā came with him to Surabhi. Then, with Surabhi, he came to Vraja, on the order of Brahmā. The word ca in the verse means “even.” It was not possible for him to go with her because of his great offense but still he came since there was no other means of getting relief. They came because Kṛṣṇa was Svayam Bhagavān. Thus they came to surrender to him. For Surabhi, Kṛṣṇa meant “he who attracts because he shows affection for Surabhi’s offspring, the cows.” The word eva indicates the Indra came alone, without his carrier or associates. Fearing a great conflict, the sages and wives of the devatās stayed far away. The details are given by Vaiśampāyana: sa dadarśopaviṣṭaṁ vai govardhana-śilātale kṛṣṇam akliṣṭa-karmāṇaṁ puruhūtaḥ purandaraḥ taṁ vīkṣya bālaṁ mahatā tejasā dīptam avyayam gopa-veśa-dharaṁ viṣṇuṁ prītiṁ lebhe purandaraḥ taṁ sāmbu-jalada-cchāyaṁ kṛṣnāṁ śṛīvatsa-lakṣaṇam paryāpta-nayanaḥ śakraḥ punaḥ punar udaikṣata Indra saw Kṛṣṇa, who takes away all suffering, seated at the base of Govardhana. Seeing the indestructible boy shining with great effulgence, wearing cowherd clothing, Indra developed love for him. He repeatedly gazed at Kṛṣṇa, dark like a water-laden cloud, marked with the Śrīvatsa. It should be understood that previously Indra was not able to see Kṛṣṇa alone since Indra never went there. tasyopaviṣṭasya sukhaṁ pakṣābhyāṁ pakṣi-puṅgavaḥ antardhānagataś chāyāṁ cakāroragabhojanaḥ Garuḍa, best of birds, who was invisible, gave shade to Kṛṣṇa with his wings as he sat. Parāśara says: garuḍaṁ ca dadarṣocchair antaradhānagataṁ dvijam kṛtacchāyaṁ harer mūrdhini pakṣābhyaṁ pakṣi-puṅgavam He saw Garuḍa who was invisible in the sky, giving shade to Kṛṣṇa’s head with his two wings.

Govardhana means “increasing the cows.” With the help of the mountain, the cows did not fall into suffering because of the great rain, but rather flourished because of the abundant grass. Vraja refers to the people, animals and birds there as well. Goloka is a planet above Vaikuṇṭha. It is the planet of cows. This is described by Indra in Hari-vaṁśa:

svargād ūrdhvaṁ brahma-loko brahmarṣi-gaṇa-sevitaḥ | tatra soma-gatiś caiva jyotiṣāṁ ca mahātmanām || tasyopari gavāṁ lokaḥ sādhyās taṁ pālayanti hi | sa hi sarva-gataḥ kṛṣṇa mahākāśa-gato mahān || upary upari tatrāpi gatis tava tapomayī | Above the heavenly planets is Brahma-loka, Vaikuṇṭha, worshipped by the Vedas, the sages and Garuḍa and others. It is the goal of Śiva, of the liberated souls and the devotees. Above this is the planet of cows, protected by the perfected devotees. O Kṛṣṇa, it is all pervading, great, attained after realization of the Lord. evaṁ bahu-vidhai rūpaiś carāmīha vasundharām | brahma-lokaṁ ca kaunteya golokaṁ ca sanātanam || [Mbh 12.330.68] I move about in many forms on earth, in Vaikuṇṭha and in eternal Goloka, O Kaunteya. ānanda?cinmaya?rasa?pratibhāvitābhis tābhir ya eva nija?rūpatayā kalābhiḥ | goloka eva nivasaty akhilātma?bhūto govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi ||37|| I worship the Supreme Lord Govinda who, though regarding all the inhabitants as his very self, resides in Goloka exclusively with the young gopīs, who are embodiments of madhura-rasa. He accepts them as his wives, while they respond to his conjugal affection reciprocall.y. Brahma-saṁhitā 5.48 Vaikuṇṭha-loka, Brahma-loka etc are explained in Bhāgavatāmṛta. Surabhi and Indra came. Surabhi is the prototype cow, among the chief cows situated in Goloka. Indra saw her coming from Goloka to Govardhana in joy because Kṛṣṇa had protected the cows of her lineage. Indra showed her affection, pleased her with devotion and with her he came from Svarga to Kṛṣṇa. The wife of Kaśyapa, Indra’s step mother Surabhi, lives in Svarga. She is a different Surabhi, since she does not live in Goloka. Ca means api (even). Indra should not have come since he was in fear and shame because of his great offense. But even he came to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa because Kṛṣṇa is directly Bhagavān. Or he came to surrender because Kṛṣṇa was the highest manifestation of unlimited qualities like affection for the surrendered. Or he came to Kṛṣṇa because Kṛṣṇa is only controlled by his devotees. He came because of association with such devotees. For Surabhi, Kṛṣṇa was the attractor of everyone, the giver of the highest bliss, through his form and qualities. Eva indicates that Indra came alone, giving up his carrier and followers, out of fear and humility. The details are given by Vaiśampāyana: sa dadarśopaviṣṭaṁ vai govardhana-śilātale kṛṣṇam akliṣṭa-karmāṇaṁ puruhūtaḥ purandaraḥ taṁ vīkṣya bālaṁ mahatā tejasā dīptam avyayam gopa-veśa-dharaṁ viṣṇuṁ prītiṁ lebhe purandaraḥ taṁ sāmbu-jalada-cchāyaṁ kṛṣnāṁ śṛīvatsa-lakṣaṇam paryāpta-nayanaḥ śakraḥ punaḥ punar udaikṣata Indra saw Kṛṣṇa, who takes away all suffering, seated at the base of Govardhana. Seeing the indestructible boy shining with great effulgence, wearing cowherd clothing, Indra developed love for him. He repeatedly gazed at Kṛṣṇa, dark like a water-laden cloud, marked with the Śrīvatsa. tasyopaviṣṭasya sukhaṁ pakṣābhyāṁ pakṣi-puṅgavaḥ antardhānagataś chāyāṁ cakāroragabhojanaḥ Garuḍa, best of birds, who was invisible, gave shade to Kṛṣṇa with his wings as he sat. Parāśara says: garuḍaṁ ca dadarṣocchair antaradhānagataṁ dvijam kṛtacchāyaṁ harer mūrdhini pakṣābhyaṁ pakṣi-puṅgavam He saw Garuḍa who was invisible in the sky, giving shade to Kṛṣṇa’s head with his two wings.