{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_74050/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_74050","id":"gutenberg_74050","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/74050","summary":null,"tags":["Category: History - Ancient","Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Category: Religion/Spirituality","Krishna (Hindu deity)"],"text":"THE\n PREM SAGUR\n\n Translated into English.\n BY\n CAPTAIN W. HOLLINGS,\n XLVII. REGIMENT BENGAL N. I.\n\n\n\n\n CALCUTTA:\n W. RIDSDALE, MILITARY ORPHAN PRESS.\n 1848.\n\n\n\n\n TRANSCRIBER\u2019S NOTES I.\n\nCaptain Hollings\u2019 transliteration of Hindi uses _\u00f9_/_u_/_\u00fa_ for _a_,\n_ee_ for _i_, and _oo_ for _u_. So, for _Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund_ read\n_Sri Krishna Chand_, _Luchmee_ _Lachmi_ (Lakshmi), _Hustinapoor_\n_Hastinapur_, etc.\n\nIn lieu of footnotes the translator has placed brief notes in\nparentheses inside the text.\n\nSome foreign terms the translator didn\u2019t define:\n\n_bhang_, an intoxicant made from hemp.\n\n_bhangee_ (banghy), a yoke placed on the shoulders for carrying\nbaskets or boxes.\n\n_Bys_, Vaishya (caste).\n\n_choupur_ (chaupur), a board game similar to pachisi.\n\n_Chundal_ (chandal or chandala), a person of low caste.\n\n_Chutree_, Kshatriya (caste).\n\n_coss_/_koss_, a unit of distance, varying between about 1\u00bc and 2\u00bd\nEnglish miles.\n\n_dhobee_, a person of low caste employed as a washerman.\n\n_eight principal parts the body_, the forehead, body, arms, knees, and\nfeet. To \u201ctouch the ground with the eight principal parts of the body\u201d\nimplies the person is lying flat on the ground.\n\n_five elements of nature_, air, earth, ether, fire, and water.\n\n_ghaut_ (ghat), a path or stairway that descends to a river.\n\n_ghuree_ (ghari or ghurry), a unit of time. This book figures\nsixty-four gharis in a twenty-four-hour day (or 1 ghari = 22\u00bd minutes).\nNote: it is more common to define sixty gharis in a day (1 ghari = 24\nminutes).\n\n_goonja_ (gunja) seed, _Abrus precatorius_, a flowering plant whose\ncolorful seeds are used as beads or in percussive instruments.\n\n_holee_ powder, colorful powder (gulal) used in the Holi festival.\n\n_jogee_ (yogi), a devotee who practices the Yoga philosophy.\n\n_jowar_, millet.\n\n_kudum_ (kadam) tree, a tropical evergreen.\n\n\u201c_must_\u201d elephant(s), the Eastwick translation uses _furious_\nelephant(s).\n\n_palkee_ (palki), a palanquin.\n\n_puhur_ (pahar), unit of time equal to three hours.\n\n_roolee_ (roli), mixture of alum, rice, turmeric, and acid, used to\npaint sectarial marks on the forehead.\n\n_ruth_ (rath), a carriage or chariot.\n\n_six flavours_, acrid, astringent, bitter, salt, sour, and sweet.\n\n_Soodr\u00fa_, Shudra (caste).\n\n_The three worlds_, Heaven, Earth, and Hell.\n\n_tiluk_ (tilak), a sectarial mark on the forehead.\n\n_toolsee_ (tulsi), _Ocimum Sanctum_, or holy basil.\n\n\n\n\n PREFACE TO THE TRANSLATION\n OF THE\n PREM SAGUR.\n\nThe object of this translation is to render the work easily\nintelligible to the young Student: in fact, to assist the beginner\nfrom the commencement of his study of the Prem Sagur, in\nunderstanding what he is reading about, and the explanations of his\nPundit.\n\nWith this view, I have endeavoured to make the translation a tolerably\nliteral one, keeping close to what I considered to be the meaning of\nthe text, without, however, wishing to translate every sentence\nexactly literally.\n\nThe Hindee language is well worthy the careful study of every public\nOfficer in India, as being the one, which is most commonly spoken by\ninhabitants of almost every part of the country.\n\nTo the Military man this language is of special use, as it not only\nenables him thoroughly to understand his men on points of common\noccurrence and of duty; but by being able to converse freely with\nthem, to study their habits, manners, customs, their general turn of\nthought and opinions.\n\nThe Hindee of the Prem Sagur is remarkably pure, and the book is, I\nbelieve, an Examination Book at all the Presidencies.\n\n                                      W. Hollings, _Captain_,\n                                      47_th Regiment._\n\nLucknow,\n\n10_th February_, 1848.\n\n\n\n\n CONTENTS.\n\n Chapter I.\n Chapter II.\n Chapter III.\n Chapter IV.\n Chapter V.\n Chapter VI.\n Chapter VII.\n Chapter VIII.\n Chapter IX.\n Chapter X.\n Chapter XI.\n Chapter XII.\n Chapter XIII.\n Chapter XIV.\n Chapter XV.\n Chapter XVI.\n Chapter XVII.\n Chapter XVIII.\n Chapter XIX.\n Chapter XX.\n Chapter XXI.\n Chapter XXII.\n Chapter XXIII.\n Chapter XXIV.\n Chapter XXV.\n Chapter XXVI.\n Chapter XXVII.\n Chapter XXVIII.\n Chapter XXIX.\n Chapter XXX.\n Chapter XXXI.\n Chapter XXXII.\n Chapter XXXIII.\n Chapter XXXIV.\n Chapter XXXV.\n Chapter XXXVI.\n Chapter XXXVII.\n Chapter XXXVIII.\n Chapter XXXIX.\n Chapter XL.\n Chapter XLI.\n Chapter XLII.\n Chapter XLIII.\n Chapter XLIV.\n Chapter XLV.\n Chapter XLVI.\n Chapter XLVII.\n Chapter XLVIII.\n Chapter XLIX.\n Chapter L.\n Chapter LI.\n Chapter LII.\n Chapter LIII.\n Chapter LIV.\n Chapter LV.\n Chapter LVI.\n Chapter LVII.\n Chapter LVIII.\n Chapter LIX.\n Chapter LX.\n Chapter LXI.\n Chapter LXII.\n Chapter LXIII.\n Chapter LXIV.\n Chapter LXV.\n Chapter LXVI.\n Chapter LXVII.\n Chapter LXVIII.\n Chapter LXIX.\n Chapter LXX.\n Chapter LXXI.\n Chapter LXXII.\n Chapter LXXIII.\n Chapter LXXIV.\n Chapter LXXV.\n Chapter LXXVI.\n Chapter LXXVII.\n Chapter LXXVIII.\n Chapter LXXIX.\n Chapter LXXX.\n Chapter LXXXI.\n Chapter LXXXII.\n Chapter LXXXIII.\n Chapter LXXXIV.\n Chapter LXXXV.\n Chapter LXXXVI.\n Chapter LXXXVII.\n Chapter LXXXVIII.\n Chapter LXXXIX.\n Chapter XC.\n\n\n\n\n THE\n PREM SAGUR.\n\n CHAPTER I.\n\nNow is the commencement of the history.--At the end of the great war\nof the descendants of Bhurut, when Shree Krishn\u00f9 disappeared, Pandoo\nbeing greatly grieved went to the Himalaya to undergo dissolution; and\nthe Raja Pureechit having conquered all countries, began to rule with\njustice.--Some days afterwards, the Raja Pureechit went out hunting,\nwhen he saw a bullock and a cow running towards him, in pursuit of\nwhom a Soodr\u00fa with a wooden pestle in his hand was coming along and\nstriking them. When they came near, the Raja grieved and enraged,\ncalled out to the Soodr\u00fa, who art thou, explain who thou art, that\nknowingly beatest a bullock and a cow; do you suppose Urjoon to be far\noff, that you do not observe his ordinances? Hear me, in the family of\nPandoo, you will not find any such person, in whose presence any one\nwill be permitted to vex the poor. Saying this, the Raja took his\nsword in his hand; the Soodr\u00fa on seeing this, stood still with\nfear.--The Raja (the lord of men,) having called the bullock and cow\nnear him, enquired of them, explain to me who you are, are you gods or\nBrahmins, and why are you running away? Speak without fear, in my\npresence no one has the power of afflicting you.\n\nOn hearing this, the bullock bending its head said, \u201cO great king!\nthis black coloured, frightful figure in the form of Sin, which is\nstanding in your presence is the Black Age, I am running away on\naccount of its approach. This, my companion, is the earth in the form\nof a cow; she too has come running towards you from dread of the Black\nAge. My name is Religion: I have four feet--penance, truth,\ncompassion, meditation. In the Age of Truth my feet were\ncomplete--consisted of twenty parts; in the Treta Age, they consisted\nof sixteen parts; in the Dwapur Age of twelve; and now in the Black\nAge, I have only four parts left, for which reason I am not able to\nmove about in the Black Age.\u201d The earth said, \u201cO incarnation of\njustice! I also cannot remain in this age, because men of the Soodr\u00fa\ncaste, having become Rajas, will inflict very many acts of injustice\non me, the weight of which I shall not be able to endure: from dread\nof this injustice, I too am running away.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this, the Raja, being angry, said to the Black Age, \u201cI will\nput thee to death immediately.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this, the Black Age falling at the Raja\u2019s feet, and\nimploring him earnestly, began to say, \u201cO lord of the earth! I have\nnow come under your protection, appoint me some place to dwell\nin:--because the three times and the four ages, which Bruhm\u00f9 has\nestablished, shall not be effaced in any way.\u201d\n\nHearing this, the Raja Pureechit said to the Black Age--\u201cDwell in the\nfollowing places, in gambling, lying, in the spirit market, harlots\u2019\nhouses, murder, theft and gold.\u201d Having heard this, the Black Age went\nto his appointed abode, and the Raja established Religion in his own\nmind; the earth assumed his own form, the Raja returned to his own\ncity, and began to govern justly and religiously.\n\nAfter some days, the Raja went again to hunt, and whilst engaged in\nthe sport, became thirsty. The Black Age was dwelling in the golden\ncrown on the Raja\u2019s head, and having obtained his opportunity,\ndeprived the Raja of knowledge. The Raja from thirst came to the spot\nwhere Lomus, a chief of the saints, was seated with his eyes shut,\nmeditating on Muhadeo, and engaged in religious penance.\n\nOn seeing him, Pureechit began to say to himself, this person through\npride of penance remains with his eyes shut, although he saw me.\nEntertaining this wicked idea, and having raised up with a bow a dead\nsnake which had fallen there, and thrown it on the neck of the chief\nof the saints, he came home.\n\nOn taking off his crown, the Raja recovered his knowledge, and\nreflecting began to say, the abode of the Black Age is in gold, he was\nupon my head, and this is the reason of my having performed so vicious\nan act, as throwing a dead snake on the neck of a chief of the saints;\nI now know, that the Black Age has taken his revenge upon me; how\nshall I escape from this great sin; why have I not been deprived\nto-day of my caste, wealth, family, wives and kingdom--I know not in\nwhat birth, this injustice of my having vexed a Brahmin will be\neffaced.\n\nWhilst the Raja Pureechit was drowned in this sea of unfathomable\nreflection, some boys engaged in play came to the place where Lomus, a\nchief of the saints, was:--they were astonished at seeing a dead snake\non his neck,--and being frightened, began to say to each other,\n\u201cBrother, let some one go and tell his son of this, who is playing\nwith the saints\u2019 children in the grove on the bank of the river\nKoushkee.\u201d One of the boys hearing this ran to where Shringee the\nsaint was playing with the saints\u2019 children.--The boy said to\nShringee, \u201cBrother, why are you playing here; some devil has thrown a\ndead black snake on your father\u2019s neck and gone off?\u201d\n\nOn hearing this, Shringee\u2019s eyes became red--gnashing his teeth, he\nbegan to tremble; and, being enraged, to say--\u201cIn the Black Age proud\nRajas have been produced: from the intoxication of wealth, they have\nbecome blind and inflicters of pain: I will now pronounce a curse on\nhim, who threw the snake, he shall die on the seventh day from this.\u201d\nHaving thus spoken, Shringee the saint took the water of the Koushkee\nriver in the palm of his hand, and pronounced a curse on the Raja\nPureechit, that the snake would bite him on the seventh day.\n\nHaving pronounced this curse on the Raja, he came to his father and\ntook the snake from his neck, and began to say to him, \u201cFather, be of\ngood cheer, I have pronounced a curse on him, who threw the dead snake\non your neck.\u201d On hearing this, Lomus the saint, awaking from his\nmeditation, opening his eyes and deeply considering in his mind his\nson\u2019s speech, said to him, \u201cO son! what is this thou hast done? why\nhave you pronounced a curse on the Raja, under whose government we\nlived at ease? not a bird, nor a beast even was afflicted. So just was\nthe government, that the lion and cow dwelt under it without\naltercation. O son! what mattered it, if he, in whose country we\nlived, threw a dead snake upon me in sport, why did you curse him, and\ninflict so heavy a curse for a slight fault? you have been guilty of a\ngreat crime, and neglected to think of what you were doing--you have\nabandoned good, and embraced evil. It is necessary for a good man to\ncultivate amiable dispositions; not to say anything himself, to hear\nwhat others say, and imitate the good qualities, and avoid the bad\nqualities, of all.\u201d\n\nSaying this, Lomus the saint called one of his pupils, and told him to\ngo and tell the Raja Pureechit, that Shringee had pronounced a curse\non him; good men will impute blame to Shringee for what he has done,\nbut the Raja on receiving this message will be on his guard. In\nobedience to the words of his spiritual preceptor, the pupil came to\nthe place where the Raja was sitting in meditation, and said to him on\nhis arrival--\u201cShringee the saint has pronounced this curse on you,\nthat the snake shall bite you on the seventh day--do you now arrange\nso that you may escape from the noose of fate.\u201d On hearing this, the\nRaja stood up with delight, and joining his hands together began to\nsay, \u201cThe saint has done me a great kindness in pronouncing a curse,\nbecause I had fallen into the boundless thoughted sea of delusion,\nfrom which he has released me.\u201d\n\nWhen the disciple of the sage departed, the Raja performed penance by\nabandoning all the pleasures of the world, and having sent for\nJunmejye and made over his throne to him, said, \u201cO son! cherish the\ncow and the Brahmin, and give contentment to the subject.\u201d Saying\nthis, he went into the female apartments: the women on seeing him were\nall sad; his wives (the Ranees) on beholding him fell weeping at his\nfeet, and exclaimed, \u201cO great king! we weak creatures will not be able\nto endure separation from you; for which reason it is better that we\nshould give up our lives with yours.\u201d--The Raja said in reply, \u201cIt is\nright for a woman to act in such a way, that the character and dignity\nof her husband may be maintained, and not to throw any obstacle in the\nway of an excellent work.\u201d\n\nHaving said this, and having abandoned relatives, kindred, and all\nprivate and public wealth, he went and sat down on the shore of the\nGanges to perform penance: whoever heard of the circumstance was much\ngrieved and distressed, and shed tears.\n\nWhen the sages heard that the Raja Pureechit had gone to the bank of\nthe Ganges to die, in consequence of Shringee\u2019s curse, Byas, Bisist,\nBhurdooaj, Kalyayun, Purasur, Narud, Biswamittr\u00f9, Bamdeo, Jumdugun,\nand eighty-eight thousand sages came, and sat down in rows, and\nthinking upon their Shastr\u00f9s began to explain various kinds of\nreligious observances to the Raja--In the meantime, having seen the\nRaja\u2019s faith, Shree Shookdeo Jee came also, with a book under his arm,\nand naked. On seeing him, all the sages rose up, and the Raja\nPureechit rising up in a supplicating posture, and making an obeisance\nbegan to say, \u201cO abode of compassion! you have shown great mercy in\nremembering me at this time.\u201d\n\nWhen the Raja had thus spoken, Shookdeo the sage also sat down, when\nthe Raja said to the sages, \u201cO great kings! Shookdeo Jee is the son of\nByas Jee, and the grandson of Purasur Jee, on seeing whom you, who are\nsaints of high rank, rose up, which I do not think right: explain the\nreason of this, that the doubts of my mind may be dissipated.\u201d\n\nPurasur the sage said, \u201cRaja! all of us saints, however high in\ndegree, are inferior in understanding to Shook, and, therefore, we\nhave all treated him with such respect; some in this hope, that he is\nthe Saviour of the saved, because from the time of his birth he has\nspent his life in sadness in the desert; and Raja! all your great\nexcellencies have been increased by the coming of Shookdeo Jee. This\nwill be pronounced the greatest and best of religious and virtuous\nacts, (dhurum) by means of which having been freed from life and\ndeath, you will cross over the sea of the world.\u201d On hearing this,\nRaja Pureechit having prostrated himself before Shookdeo Jee, said, \u201cO\ngreat king! explain the duties of religion to me; how shall I escape\nfrom the noose of fate, what shall I do in seven days? My impiety has\nbeen very great, how shall I cross over the sea of the world?\u201d\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee replied, \u201cRaja! do not think the time short, as\nrelease can be obtained by religious meditation for an hour, just in\nthe same way that Narud the sage imparted understanding to the Raja\nRuktangool, and he obtained release in two hours; seven days are quite\nsufficient time for you; if you will meditate attentively, you will\nunderstand all; what the body is, whose abode it is, and who manifests\nlight in it.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this the Raja enquired with great delight, \u201cO great king!\nwhich is the most excellent Dhurum, kindly explain to me.\u201d Shookdeo\nJee said, \u201cThe Vishn\u00f9 Dhurum is the greatest amongst the Dhurums, and\nthe Shree Bhagwut amongst the Pooran\u00f9s; wherever the worshippers of\nVishn\u00f9 recite this history, there all religious observances, and\npilgrimages will come together: Among all the Pooran\u00f9s, there is none\nequal to the Bhagwut, for which reason I will recite to you nine parts\nof the great Pooran\u00f9, in which Byas the sage has instructed me;\nlisten with faith and joy.\u201d--Upon this the Raja Pureechit began to\nlisten with pleasure, and Shookdeo Jee according to his promise to\nrecite.\n\nWhen the sage had recited nine parts of the history, the Raja said,\n\u201cKind to the poor! have the goodness now to explain to me the history\nof the descent upon earth of Shree Krishn\u00f9, because he is our\nsupporter and the object of worship of our family.\u201d Shookdeo Jee said,\n\u201cYou have conferred great pleasure on me in asking for this account; I\nshall most joyfully relate it. In the family of Yudoo the first Raja\nwas named Bhugwan, whose son was Prithikoo, and Prithikoo\u2019s son was\nBidooruth, Bidooruth\u2019s son was Soorsen, who, having conquered nine\ndivisions of the earth, obtained celebrity. Bidooruth\u2019s wife\u2019s name\nwas Mirkya, who had ten sons and five daughters; the eldest son was\nBasoodeo in whose wife\u2019s eighth pregnancy Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee was\nborn. When Basoodeo Jee was born, the gods had musical rejoicings in\nthe heavens.\n\n\u201cAnd amongst the five daughters of Soorsen, Koontee was the eldest,\nwho married Pandoo, whose story has been sung in the Muhabharut; and\nBasoodeo Jee married first Rohnee, the daughter of Raja Rohun, and\nafterwards seventeen other wives--After he had married eighteen times,\nhe married at Muttra, Dewukee, the sister of Kuns, upon which there\nwas a voice from heaven, that in the eighth pregnancy of this girl the\ndestroyer of Kuns shall be born. On hearing this Kuns had his sister\nand her husband shut up in a house, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 was born\nthere.\u201d On hearing thus much of the story, the Raja Pureechit said, \u201cO\ngreat king! how was Kuns born, who conferred a great blessing upon\nhim, and in what manner was Krishn\u00f9 brought into the world, and how\ndid he arrive in Gokool:--please explain these circumstances to me.\u201d\nShree Shookdeo Jee said, \u201cThere was a Raja of Muttra named Ahuk, who\nhad two sons, one named Dewuk, the other Oogursen. After some time,\nOogursen became Raja, who had only one wife, named Paourekha, very\nbeautiful and chaste, and at all times obedient to the commands of her\nhusband. One day she had the menses, and by permission of her husband\nhad gone out on a party of pleasure to the jungle, in company with her\nfemale attendants; there on trees of many kinds, all sorts of flowers\nwere blossoming; a cool gentle breeze filled with perfume was blowing;\ncuckoos, pigeons, parrots and peacocks were pouring forth sweet and\npleasing notes, and on one side under a hill, the Jumna was flowing\napart. The Ranee, on viewing this scene, descended from her car, and\nwhilst walking along alone, suddenly lost her way. By accident, a\ndemon named Dromullik, came there, and remained gazing in astonishment\nat her youth, and beautiful appearance; and he began to say to\nhimself, I must have connexion with her. Having resolved upon this,\nand immediately assuming the form of the Raja Oogursen, he went into\nthe presence of the Ranee, and said to her, embrace me. The Ranee\nreplied, \u201cO great king! it is not right to indulge in amatory\npleasures in the day-time, because by so doing the good and religious\nqualities of the mind are destroyed. What are you not aware of this,\nthat you have thought of such a vicious act?\u201d\n\nWhen Paourekha had thus spoken, Dromullik having seized the Ranee by\nthe hand drew her towards him, and accomplished what he wished. After\nhe had connexion with the Ranee through the artifice of the disguise,\nhe assumed his own proper form; upon which, the Ranee, being\nexceedingly grieved and afflicted, exclaimed, \u201cO unjust, vile sinner!\nwhat tyranny have you committed in destroying my virtue! there is a\ncurse on your father, mother and spiritual preceptor in thus having\nformed your understanding. Why was not thy mother barren, rather than\nproduce a son like thee? O devil! all men, who destroy the virtue of\nwomen, fall into hell in each successive birth.\u201d--Dromullik said,\n\u201cRanee, do not curse me, for I have given you the fruit of my\nexcellence: seeing your womb closed, I suffered great anxiety of mind,\nwhich is now gone: from to-day there is a hope of your pregnancy, and\nyou shall have a son in the tenth month:--and from the good properties\nof my body, thy son having conquered the nine divisions of the earth\nshall be a king, and shall fight with Krishn\u00f9--My first name was\nKalnem: then I had an encounter with Billoo: in my present birth I am\ncalled Dromullik; I have given thee a son, dismiss all anxiety from\nthy mind.\u201d\n\nAfter having thus spoken, when Kalnem had gone away, the Ranee was\nrestored on reflection to patience of mind.\n\n\u201cWhatever our fate may be, our understanding will be fashioned in\naccordance with it--What is to be, will dwell in the mind, all memory\nand consciousness will vanish.\u201d\n\nIn the mean while, or after this, all the female attendants came up,\nand on seeing the Ranee\u2019s ornaments in disorder, one attendant said,\n\u201cWhere have you been delayed so long, and what has happened to you?\u201d\n\nPaourekha replied, \u201cYou left me, O attendants! alone in the forest--a\nmonkey came and gave me great annoyance, from fear of which I am even\nnow trembling.\u201d--On hearing this, all the attendants were alarmed and\nseating the Ranee immediately on her ruth, brought her home.\n\nWhen ten months were completed, a son was born, at which time a\nviolent tempest occurred, the earth began to quake, it became so dark,\nthat day was turned into night, stars began to fall broken in\nfragments, the clouds to thunder, and the lightning to crack.\n\nIn this manner, on the thirteenth of the light part of the month Magh,\non a Thursday, Kuns was born, on which occasion the Raja Oogursen\nbeing delighted and having sent for all the musicians of the city,\ncaused musical entertainments to be given,--and he also sent for all\nthe Brahmins, pundits and astrologers, and treated them with very\ngreat respect, and dignity. On their arrival, the Raja offered them\nseats, after receiving them with great civility. After this, the\nastrologers having fixed upon the lucky moment, and division of time,\nsaid to the Raja, \u201cO lord of the earth! this child, named Kuns, who\nhas been born in your family, shall be very powerful, and shall reign,\nassociating devils with him, and having caused affliction to the gods,\nand the worshippers of Vishn\u00f9, after having obtained your kingdom, he\nshall die suddenly by the hand of Huri.\u201d\n\nHaving told so much of the history, Shookdeo, the Sage, said to the\nRaja Pureechit,--Raja! I will now tell you the history of Dewuk, the\nbrother of Oogursen, who had four sons, and six daughters, which six\nhe gave in marriage to Basoodeo; the seventh was Dewukee, in\nconsequence of whose birth, the gods were delighted; and Oogursen also\nhad ten sons, the eldest of whom was Kuns.\n\nFrom the time of his birth he was in the habit of going into the city,\nand violently seizing little children, and putting them to death after\nhaving shut them up in caves in the hills--Those who were grown up, he\ngot upon their chests, and strangled them--No one could escape from\nthis calamity--every one concealed his children--the subjects said,\nthis Kuns is a devil, he does not belong to the family of\nOogursen--Some great sinner has been born, who has brought affliction\non the whole city.\n\nOn hearing this, Oogursen sent for him, and entered into many\nexplanations with him regarding his conduct, but Kuns paid no\nattention to what he said--Upon this, being grieved and distressed,\nOogursen said, \u201cWhy was I not without sons rather than have such a son\nas this?\u201d\n\nIt is said, that when a degenerate son is born in a family, good name\nand character depart. When Kuns was eight years old, he made an attack\nupon the Mugudh country:--the Raja of that country, Jurasindhoo, was\nvery powerful, with whom Kuns contended; and Jurasindhoo acknowledged\nthe power of Kuns, and, treating him with great deference as his\nsuperior, gave him two daughters in marriage, whom Kuns brought with\nhim to Muttra, and began to increase his enmity against Oogursen. One\nday he said in a fit of rage to his father, \u201cGive up calling on the\nname of Ram, and offer up your secret prayers to Muhadeo\u201d--_the father\nreplied_, \u201cRam is my lord and the dispeller of my griefs; if I do not\nworship him, how shall I as a sinful man cross over the sea of the\nworld\u201d--Hearing this, Kuns was enraged, and having seized his father\ntook possession of the whole government, and issued a proclamation in\nthe city, that no one should be allowed to offer up sacrifices or\ngifts, or say prayers, or call upon the name of Ram--Such great\ntyranny prevailed, that the Cow and Brahmin, and the worshipper of\nVishn\u00f9 began to suffer affliction, and the earth to perish from\nexcessive burdens. When Kuns had taken possession of the government of\nall the Rajas, he went one day with his army to attack the Raja\nIndr\u00f9--Upon this occasion, a minister said to him, \u201cO great king! the\ncountry of Indr\u00f9 cannot be obtained without prayer and devotion: do\nnot be proud on account of your strength--consider, how their pride\nbrought Rawun and Koombhkurun to such destruction, that not one of\ntheir family has been left.\u201d\n\nHaving narrated so much of the history, Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja\nPureechit,--O Raja! when this excessive tyranny was exercised upon the\nearth, she (the earth) assumed the form of a cow, and went lowing into\nthe country of the gods--and having gone to Indr\u00f9\u2019s court, bowing her\nhead, she told all her troubles--\u201cO great king! evil spirits have\nbegun to commit great crimes in the world, from dread of whom Religion\nand Justice have departed--and if I receive your orders, I will\nabandon the world, and descend to the regions below.\u201d--On hearing\nthis, Indr\u00f9, accompanied by all the gods, went to Bruhm\u00f9--Bruhm\u00f9\nhaving heard what they said took them all to Muhadeo, who, having\nheard the circumstances, went accompanied by all the gods to the\nplace, where Narayun was sleeping in a sea of milk. Knowing him to be\nasleep, Bruhm\u00f9, Roodr\u00f9, Indr\u00f9 and all the gods stood up with their\nhands in a supplicating posture, and making obeisances began to sing\nthe praises of the Vedas--\u201cO great and powerful king! who can describe\nthy greatness? In the form of a fish you rescued the drowning\nVedas--in the shape of a tortoise you supported a hill on your\nback:--being transformed into a boar, you placed the earth upon one of\nyour tusks; in the form of a dwarf, you circumvented the Raja Bul;\ndescending on the earth as Purusram, and having destroyed the\nChutrees, you gave the earth to Kusyp, the sage; descending on the\nearth as Ram, you destroyed the great demon, Rawun: and whenever\ndevils afflict your worshippers, you come to their assistance.--O\nlord! the earth, much distressed by the tyranny of Kuns\u00f9, is calling\nout to thee--be pleased to take her case quickly into consideration,\nand having destroyed all demons, give pleasure to the good.\u201d\n\nThe gods continued thus singing the excellencies of Narayun, when\nthere was a voice from Heaven--Bruhm\u00f9 explained to all the gods, that\nthe voice they had just heard instructed them all, both gods and\ngoddesses to go to Brujmundul, and to be born in the city of Muttra:\nhereafter Vishn\u00f9, assuming four shapes, will descend upon the earth\nin the house of Basoodeo, and the womb of Dewukee, and by his childish\nsports will give pleasure to Nund and Jusodha--When Bruhm\u00f9 had given\nthis explanation, the gods, sages, heavenly musicians and singers were\nall, together with their wives, born upon the earth, and came to\nBrujmundul; they called themselves of the family of Yudoo, and\ncowherds, and the female guardians of the four Vedas went to Bruhm\u00f9,\nand said, \u201cWe too will descend upon the earth as cowherdesses, and\nattend upon Basoodeo\u201d--Saying this, they also came to Bruj, and called\nthemselves cowherdesses. When all the gods had arrived at Muttra,\nVishn\u00f9 began to meditate in the sea of milk, that Luchmun should\nfirst be Bulram, afterwards he (Vishn\u00f9) should be named Basoodeo;\nBhurut should be Purdomun; Suttroogun should be Anooroodr\u00f9, and Seeta\nshould descend on the earth as Rookmunee.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER II.\n\nHaving narrated so much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! Kuns continued to rule tyrannically\nin Muttra, and Oogursen to be afflicted with many griefs--When\nDewukee, the daughter of Dewuk, Kuns\u2019 uncle, was fit for marriage,\nDewuk went to Kuns, and asked him to whom she should be given in\nmarriage; he replied, give her to Basoodeo, the son of Soorsen. On\nhearing this, Dewuk having sent for a Brahmin, and having fixed upon a\nfortunate time, sent the nuptial gifts to Soorsen\u2019s house; and Soorsen\nalso having formed a marriage procession with great splendour, and\ntaking with him Rajas of all countries, came to Basoodeo\u2019s marriage.\nHaving heard of the arrival of the marriage procession near the city,\nOogursen, Dewuk and Kuns, taking their armies with them, and advancing\nto meet it brought the procession with them into the city. Having\nadvanced to meet the bridegroom with the greatest respect, they\nappointed a place in the bride\u2019s house for the reception of him and\nhis attendants; having entertained all who composed the marriage\nprocession, they seated them in a hall, erected for the occasion, and\nadorned with flowers; and Kuns gave away Dewukee to Basoodeo in the\nmanner prescribed by the Vedas, and bestowed a dowry of fifteen\nthousand horses, four thousand elephants, eighteen hundred ruths or\ncars, numerous male and female servants, and golden dishes, or trays\nfilled with dresses ornamented with jewels without number; and Kuns\ngave jewelled dresses also to all who composed the marriage\nprocession. After this, all assembled to escort the procession to\nBasoodeo\u2019s house, upon which there was a voice from heaven, saying, \u201cO\nKuns, the eighth son of her whom you are escorting shall be your\ndestruction, you shall die by his hand.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this, Kuns trembled with fear, and being enraged, seizing\nDewukee by the hair, he dragged her from her ruth: snatching a sword,\nhe began to say, gnashing his teeth, \u201cThe tree which is plucked up by\nthe roots will not produce blossoms and fruits; I will now put her to\ndeath, and reign without fear.\u201d\n\nOn hearing and seeing what had happened, Basoodeo began to say to\nhimself, \u201cThis fool has given pain, he does not distinguish between\ngood and evil; if I should show rage now, the business in hand would\nbe ruined; wherefore, it is better in the present instance to forgive;\nit is said, that, \u2018when an enemy draws a sword, a virtuous man will\nstrive to soothe him; the fool on coming to his senses will regret his\nconduct, just as fire is put out by water.\u2019\u201d\n\nReflecting thus, Basoodeo went into the presence of Kuns, and joining\nhis hands in a supplicating manner, and speaking submissively began to\nsay, \u201cO lord of the earth! there is no one in the world so powerful as\nyou, and all men live under your shadow; being so great a hero, it is\nvery improper that you should raise your sword against a woman, and it\nis a great crime to kill a sister--men will be guilty of injustice, if\nthey know that they will never die: this is the custom of the world,\nwe are born in one place, and die in another: a man may cherish his\nbody by doing good or evil in ten million different ways, but his body\nwill never be at his own disposal: wealth, poverty, royal power will\nbe of no use; for this reason, be pleased to listen to what I say, and\nrelease your poor, weak sister.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this, Kuns, looking upon his sister as the instrument of\nhis death, was alarmed, and became more enraged. Upon this Basoodeo\nthought within himself, \u201cThis sinner, with the mind of a devil, is\nobstinately determined to follow out his own plans; we must take\nmeasures, by which Dewukee may be rescued from his hands.\u201d Reflecting\nthus, he began to say to himself, \u201cI will save Dewukee by saying to\nKuns, that I will give him every son of her\u2019s, that is born; who has\nseen the future, there may not be a child, or this devil may die? The\npresent crisis is before us, we can take measures for the future\nhereafter.\u201d\n\nHaving resolved upon this, Basoodeo said to Kuns, \u201cO great king! your\ndeath shall not be caused by the hand of any son of her\u2019s, because I\nhave determined that I will bring and deliver over to you all the sons\nshe, Dewukee, may have: this I promise you.\u201d When Basoodeo had thus\nspoken, Kuns consented to what he had proposed, and releasing Dewukee,\nbegan to say, \u201cO Basoodeo! you have thought well in saving me from the\ncommission of so great a crime;\u201d saying this, Kuns dismissed him, and\nhimself returned home.\n\nAfter dwelling some days in Muttra, when Dewukee had her first son,\nBasoodeo took it, and weeping placed it before Kuns; on seeing the\ninfant, Kuns exclaimed, \u201cBasoodeo! you are very true to your word; I\nhave had reason to know this to-day, because you have not deceived me;\nsacrificing all your affections, you have brought and given your child\nto me, I have no fear from it; I therefore give the child back to\nyou.\u201d Hearing this, Basoodeo took the child, and making a salutation\nto Kuns, returned home.\n\nAnd at that time Narud Jee, the sage, went to Kuns and said, \u201cRaja!\nwhy have you given the infant back? Do you not know that all the gods\nhave been born, and come to Bruj to serve Basoodeo; and in the eighth\npregnancy of Dewukee, Shree Krishn\u00f9 being born, and having put all\ndevils to death, will remove all the burthens of the world?\u201d\n\nSaying this, Narud Jee drew eight lines, and counted them: when in\neight countings, each in turn was the eighth, Kuns being alarmed sent\nfor Basoodeo and the child. Narud, the sage, departed, after having\nthus informed Kuns, who took the infant from Basoodeo, and put it to\ndeath.--In this manner, whenever a son was born, Basoodeo brought it\nto Kuns, and he destroyed it. Six infants were thus killed, when Shree\nBhugwan, in the form of the great serpent, Shesh, took up his abode in\nthe seventh pregnancy.\n\nOn hearing this, the Raja Pureechit said to Shookdeo the sage, \u201cO\ngreat king! give me some account of Narud, the sage, who was the cause\nof so many crimes being committed, in order that the doubts of my mind\nmay disappear.\u201d Shree Shookdeo replied, \u201cRaja! Narud Jee thought\nrightly, that Kuns would commit very many crimes, in consequence of\nwhich Shree Bhugwan would speedily appear upon the earth.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER III.\n\nAgain Shookdeo Jee began to say to the Raja Pureechit,--O Raja! I\nwill now narrate how Huri came into the womb, and how Bruhm\u00f9 and the\nother gods sung the praises of the f\u0153tus, and how Dewee took Buldeo\nJee to Gokool--One day the Raja Kuns came and sat in his court, and\nhaving summoned all his demons said to them, \u201cAll the gods have been\nborn upon the earth, and amongst them Krishn\u00f9 will also make his\ndescent. Narud, the sage, has explained this secret to me; for this\nreason, it is right, that you should go, and utterly destroy all the\nfamily of Judoo, so that not one of them may be left alive.\u201d\n\nHaving obtained this order, all made their obeisance and departed, and\nafter coming to the city, searching for and seizing the members of the\nfamily of Judoo, they began to bind them,--and whether they were\neating, drinking, standing, sitting, asleep, awake, or going to and\nfro from place to place, they did not let go a single one; and having\nsurrounded them, they brought them into one place, and put them all to\ndeath by burning, drowning, dashing them against stones, and other\ntortures.--In this manner, all the devils both great and small,\nassuming various frightful shapes, began to search every city,\nvillage, lane, and house for the members of the family of Judoo, and\nto destroy them; and the family of Judoo being distressed, and\nabandoning their country, fled, taking only their lives with them. All\nthis time, all the other wives of Basoodeo came with Rohnee from\nMuttra to Gokool, where Basoodeo\u2019s chief friend, Nund Jee was\ndwelling, who received them with great affection, and restored them to\nconfidence, and they dwelt in his house with great delight. When Kuns\nbegan thus to vex the gods, and to commit great crimes, Vishn\u00f9\ncreated an illusive form from his eyes, which, joining its hands, came\nbefore him. Vishn\u00f9 said to it, \u201cGo thou now, and make a descent into\nthe city of Muttra, where the demon Kuns is causing distress to my\nworshippers, and Kusyp and Adit, that is, Jusodha and Dewukee, have\ngone; Kuns has closely confined them, and put six of their children to\ndeath; the seventh in the womb now is Luchman Jee, whom having taken\nfrom the womb of Dewukee, and carried to Gokool, place in such a\nmanner in the womb of Rohnee, that no devil may know of it, and all\nthe people of that part of the country will celebrate your praises.\u201d\n\nHaving thus instructed the illusive form, Shree Narayun said, \u201cHaving\nfirst gone, and completed this work, be born in the house of Nund, and\nafterwards in that of Basoodeo; I also will come to Nund\u2019s house.\u201d On\nhearing this, the illusive form came quickly to Muttra, and entered\nthe house of Basoodeo, in the form of Mohnee. The f\u0153tus she took away\nsecretly, she went and gave to Rohnee; all people thought it her first\npregnancy--Bhugwan was born from Rohnee.\n\nIn this manner on the fourteenth of the light part of the month Sawun,\non a Wednesday, Buldeo Jee was born in Gokool; and the illusion caused\nBasoodeo and Dewukee to dream, that she had carried away their child\nfrom the womb of Dewukee, and given it to Rohnee, and told them not to\nbe at all anxious. On hearing this in their dream, Basoodeo and\nDewukee awoke from sleep, and began to say to each other, \u201cBhugwan has\ndone well in this, but we must now inform Kuns of the circumstance;\notherwise, there is no knowing what pain he may inflict on us\nhereafter.\u201d Thinking thus, they informed their guards, who went and\nsaid to Kuns, \u201cO great king! Dewukee has miscarried; no child has been\nborn.\u201d On hearing this Kuns said in alarm, \u201cBe very careful this time,\nbecause I have a dread of the eighth pregnancy, which the voice from\nheaven spoke of.\u201d Having narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,\nRaja! Buldeo Jee having thus appeared, when Shree Krishn\u00f9 came into\nthe womb of Dewukee, the illusion went and took up its abode in the\nwomb of Jusodha, the wife of Nund. Both were pregnant, when Dewukee\nduring a festival went to the Jumna to bathe; by chance Jusodha came,\nand met her there--They began to talk of their mutual troubles:\nsuddenly, Jusodha said to Dewukee, \u201cI will keep your child, and give\nyou mine.\u201d After this conversation, they both returned to their\nrespective homes. Afterwards, when Kuns learnt that Dewukee was\npregnant with her eighth child, he surrounded Basoodeo\u2019s house; he\nplaced guards of devils on all four sides, and having sent for\nBasoodeo, said to him, \u201cDo not deceive me this time, bring your child\nto me; because on a former occasion I believed what you said.\u201d Having\nthus spoken, he placed fetters and handcuffs on Basoodeo and Dewukee;\nand having shut them up in one room, placing locks upon locks to\nprevent access, Kuns came to his own house, and fasting through fear\nwent to sleep; and again very early in the morning went to the place,\nwhere Basoodeo and Dewukee were. Seeing that the pregnancy was clearly\nmanifest, he exclaimed, \u201cIn this cave of death, my destruction is\ncontained; I could kill the mother, but I am afraid of the infamy\nwhich would attach to me from the act, because it would not be right\nfor me, who am so powerful, to kill a woman--well, I will destroy her\nson.\u201d Saying this, and coming outside, he placed as guards elephants,\nlions, dogs, and his own powerful warriors--and he himself watched\nconstantly--but did not obtain a moment\u2019s ease. Wherever he looked, he\nbeheld during the eight puhurs and sixty-four ghurees Krishn\u00f9 in the\nform of death, from dread of which, he spent every night and day in\nmost anxious thought. This was the state of Kuns; while Basoodeo and\nDewukee in great affliction, the time for the birth having arrived,\nwere propitiating Shree Krishn\u00f9, when Bhugwan came, and caused them\nto dream, and banished all their care by telling them, that he would\nsoon be born, and put an end to all their anxiety, and told them not\nto indulge in regrets. On hearing this, Basoodeo and Dewukee awoke. At\nthis time Bruhm\u00f9, Roodr\u00f9, Indr\u00f9 and all the gods, having left their\nchariots in mid air, and being invisible, came to Basoodeo\u2019s house,\nand joining their hands, and singing the Vedas, they began to\ncelebrate the praises of the child in the womb. At which time, no one\nsaw them, but all heard the musical sounds of the singing of the\nVedas. All the guards were amazed at this strange circumstance, and\nBasoodeo and Dewukee were certain, that Bhugwan would quickly put an\nend to their troubles.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER IV.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja! At the time Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund was\nabout to be born, such joy arose in the minds of all men, that the\nname even of grief did not remain. Through delight the forests and\ngroves being green began to produce flowers and fruits; the rivers,\nnullahs and ponds to be filled with water; birds of different kinds to\nsport and hop about; and there were rejoicings in every city, village\nand house; Brahmins offered up sacrifices; the guardians of the ten\nquarters were delighted; clouds rolled over Brujmundul; the gods\nseated in their chariots rained flowers from the sky, the celestial\ndancers, musicians, bands, playing upon drums and pipes began to sing\npraises; and in one quarter Oorbusee and all the celestial courtezans\nwere dancing. Under such a combination of circumstances on the eighth\nof the dark part of the month of Bhadon, in the Rohnee division of the\nzodiack, on a Wednesday at midnight, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee was born; and\nbeing of the colour of a cloud, with a face like the moon, lotus-eyed,\nwearing a yellow vest, with a crown on his head, and adorned with the\nbyjuntee--necklace, composed of jewels, produced from the five\nelements of nature, and having ornaments studded with jewels, in a\nform with four arms, holding a shell, quoit, club, and a lotus, he\nappeared before Basoodeo and Dewukee. On seeing him, both being amazed\nimagined him to be the first mortal; then joining their hands, they\nsubmissively said, \u201cGreat is our good fortune, that you have shown\nyourself to us, and given us a release from birth and death.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, they narrated the first part of the history, how\nKuns had caused them affliction; upon this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund,\nsaid, \u201cDo not now suffer any anxiety of mind, because I have descended\nupon the earth to dispel your griefs, but carry me now to Gokool; and\nat this very time Jusodha has had a daughter, which take and deliver\nto Kuns; listen to the reason of my going, which I will explain. Nund\nand Jusodha have performed religious penance; fixing their affections\nupon me, they desire to see their child\u2019s happiness: I will go and\nstay some days with them. Hereafter, after having killed Kuns, I will\nreturn to you: keep up your confidence.\u201d\n\nHaving made this explanation to Basoodeo and Dewukee, Shree Krishn\u00f9\nbeing transformed into an infant, began to cry, and dissipated his\ndelusion--And upon this, all the knowledge of Basoodeo and Dewukee\ndeparted, and they supposed the infant to be their own son. Thinking\nthus, and having made a vow in their minds to offer up ten thousand\ncows, they took the child in their arms and fondled it. On looking at\nits face, both heaving deep sighs, began to say to each other, \u201cLet us\ncontrive some means of carrying off this infant, that he may escape\nfrom the hands of that sinner Kuns.\u201d Basoodeo said, \u201cWithout the\nassistance of Bruhm\u00f9, no one will be able to support him; whatever\nhas been written in fate, that will happen.\u201d Then joining her hands\nJusodha said, \u201cYour friend Nund lives at Gokool:--Jusodha will dispel\nour troubles, and there is your wife Rohnee.--Take this infant there.\u201d\nOn hearing this, Basoodeo said with agitation, \u201cHow shall I escape\nfrom these strong fastenings?\u201d Upon this, all their handcuffs and\nchains upon their legs fell off; the doors flew open on all four\nsides: the watchmen, off their guard, were fast asleep.\n\nBasoodeo Jee having then placed Shree Krishn\u00f9 in a basket, put it on\nhis head, and went off immediately to Gokool--Above the gods were\npouring rain, behind him lions roared. Basoodeo became anxious, on\nbeholding the great stream of the Jumna.\n\nStanding on the bank of the river, Basoodeo began to reflect \u201cthat\nbehind lions are roaring, and in front the fathomless Jumna is\nflowing, what shall I do now?\u201d Saying this, and fixing his thoughts\nupon Bhugwan, he went into the Jumna; and the depth of the river\nincreased as he advanced. When the water came up to his nose, he was\nvery much frightened--Perceiving that he was agitated, Shree Krishn\u00f9,\nextending his foot, uttered the mystical sound, \u201c_hoon_,\u201d and in\nconsequence of the stretching out of his foot, the Jumna became\nfordable. Basoodeo having crossed the river, came to Nund\u2019s house, and\nfound the doors open; on going in, he found all asleep. Dewee had\nthrown her into such a trance, that Jusodha was not conscious of\nhaving been delivered of a girl. Basoodeo, having put Krishn\u00f9 asleep\nby the side of Jusodha, and taken away her infant daughter, quickly\nreturned homeward. After re-crossing the river, he came to the spot\nwhere Dewukee was sitting in anxious thought. Having given her the\nlittle girl, he told her all the news of his journey. On hearing the\naccount, Jusodha, delighted with joy, exclaimed, \u201cO husband! what need\nwe care now, if Kuns should put us to death, since our son has escaped\nfrom the hands of that demon.\u201d Having told thus much of the history,\nShree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja Pureechit, When Basoodeo had\nbrought the female infant, the doors of their prison became closed as\nbefore, and both had chains and handcuffs fastened on again--the\nlittle girl began to cry. On hearing the noise of the crying, the\nsentinels awoke, and snatching up their arms, and being on the alert,\nbegan to fire their muskets. On hearing their report, the elephants\nbegan to scream, lions to roar, and dogs to bark. At this time amidst\nthe darkness of night, and in the rain, a sentinel came, and having\njoined his hands, said to Kuns, \u201cO great king! your enemy has been\nborn.\u201d On hearing this, Kuns fell down insensible.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER V.\n\nOn hearing of the birth of the infant, Kuns trembling with fear\narose, and taking a sword ran reeling along; his hair dishevelled,\nbathed in sweat, he came to his sister in extreme agitation. When he\nsnatched away the child from her, she said, joining her hands, \u201cO\nbrother! this infant girl is thy niece, do not kill her, as she is my\nlast child. You have put to death my sons, the loss of whom afflicts\nme greatly; why will you increase your crimes by killing this infant\nwithout cause?\u201d\n\nKuns replied, \u201cI will not give the child alive to thee; that is, I\nwill not let her live, because whoever marries her, will put me to\ndeath.\u201d Having said this, and gone outside, just as he was about to\ndash the child to pieces, she escaped from his hand, and ascended to\nheaven, and exclaimed, \u201cO Kuns! what have you gained by attempting to\ndash me to pieces, thy enemy has been born somewhere, and now thou\nshalt not escape with life?\u201d\n\nHaving heard this, Kuns filled with regret, came to where Basoodeo and\nDewukee were standing, and on his arrival, had their handcuffs and\nleg-irons cut off; and submissively said, \u201cI have committed a great\ncrime in putting your sons to death; how will this stain be washed\nout, in what birth shall I obtain salvation? Your gods were false, who\nsaid, that in Dewukee\u2019s eighth pregnancy a boy should be born; this\nhas not been the case, but a girl has been produced, and she too\nhaving escaped from my hands has ascended to heaven; exercise\ncompassion, and do not allow your thoughts to dwell upon my sins;\nbecause no one can obliterate what has been written in fate. After\nhaving come into the world, a man cannot be free from life, death,\ngood and bad fortune. They, who are wise, consider life and death\nalike, and the proud look upon them as friendly and hostile. You are\ngreat observers of truth in having brought your sons to me.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, when Kuns began repeatedly to entreat them,\nBasoodeo Jee said, \u201cO great king! you say truly, that the fault is not\nyour\u2019s in this case, as God had written what has happened in our\nfate.\u201d Hearing this, Kuns, being highly delighted, brought Basoodeo\nand Dewukee in the most friendly manner to his house; and having\nentertained them, and presented them with robes, brought them back\nagain with the greatest respect: and having sent for a counsellor, he\nsaid, \u201cDewee has stated, that my enemy has been born; for which\nreason, put the gods to death wherever you find them; because they\nhave spoken falsely to me, in stating, that my foe should be born in\nthe eighth pregnancy of Dewukee.\u201d--The counsellor said, \u201cO great king!\nwhat great difficulty will there be in destroying them: they are\nbeggars from birth; and whenever you show anger, they will run away.\nWhat power have they of opposing you? Bruhm\u00f9 is engaged during the\neight puhurs in reflection, and contemplation: Muhadeo eats bhang, and\nthe thorn apple: Indr\u00f9 has no power over you--There remains Narayun,\nwho does not understand war; he remains enjoying himself with\nLuchmee.\u201d\n\nKuns said, \u201cExplain, how can we find Narayun, and conquer him?\u201d--The\ncounsellor replied, \u201cIf you wish to conquer Narayun, destroy all those\nin whose houses he dwells during the eight puhurs: Brahmins,\nworshippers of Vishn\u00f9, Jogees, devotees with matted hair, religious\nasceticks, Sunyasees, wandering religionists, and all the worshippers\nof Huri:--seize them all, from children to old men, so that not one\nmay be left alive.\u201d On hearing this, Kuns said to the counsellor, \u201cDo\nyou go, and destroy them all.\u201d Having obtained this order, the\ncounsellor, taking with him all sorts of devils, departed, and having\ngone into the city began to search for cows, Brahmins, children, and\nthe worshippers of Huri, and adopting treachery and violence, to put\nthem to death.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER VI.\n\nHaving narrated so much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--Raja! once on a time, Nund and Jusodha performed a great\nreligious penance for a son; when Shree Narayun himself gave a\npromise, that he would be born in their house. When Shree Krishn\u00f9\ncame at midnight on a Wednesday, the eighth of the dark part of the\nmonth Bhadon, Jusodha being awake at the time, and having beheld her\nson\u2019s face, sending for Nund, was highly delighted, and thought that\nshe had gained every object of her life. Early in the morning, Nund\nJee having got up sent for pundits and astrologers, who came with\ntheir books and almanacks, and Nund offered them seats with great\nrespect, and honour. They, according to the precepts of the Shastr\u00f9s,\nhaving fixed upon the year, month, lunar-day, solar-day, division of\nthe zodiack, the lucky moment, and exact ray of light, and having\nconsidered the rising of a sign of the zodiack, and having settled a\ndivision of time equal to (48) forty-eight minutes, said,--\u201cO great\nking! after consulting our Shastr\u00f9s we are of opinion, that the child\nabout to be born will be a second deity, as Bruhm\u00f9; having destroyed\nall evil spirits, and relieved the burthens of Bruj, he shall be\ncalled the lord of cowherdesses, and the whole world shall sing his\npraises.\u201d On hearing this, Nund Jee made a vow to offer up two hundred\nthousand, (200,000) cows, with horns of gold, hoofs of silver, backs\nof copper, and arrayed in yellow silk robes; and having given all\nsorts of gifts and presents to Brahmins, and receiving their blessing,\nhe dismissed them--After this, he sent for all the musicians and\nsingers of the city: they came, and began to display their\naccomplishments; the musicians to play, the dancers to dance, singers\nto sing, and the bards to celebrate praises. And all the cowherds of\nGokool made their wives bring vessels, containing sour milk, on their\nheads. Assuming various disguises, dancing and singing, they came to\noffer congratulatory presents to Nund. On their arrival, they threw\nabout, and at each other, so much coagulated milk and clay, that the\nwhole of Gokool seemed to be covered with coagulated milk--When they\nhad finished this sport, Nund having entertained them all, presented\nthem with dresses, made the marks of \u201c_tiluk_\u201d on their foreheads, and\ngiven them pawn, (betel leaf,) dismissed them.\n\nThe congratulations lasted in this manner for some days:--during this\ntime, every one obtained whatever he asked from Nund Jee. Being free\nfrom the congratulations, Nund Jee sent for all the cowherds, and said\nto them, \u201cBrothers! I have heard that Kuns is laying hold of all the\nlittle children he can find; there is no knowing but some wicked\nperson may say something against us; for which reason it is proper\nthat we should in a body take presents, and offer annual tribute.\u201d\nThey all agreed to this, and taking with them from their houses, milk,\ncurds, butter and money, loading them on carts, they came from Gokool\nto Muttra, accompanied by Nund. Having had an interview with Kuns,\nthey offered presents, and having paid their tribute, being permitted\nto depart, making their salutations, they returned homewards.\n\nWhen they reached the bank of the Jumna, Basoodeo Jee having received\ninformation of their coming, went there also: embracing Nund, and\nmaking enquiries regarding his affairs, he began to say, \u201cI have not\nsuch a relative and friend as you in the whole world, because when a\ngreat calamity happened to me, I sent Rohnee, then with child, to you.\nShe has had a son, whom you have nurtured with great care--How can I\nsufficiently describe your virtues?\u201d Saying this, he asked him, \u201cTell\nme, are Ram Krishn\u00f9, and your wife Jusodha well?\u201d Nund Jee replied,\n\u201cBy your kindness all are well, and the root of my life, your Buldeo\nJee is also well. In consequence of his being born, by reason of your\nvirtue and majesty, I also have had a son: but there is one of your\ngriefs, which much afflicts me.\u201d Busoodeo said, \u201cFriend! we have no\npower over the deity, the lines of fate cannot be effaced by one. For\nthis reason, after coming into the world, who should regret, if he\nsuffers pain and affliction.\u201d Having thus informed him, he said, \u201cGo\nquickly to your home, Kuns has committed many acts of violence; the\nvile wretch is making search for, and having brought to him all the\ninfant children he can: good subjects have been put to death, you have\nall come here, and evil spirits are on the search, and prowling about:\nwho knows but that some wicked person may go to Gokool, and cause\ninjustice to be done.\u201d On hearing this, Nund Jee being agitated, and\ntaking all with him, engaged in thought, went from Muttra to Gokool.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER VII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja! Kuns\u2019 counsellor having taken many\ndevils with him, was roaming about and destroying, when Kuns, having\nsent for a female devil, named Pootna, said to her, go and kill as\nmany of the family of Judoo, as you can find. She, hearing this, being\nhighly pleased, and making a salutation, departed. She began to say to\nherself, \u201cNund has had a son, I heard it in the village of Gokool, I\nwill now lay hold of it by stratagem; I will go as a cowherdess.\u201d\n\nHaving said this, ornamenting herself in a most elaborate manner,\nputting poison in her breast, assuming a fascinating appearance,\npractising deceit, taking a lotus in her hand, being fully adorned,\nshe went forth like Luchmee, when arrayed in all the ornaments of\ndress, she goes to meet her lord. Having arrived in Gokool, she came\nlaughing into the house of Nund.\n\nOn seeing her, all being fascinated, remained as though dispossessed\nof their senses--She went and sat near Jusodha, and asking the news,\ngave her a blessing. \u201cSister, may your Krishn\u00f9 live a crore of\nyears!\u201d Having thus proffered friendship, taking the child from\nJusodha, and placing it in her bosom, when she offered to suckle it,\nShree Krishn\u00f9, having seized her breast with both his hands, began\nfastening his mouth on her breast, to suck her life with the milk;\nupon this, Pootna being greatly agitated, exclaimed, \u201cJusodha, what\nsort of son is this of your\u2019s, he is not a mortal, but the messenger\nof death--Thinking it a cord, I have laid hold of a snake. If I escape\nalive from his hands, I will never come to Gokool again.\u201d Saying this,\nshe ran off outside the village, but Krishn\u00f9 did not let go his hold;\nand all of a sudden, he took her life. She fell down, just as a\nthunderbolt would fall from heaven. Having heard a very great noise,\nRohnee and Jusodha, weeping and lamenting, came to the spot where\nPootna, occupying a space of two koss, had fallen dead; and the whole\nvillage came running out after them; they saw Krishn\u00f9 upon her breast\nand in the act of sucking the milk--Taking him up quickly, and kissing\nhim, they pressed him to their bosoms, and brought him home.\n\nHaving sent for charmers, they began to exorcise him; and the\ncowherdesses and cowherds, standing near Pootna, began to say to each\nother, \u201cFriend! hearing the sound of her fall, we were so alarmed,\nthat our bosoms are still palpitating--Who can say, what the child\u2019s\nstate may be?\u201d\n\nIn the meantime, Nund Jee having come from Muttra, saw that a female\ndevil had fallen dead, and that a crowd of the inhabitants of Bruj had\nsurrounded her. He enquired how this act of violence had\noccurred--They began to explain to him, \u201cO great king! first of all\nshe came to your house in a beautiful form, and gave a blessing; on\nseeing her, all the women of Bruj were like persons deprived of their\nsenses. She took Krishn\u00f9, and began to suckle him, and after that, we\ndo not know what occurred.\u201d On hearing this, Nund Jee said, it is very\nlucky the child has escaped, and that she did not fall upon Gokool;\nhad she fallen, not one would have escaped; all would have been\ncrushed under her, and died. Having thus spoken, Nund Jee came home,\nand bestowed gifts and presents; and the cowherds having brought axes,\nspades, mattocks and hoes, and cutting off the bones and feet of\nPootna, dug holes, and buried them; and collecting the flesh and skin\ntogether burnt them.\n\nFrom her burning, there was such a sweet scent spread abroad, that it\nfilled the whole world with perfume. Having heard thus much, Raja\nPureechit said to Shookdeo Jee, \u201cO great king! that female devil was\nvery unclean, an eater of flesh and drinker of wine, please explain\nhow it happened, that a sweet smell came from her body.\u201d The sage\nreplied, Raja! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, having drank her milk, granted\nher absolution, and that was the cause of the perfume coming from her\nbody.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER VIII.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said:--The division of the zodiack in\nwhich Krishn\u00f9 was born, came round again--Jusodha, his mother,\nperformed all the four customary ceremonies of congratulation.\n\nWhen Huri was twenty-seven days old, Nund Jee sent an invitation to\nall Brahmins and inhabitants of Bruj--They came, and were placed upon\nseats with respect and honour. Afterwards, having given a great many\npresents to Brahmins, he allowed them to depart; and having arrayed\nhis relations in dresses, which he gave them, entertained them with\nevery sort of delicacy. At this time, Jusodha was assisting in the\nceremony of serving the food, Rohnee was waiting upon them, the\ninhabitants of Bruj were laughing and eating, the cowherdesses were\nsinging songs; all were so delighted with joy, that not one thought\nabout Krishn\u00f9; and Krishn\u00f9 was fast asleep in a cradle under a heavy\ncart. Shortly afterwards, he awoke hungry; having his toe in his\nmouth, he began crying, and moving about to look around him. At that\ntime, a demon came flying over. Seeing Krishn\u00f9 alone, he began to say\nto himself, \u201cThis is some very powerful person that has been born; but\nto-day I will revenge myself on him for Pootna\u2019s death.\u201d\n\nHaving resolved upon this, he came and sat in the cart, whence his\nname was Suktasoor. When the cart began to crack, and move about,\nShree Krishn\u00f9, sobbing, gave such a kick, that the demon died, and\nthe cart fell to pieces. As many pails as there were, containing milk\nand curds, were all broken, and the contents oozed out; and the\nbuttermilk flowed in a stream, like a river. Hearing the noise of the\ncart going to pieces, and of the breaking of the earthen pots, all the\ncowherdesses and cowherds ran to the spot. On arrival, Jusodha taking\nup Krishn\u00f9, and kissing him, pressed him to her bosom.\n\nHaving beheld this strange occurrence, they all began to say to each\nother \u201cBruhm\u00f9 has done an act of great kindness to-day, by means of\nwhich, although the cart has been broken in pieces, the child has\nescaped.\u201d\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo said,--Raja! when Huri was\nfive months old, Kuns sent Trinawurut, who came to Gokool in the form\nof a whirlwind.\n\nNund\u2019s wife was sitting with Krishn\u00f9 in her lap in the court-yard,\nwhen all at once Krishn\u00f9 became so heavy, that Jusodha, on account of\nthe weight, was obliged to let him down from her lap. In the meantime,\nsuch a violent storm occurred, that day was changed into night, and\ntrees began to fall, torn up by the roots; the roofs of houses to fly\nabout. Upon this Jusodha, being alarmed, tried to lift up Krishn\u00f9,\nbut he would not rise. As soon as her hand was off his body,\nTrinawurut flew off with him in the air, and began to say to himself,\n\u201cTo-day I will most certainly destroy him.\u201d\n\nHaving taken off Krishn\u00f9, the demon was resolving these thoughts in\nhis mind, whilst Jusodha, not knowing where Krishn\u00f9 was, (lit: not\nseeing him before her,) began to cry, and to call out \u201cKrishn\u00f9!\nKrishn\u00f9!\u201d Hearing her voice, all the cowherdesses and cowherds came\nto the spot, and, together with her, ran about in search of\nKrishn\u00f9--They went about groping in the dark by guess--and tripped,\nand fell down.\n\nThe cowherdesses roamed over the jungle of Bruj in search of Krishn\u00f9,\nwhilst Rohnee and Jusodha were talking to each other about him, Nund\ncontinued calling out in a voice of thunder; the cowherdesses and\ncowherds vociferated lustily. When Shree Krishn\u00f9 saw that Nund and\nJusodha, as well as all the inhabitants of Bruj, were much distressed;\nhaving twisted Trinawurut round, and brought him into the court-yard,\nhe dashed him against a stone with such violence, that life left his\nbody. The storm was hushed; it became light again; and all, after\nhaving lost their road, reached home. They saw a demon lying dead in\nthe court yard; Shree Krishn\u00f9 was playing upon his chest. On coming\nup to him, Jusodha took him in his arms, and clasped him to her bosom,\nand gave many gifts to Brahmins.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER IX.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja! one day Basoodeo Jee having sent for\nGurug, the sage, who was a great astrologer, and the family priest of\nthe members of the family of Judoo, said to him \u201cGo to Gokool, and\ngive my son a name. Rohnee has been pregnant, and had a son--What is\nhis age, how powerful is he, what is his name? And Nund Jee has had a\nson, and sent for you.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this Gurug, the sage, being highly pleased, departed, and\ncame near Gokool. Some one went and told Nund Jee, that Gurug, the\nsage, the family priest of the Judoos, was coming. On hearing it, Nund\nJee delighted, and accompanied by the cowherds\u2019 children, took with\nhim presents, and went out to meet him; and having spread carpets of\nsilk for him to walk upon, brought him to his house amidst musical\nrejoicings. Having performed poojah, placing him upon a seat, and\ntaking the water, with which his feet had been washed, the wife and\nhusband, joining their hands, began to say, \u201cO great king! great is\nour good fortune, that you have been so compassionate as to come and\npurify our house by giving us a sight of you. Through your majesty,\ntwo sons have been born; one Rohnee\u2019s; the other, ours: be so kind as\nto give them names.\u201d Gurug, the sage, said, \u201cThus to give them names\nwould not be proper; because, if it shall be spread abroad, that\nGurug, the sage, has gone to Gokool to give names to children, and\nKuns shall hear of it, he will think that some one has conveyed\nDewukee\u2019s son to the house of his friend, Basoodeo; and, therefore,\nthe family priest has gone there. Thinking thus he will have me\napprehended, and there is no knowing what violence he may do to you.\nFor this reason, do not make the matter at all public, but give the\nnames silently (or have the names given silently,) in your own house.\u201d\n\nNund said, \u201cGurug Jee! you have spoken truly.\u201d Saying this, he took\nhim into his own house, and placed him upon a seat. Then Gurug, the\nsage, having enquired from Nund Jee the lunar day and time of birth of\nboth, having determined the fortunate moment, and resolved upon what\ntheir names should be, said, \u201cNund Jee! the son of Rohnee, the wife of\nBasoodeo, shall have the following names, Sunkurkun, Kewuteerummun,\nBuldao, Bulram, Kalindeebhedun, Huldhur, and Bulbeer. And with respect\nto your son, in the form of Krishn\u00f9, his names shall be numberless;\nbut as he was once born in the house of Basoodeo, he has been named\nBasoodeo. And it is my opinion, that whenever these two children of\nyours shall be born in the four ages, they shall be born together.\u201d\nNund Jee said, \u201cExplain their good qualities.\u201d--Gurug the sage\nreplied, \u201cThey are deities; it is impossible to understand their\nstate; but I know this much, that, having killed Kuns, they will\nremove the burdens of the world.\u201d Having thus spoken, Gurug, the sage,\ndeparted in silence, and went, and told all the news to Basoodeo.\nAfter this, both the children began to increase in stature daily in\nGokool, and give pleasure to Nund and Jusodha, by playing childish\ntricks; wearing blue and yellow dresses, with short curls floating\nloose on their foreheads, with amulets, knotted strings and necklaces\non their necks, and toys in their hands, they played about; crawling\nabout the court-yard on their knees, they fell down and lisped out\ntheir words--Rohnee and Jusodha followed them about, lest the\nchildren, frightened at any one, should trip and fall. When having\nlaid hold of the young calves\u2019 tails, they got up, and afterwards fell\ndown, Jusodha and Rohnee taking them up, and pressing them to their\nbosoms with the greatest affection, suckled them, and coaxed them in\nevery possible way.\n\nWhen Shree Krishn\u00f9 grew bigger, he one day took the cowherds\u2019\nchildren with him to Bruj to steal butter.\n\nThey searched for it in empty houses, and Krishn\u00f9 allowed them to\nsteal whatever they found. They carried away the milk pails, which\nwere set apart and covered up, belonging to all whom they found asleep\nin their houses. Wherever they found it suspended on strings, placing\na board upon a stool, a wooden mortar upon the board, and making one\nof their companions stand upon the mortar, and getting upon his back,\nthey took down the butter, ate some of it, stole some, and spilt some\nabout: in this manner, they constantly committed theft in the houses\nof the cowherdesses. One day, they all took counsel together, and\nallowed Krishn\u00f9 to come into the house. Having entered the house, as\nhe was on the point of stealing the butter and curds, they laid hold\nof him, and said, \u201cYou have been in the habit of coming night and\nmorning; where will you escape now, you butter thief?\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, when all the cowherdesses in a body, taking\nKrishn\u00f9 with them, were going to make a complaint to Jusodha\nregarding him, Krishn\u00f9 practised this deception upon them, he made\neach mother take hold of her own child by the hand, and ran off\nhimself, and again joined the sons of the cowherds. When the\ncowherdesses came to Nund\u2019s wife, they fell at her feet, and said, \u201cIf\nyou will not be offended, we will inform you, what acts of tyranny\nKrishn\u00f9 has committed--milk, curds, butter, buttermilk do not escape\nfrom his hand; in Bruj he commits such thefts, and roams about,\nthieving, morning and evening. Wherever he finds them laid bye, and\ncovered up, he fearlessly takes them away, eats some, and allows his\ncompanions to steal. If any one points out the mark of curds on his\nmouth, he perversely says, that the same person placed it there. In\nthis manner, he used to come constantly, and commit thefts; to-day, we\nhave caught him, and brought him to show to you.\u201d Jusodha replied,\n\u201cFriends! whose child have you laid hold of, and brought to me; since\nyesterday, my Krishn\u00f9 has not gone out of the house? Is this the way\nyou speak truth?\u201d Hearing this, and perceiving that they had hold of\ntheir own children, they laughed and were ashamed of themselves. Upon\nthis, Jusodha sent for Krishn\u00f9, and said to him, \u201cSon! do not go to\nany one\u2019s house; whatever you wish to eat, eat at home.\u201d\n\nHaving heard this, Krishn\u00f9 said, lisping, \u201cDo not, mother, place any\nreliance on what they say. These false cowherdesses have spoken\nfalsely, and have come roaring in pursuit of me. Sometimes, they make\nme lay hold of the milk-pails and calves; sometimes they make me\nperform the drudgery of the house; and having placed me at the door to\nwatch, they go about their business, and then come and tell you\nstories.\u201d Hearing this, the cowherdesses looking at Krishn\u00f9, and\nsmiling, went away.\n\nOne day after this, Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram were playing with some\ncompanions in a court-yard, when Krishn\u00f9 ate some dirt:--one of his\ncompanions went and told Jusodha, who came running towards him in a\npassion, with a stick in her hand. Seeing his mother coming towards\nhim in a very angry humour, wiping his mouth, he was frightened, and\nremained standing in the same spot. She, on coming up, asked him, \u201cWhy\nhave you been eating mud?\u201d Krishn\u00f9 replied with fear and trembling,\n\u201cMother! who has told you this?\u201d She said, \u201cOne of your companions has\ntold me.\u201d Upon this, Mohun, being enraged, said to the companion,\n\u201cWhen did I eat mud?\u201d He replied in alarm, \u201cBrother! I do not\nunderstand what you say--what answer shall I give?\u201d When Krishn\u00f9\nbegan to explain to his companion, Jusodha went and laid hold of him.\nUpon this, Krishn\u00f9 began to say, \u201cBe not angry, mother! do human\ncreatures ever eat mud?\u201d She said, \u201cI will not listen to your\nthoughtless speeches; if you really speak the truth, show me your\nmouth.\u201d When Shree Krishn\u00f9 opened his mouth, the three worlds were\nseen inside it. Jusodha was then convinced, and she began to say to\nherself, \u201cI am a great fool in looking upon the lord of the three\nworlds as my son.\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo said to the\nRaja Pureechit,--Raja! when Nund\u2019s wife thought thus, Huri dissipated\nthe delusion; and, Jusodha, having pressed Mohun to her bosom with\naffection, brought him home.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER X.\n\nOne day, thinking it to be a proper time for churning, Nund\u2019s wife\nrose very early, and having awakened all the cowherdesses, gave them\nan invitation:--they came, and having swept and thoroughly cleaned the\nhouse, and plastered it over, began churning. Upon this, Nund\u2019s wife\nalso took a large sized new dish, placing it upon a stand, and\nspreading a seat for herself; with churning staff and string, she sat\ndown, and began to churn for Shree Krishn\u00f9, after having arranged\nfresh, unused vessels for holding the milk. At this time, the sound\nmade by churning in Nund\u2019s house was like thunder. In the mean while,\nKrishn\u00f9 awoke, and began crying, and calling out for his mother. When\nno one heeded his calling out, he came himself to Jusodha, and with\ntears in his eyes, in a state of agitation, sobbing and lisping, began\nto say, \u201cMother! how often have I called for you, and you have not\ncome to give me victuals; is your business not finished yet?\u201d Saying\nthis, he became cross.\n\nHaving taken the churning staff from the large dish, putting both his\nhands into it, and taking out the butter, he began to throw it about,\nand besmear his body with it; and kicking about his feet, and laying\nhold of his dress, he began to cry.\n\nThen Nund\u2019s wife, being frightened and angry, said, \u201cSon! what have\nyou done?\u201d or \u201cwhat sort of behaviour is this? Get up, and come along\nwith me, and I will give you food,\u201d Krishn\u00f9 said, \u201cI will not take\nany now; why did you not give it me at first, mother? For me to take\nit now would be a calamity.\u201d At length, with coaxing and kindness,\nJusodha kissed him, and took him in her lap, and gave him thick milk,\nand bread and butter to eat. Huri laughed and ate; Nund\u2019s wife,\nplacing a cloth over him in such a way that no one could see him,\ncontinued to feed him.\n\nIn the mean while a cowherdess came, and said, \u201cYou are sitting here,\nwhile there all the milk has boiled over the fire-place.\u201d On hearing\nthis, having quickly put down Krishn\u00f9 from her lap, she ran off, and\nwent and saved the milk; whilst Krishn\u00f9, having broken the vessels,\ncontaining the curds and buttermilk, destroyed the churning staves;\nand having taken a small earthen pot, filled with butter, ran off to\nthe cowherds\u2019 children. He found a wooden mortar, placed upside down,\nupon which he sat, and having seated his companions on four sides,\nthey began to distribute the butter to each other laughing, and to eat\nit.\n\nWhen Jusodha came back, after having taken off the milk from the\nfire-place, she saw that the court-yard and hall were greasy with\ncurds and buttermilk. Reflecting, and considering upon this, she came\nforth with a stick in her hand; and searching about, came to the spot\nwhere Shree Krishn\u00f9 had formed an assembly, and was eating and\ndistributing butter. When she went behind, and placed her hand on him,\nHuri, seeing his mother, crying and entreating, said to her, \u201cMother!\nI do not know who caused the buttermilk to be spilt; let go of me.\u201d\nHearing him speak with so much humility, Jusodha, laughing and\nthrowing away the stick, embraced Krishn\u00f9 with the greatest delight,\nthough pretending to be angry; and having brought him home, began to\nfasten him to the wooden mortar. Shree Krishn\u00f9 contrived, that\nwhatever string she fastened him with, should be too short. Jusodha\nsent for all the strings in the house; but nevertheless, Krishn\u00f9 was\nnot fastened--At length perceiving that his mother was vexed, he\nallowed himself to be bound. Nund\u2019s wife having fastened him, and\nhaving exacted an oath from the cowherdesses, that they would not let\nhim loose, began to occupy herself with domestic matters.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XI.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja! whilst Shree Krishn\u00f9 was bound, the\nrecollection of a former birth occurred to him, when Narud had\npronounced a curse on the two sons of Koover\u00f9, whom it was necessary\nfor him to liberate.--On hearing this, the Raja Pureechit said to\nShookdeo Jee, \u201cO great king! please explain how Narud, the sage,\ncursed the sons of Koover\u00f9.\u201d Shookdeo, the sage, said,--In the\nmountain Kylas, Koover\u00f9 had two sons, named Nul and Koover, who,\nattending upon Siv\u00f9, became very rich--One day, accompanied by their\nwives, they went into the forest for amusement; and having drank wine\nthere, became intoxicated. Stripping themselves and their wives naked,\nthey began to bathe in the Ganges, and throwing their arms round each\nother\u2019s necks, indulged in various kinds of amatory playfulness, in\nthe midst of which, Narud, the sage, made his appearance. On seeing\nhim, the women came out of the water, and dressed themselves;--but the\ntwo men, who were intoxicated, remained where they were. Seeing their\ncondition, Narud Jee began to say to himself, \u201cThey have become proud\non account of their wealth; and for this reason, indulge in anger, and\namorous sports--A man without wealth has no pride; and a wealthy man,\nno thought of religion, or irreligion.\u201d--It is said, \u201cthat fools\nhaving cherished their false bodies, (that is, indulging in all sorts\nof luxury and excess,) forget themselves. At the sight of wealth, and\ntheir families (meaning, high connexions,) they are elated--and\nvirtuous men do not entertain any pride of wealth in their minds, but\nregard good and bad fortune alike.\u201d Saying this, Narud, the sage,\npronounced a curse upon them--\u201cFor this crime, go to Gokool, and\nbecome trees; when Shree Krishn\u00f9 descends upon the earth, he will\nliberate you.\u201d Narud, the sage, thus cursed them, for which reason\nthey came to Gokool, and were transformed into trees--and they were\nnamed Jumlajoorun.\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king!\nrecollecting this circumstance, Shree Krishn\u00f9, dragging along the\nwooden mortar, came to the place in which the trees named Jumlajoorun,\nwere. On going there, having cast the wooden mortar across, between\nthe two great trees, he gave such a sudden jerk, that the two trees\nfell down, uprooted; and two very handsome human beings, coming forth\nfrom them, and joining their hands, began to sing his praises--\u201cO\nLord! who, but you, would recollect such great sinners as we are.\u201d\nShree Krishn\u00f9 said, \u201cNarud, the sage, has shown great compassion\ntowards you, in having granted you liberation in Gokool; through his\nbeneficence, you have obtained me--Now ask from me any boon you wish.\u201d\nJumlajoorun said, \u201cO lord of the poor! through the favour of Narud\nJee, we have touched your feet, and obtained a sight of you; we have\nnow no desire of any thing else; but be pleased to grant this much,\nthat faith in you may always continue in our breasts.\u201d On hearing\nthis, Shree Krishn\u00f9, having granted what they asked, and laughing,\ndismissed them.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XII.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--Raja! when those two trees fell,\nhearing the sound, and being alarmed, the wife of Nund came to the\nspot where Krishn\u00f9 had been tied to the wooden mortar; and all the\ncowherdesses and cowherds came also after her. When she did not find\nKrishn\u00f9 there, being agitated in mind, Jusodha went about calling\nout, and repeating the name of Mohun--\u201cWhere has he gone, that was\ntied down? Has any one seen my boy Kunhya any where?\u201d In the meantime,\n(or at this time,) a woman of Bruj, having come before Jusodha, said,\n\u201cTwo trees have fallen down, and there Krishn\u00f9 has escaped.\u201d\n\nHaving heard this, they all advanced and saw that two trees had indeed\nfallen down, uprooted, and Krishn\u00f9 was sitting between them, tied to\nthe wooden mortar, and contracted in size. Going up to him, Nund\u2019s\nwife, loosing him from the wooden mortar, and weeping, clasped\nKrishn\u00f9 to her bosom; and all the cowherdesses, supposing that he was\nalarmed, began to snap their fingers, and clap their hands to make\nKrishn\u00f9 laugh. Upon this, Nund and Oopnund began to say to each\nother, \u201cHow have these trees, which have been growing up for ages,\nfallen down, uprooted; this strange occurrence cannot be understood,\nnor is the secret of it comprehensible.\u201d Having heard this, a young\nboy explained the circumstances of the trees falling, exactly as they\nhad occurred; but no one could understand them. One said, \u201cHow can\nthese children understand such a secret as this?\u201d Another said,\n\u201cPerhaps it may be so, for who can comprehend the state of Huri?\u201d Thus\nmaking remarks of various kinds, and taking Shree Krishn\u00f9 with them,\nthey all came with delight to Gokool: then Nund Jee gave many\npresents, and performed many charitable acts. After the lapse of some\ndays, Krishn\u00f9\u2019s birth-day came round: Jusodha sent an invitation to\nall their relations; and having given an entertainment, tied the\nanniversary birth-day knot. When they all sat down to eat, Nund Rae\nsaid, \u201cBrethren! how can we possibly remain in Gokool? Every day, many\nacts of injustice are committed; let us go somewhere, where we can\nhave grass and water\u201d--Oopnund said, \u201cIf you go and live at Brindabun,\nyou will live there with delight.\u201d Having heard this speech, Nund Jee\nentertaining them all, and giving them seats after distributing pawn,\nsent for an astrologer, and enquired the proper division of time of\n(48) forty-eight minutes for the journey. He, considering, said,\n\u201cTo-morrow is a very good day for a journey in that direction; the\nspirits, attendant on good and bad luck, are on the left; the unlucky\nquarter is behind us, and the moon before us: you may start off early\nin the morning without any anxiety.\u201d Having heard this, all the\ncowherdesses and cowherds went to their homes, but early in the\nmorning they all assembled together, having packed up all their goods\nand chattels on carts. Nund Jee also accompanied them, with all his\nrelations; and proceeding on their journey, and crossing the river,\nthey arrived in the evening. Having propitiated the goddess Toolsee,\nthey occupied Brindabun; and all began to live there with ease and\npleasure.\n\nWhen Shree Krishn\u00f9 was five years old, he said to his mother, \u201cI will\ngo out to graze the calves; tell Buldao not to leave me alone in the\njungle.\u201d She replied, \u201cSon! there are many servants of yours, whose\nbusiness it is to take the calves out to graze; do not you go, who are\nthe protection of my eye-lids, and dearer to me than my eyes.\u201d\nKrishn\u00f9 said, \u201cIf I am allowed to go into the jungle to amuse myself,\nI will eat my food; if not, I will not.\u201d On hearing this, Jusodha\nhaving called the cowherds\u2019 children, and entrusted Krishn\u00f9 and\nBulram to them, said, \u201cDo not go far to graze the calves, and bring\nthem both home together before evening. Do not leave them by\nthemselves in the jungle; remain with them; you are their guardians.\u201d\nSaying this, and giving them food, she made over Ram and Krishn\u00f9 to\nthem. They having gone to the banks of the Jumna, began to graze the\ncalves and to play with the cowherds\u2019 children. At this time,\nBuchasoor, who had been sent by Kuns, came there under a disguised\nform: on seeing him, the frightened calves ran off in all directions.\nUpon this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 remarked to Buldeo with a wink, \u201cBrother!\nthis is some demon that has come here.\u201d Afterwards, when in the act of\nfeeding he approached near to accomplish his treacherous design (lit:\nto arrange his ambuscade,) Shree Krishn\u00f9 having seized him by the\nhind leg, and twisted him round his head, dashed him down with such\nviolence, that life left his body. Having heard of the death of\nBuchasoor, Kuns sent Bukasoor, who having come to Brindabun, and\narranged his snare, went and sat on the bank of the Jumna, in the\nappearance of a hill--On beholding him, the cowherds began, through\nfear, to say to Krishn\u00f9, \u201cBrother! this is some demon, who has come\nin the form of a crane; how shall we escape from him?\u201d On the one\nhand, the cowherds were speaking thus to Krishn\u00f9; on the other, the\ndemon was revolving in his mind, \u201cThat he would certainly destroy\nKrishn\u00f9 on that day.\u201d In the meantime, when Shree Krishn\u00f9 went near\nhim, he raised him up with his bill, and shut his mouth.\n\nThe cowherds\u2019 children being perplexed, looking round on all sides and\ncrying, began to call out, and say, \u201cAlas! alas! Huldhur too is not\nhere, what shall we go and tell Jusodha?\u201d Seeing that they were\ngreatly distressed, Shree Krishn\u00f9 became so hot, that the crane could\nnot retain him in his mouth. When the crane vomited him out, Krishn\u00f9\nhaving seized his beak, and pressed it under his feet, tore it in\npieces; and collecting the calves, he returned home with his\ncompanions, laughing and playing.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XIII.\n\nShree Shookdeo said,--O great king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 went one day\nearly to the jungle to feed the calves; and all the cowherds\u2019\nchildren, taking provisions with them from their homes, accompanied\nhim. Having gone to the pasture ground, and deposited their food, and\nlet the calves loose to graze, staining their bodies with white and\nred earth, making necklaces of jungle fruits and flowers, they put\nthem on, and imitating the sounds of beasts and birds, and indulging\nin sports of various kinds, they began to dance and sing.\n\nIn the meantime, a demon named Ooghasoor, sent by Kuns, arrived; and\nbeing transformed into a huge serpent, sat with his mouth open; and\nShree Krishn\u00fa playing, sporting and taking his companions with him,\ncame to the spot where the serpent, having prepared his ambuscade, was\nsitting with his mouth open. Having beheld him from a distance, the\ncowherds\u2019 children began to say amongst themselves, \u201cBrother! this is\nsome great mountain, the chasm of which is so large.\u201d Thus conversing,\nand leading the calves, they came near the serpent. One child then\nseeing its mouth open, said, \u201cBrother! this is some very frightful\ncave, do not let us go inside it, we are frightened on even looking at\nit.\u201d One of the companions, named Tokh, then said, \u201cCome, let us go\ninside, what fear have we, whilst Krishn\u00f9 is with us? If it should be\nany demon, he will be destroyed as Bukasoor was.\u201d They were all\nstanding and conversing thus, when the serpent drew such a deep\nbreath, that all the cowherds\u2019 children together with the calves fell\ninto his mouth. There was such a poisonous, hot vapour, that the\ncalves alarmed, began to low, and Krishn\u00f9\u2019s companions to call out,\n\u201cO beloved Krishn\u00f9! quickly take thought of us, or we shall be burnt\nto death.\u201d Hearing their cries, Shree Krishn\u00f9, being distressed, went\nalso into his mouth; and the serpent delighted shut its mouth. Upon\nthis, Shree Krishn\u00f9 increased his body to such a size, that the\nserpent\u2019s stomach was burst. All the calves and cowherds\u2019 children\nfell out. At this time, the gods delighted, and raining flowers and\nnectar, took away the heat, under which all were suffering. Upon this,\nthe cowherds\u2019 children began to say to Shree Krishn\u00f9, \u201cBrother! by\nputting this demon to death, you have well saved us: otherwise, all\nwould have perished--(or had perished.)\u201d\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XIV.\n\nShree Shookdeo said,--Raja! having thus destroyed Ooghasoor, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund having collected the calves, and taking his companions\nwith him, proceeded on his road. Having gone some distance, standing\nunder the shade of a kudum tree, playing on the flute, and calling all\nthe cowherds\u2019 children, he said, \u201cBrothers! this is a nice place, why\nneed we go farther? let us sit down here and eat.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this, they drove away the calves to graze, and having\nbrought leaves of different trees, and made them into plates and cups,\nsweeping the place clean, they sat down in rows on all sides of\nKrishn\u00f9, and producing their provisions, began to serve them out.\n\nWhen they had finished serving them out, Shree Krishn\u00f9 standing in\nthe midst, having first himself taken a mouthful, gave the order for\nthem to eat. They began to eat; and amongst them, Shree Krishn\u00f9 with\na peacock crown, a necklace of various flowers reaching to his feet,\nwith a club in his hand, standing awry, and dressed in yellow silk,\nlaughing gave them all some of his own food; and taking some from the\nplate of each, tasting it he pronounced upon the different flavours;\nthe bitter, sweet, hot and pungent; and appeared as beautiful in that\nassembly, as the moon among the stars. At this time Bruhm\u00f9 and all\nthe gods seated in their chariots looked down from the sky on the\nenjoyments of the cowherds\u2019 assembly. Bruhm\u00f9, having come down from\namongst them, stole and took away all the calves; and whilst the\ncowherds were eating, happening to think about them, they said to\nKrishn\u00f9, \u201cBrother! we are sitting here at our ease, and eating; who\nknows where the calves may have gone to?\u201d\n\nThen Krishn\u00f9 said to the cowherds, \u201cDo you all remain feasting; let\nno one get up, or be at all anxious; I will collect the calves\nbelonging to all, and bring them here.\u201d\n\nHaving thus said, and gone some distance into the jungle, when he\nfound out that Bruhm\u00f9 had stolen and carried off the calves, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 made others exactly like them, and brought them with him. On\nhis return, he perceived that Bruhm\u00f9 had taken off the cowherds\u2019\nchildren also. He then also created other children, exactly like those\nthat had been taken away; and as it was evening, brought them all with\nhim to Brindabun. The cowherds\u2019 children went to their homes, but none\ndiscovered the secret, that the children did not belong to them; on\nthe contrary, affection for them increased daily.\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo said,--O great king! Bruhm\u00f9\nhaving taken off the cowherds\u2019 children and calves, shutting them up\nin a mountain cave, and blocking up the entrance with a stone, fell\ninto a state of forgetfulness regarding the circumstance; and Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 constantly engaged in new sports. After the lapse of a year,\nBruhm\u00f9 recollected what he had done, and began to say to himself,\n\u201cOne of my moments has not passed, but a year of mortals has elapsed;\nI must therefore go and see what has been the state of Bruj without\nthe cowherds\u2019 children and the calves.\u201d\n\nThinking thus, he rose and came to the cave, where he had shut them\nall up. Having raised the stone, he saw, that the children and the\ncalves had fallen into a deep sleep. Departing thence, and coming to\nBrindabun, when he beheld the children and calves exactly as before,\nhe was astonished, and began to say, \u201cHow have the cowherds and calves\ncome here, or has Krishn\u00f9 created these new ones?\u201d Saying this he\nwent again to look at the cave. Whilst he was looking at them,\nKrishn\u00f9 created such a delusion, that all the cowherds\u2019 children and\ncalves became four-armed, and Bruhm\u00f9, Roodr\u00f9 and Indr\u00f9 with hands\njoined, stood before each. Bruhm\u00f9, on beholding, became like a\npicture: all intelligence and thoughts were forgotten (that is\ndeparted from him) just as a stone Dewee with four faces would be\ngrieved without worshippers and worship.\n\nAnd being frightened, and shutting his eyes, he began to tremble. When\nShree Krishn\u00f9, acquainted with the secret thoughts of all, found that\nBruhm\u00f9 was very much alarmed, he took away the parts of which the\nrest were composed, and remained himself alone, just as separate\nclouds are formed into one.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XV.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 removed his\ndelusion, Bruhm\u00f9 acquired a knowledge of his own body (that is,\nrecovered his former intelligence.) Reflecting he went to Bhugwan, and\nimplored him most earnestly: falling at his feet, soliciting and\nstanding before him with joined hands, he began to say, \u201cO lord! you\nhave done me a great kindness in having removed my pride, by which I\nhad been blinded; who has understanding sufficient to comprehend your\nactions, unless you take compassion upon him? Your illusory power has\nfascinated all; who is there with powers to fascinate you? You are the\ngod of all; in every hair of your body there are many Bruhm\u00f9s like\nme: in what reckoning am I? O kind to the poor! be pleased now\ncompassionately to forgive my offence, and take not thought of my\nfault.\u201d\n\nHaving heard thus much, Shree Krishn\u00f9 smiled: Bruhm\u00f9 then brought\nall the cowherds\u2019 children and the calves in a state of sleep: and\nbeing ashamed, and offering praises to Krishn\u00f9, went to his own\nabode. The assembly was formed exactly as it was before: although a\nyear had passed, no one was aware of it. When the cowherds\u2019 children\nawoke, Krishn\u00f9 collected the calves. Upon this, some of the children\nsaid, \u201cBrother! you have brought the calves quickly; we have not had\ntime to eat our food.\u201d\n\nHearing this, Krishn\u00f9 said laughing, \u201cI was anxious on your\naccount--I found the calves, grazing near in one place; let us now go\nhome, having come here very early in the morning.\u201d Conversing thus,\nand taking the calves with them, they all came home, laughing and\nplaying.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XVI.\n\nShree Shookdeo said,--O great king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 was eight\nyears of age, he one day said to Jusodha, \u201cMother! I will go and take\nthe cows to feed; do you prevail on my father to send me with the\ncowherds.\u201d Hearing this, Jusodha spoke to Nund Jee on the subject. He\nhaving fixed upon a lucky division of time, equal to forty-eight\nminutes, sent for the cowherds\u2019 children; and on the eighth of the\nlight part of the month Kartik, having caused Krishn\u00f9 to perform\npoojah to a cowshed, he said in a supplicating manner to the cowherds,\n\u201cBrothers! from to-day, take Ram Krishn\u00f9 with you, when you take the\ncows to pasture: but stay near him, and do not leave him alone in the\njungle.\u201d Having thus said, and given them food, and marked Krishn\u00f9\nand Bulram on the forehead with coagulated milk, he dismissed them in\ncompany with all the rest. They were delighted, and went to the jungle\nwith the cowherds\u2019 children and the cows. There, on beholding the\nbeauty of the jungle, Shree Krishn\u00f9 began to say to Buldeo, \u201cBuldeo!\nthis is a very pleasant, agreeable place; see, how the trees are\nbending under the weight of their branches, and beasts and birds of\nvarious kinds, sporting in every direction!\u201d\n\nWhen he had thus spoken, they ascended a high hillock, and began\nwaiving white cloths over their heads, to call out to the cows of\ndifferent colours, viz. black, white, yellow, purple, brown, blue. On\nhearing their voices, they all came running up, lowing and panting. At\nthis time there was an appearance of such beauty, that it seemed as if\nclouds of different colours had been collected from the four quarters.\nAfter this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund having driven away the cows to feed,\nand having eaten his meal with his brother, went to sleep under the\nshade of a kudum tree, placing his head on the thigh of a companion.\nHaving awoke after some time, he said to Bulram, \u201cLet us play this\ngame: let us fight together, each arranging a separate army in battle\norder.\u201d When he had thus spoken, they divided the cows and cowherds\u2019\nchildren into two equal portions; then gathering fruits and flowers\nfrom the jungle and filling wallets with them, they began to play upon\ndifferent kinds of martial instruments, and engaging with each other,\nto call out. They fought in this manner for some time, and then having\ntaken their divisions apart, they began to tend upon the cows (that\nis, take them to pasture.)\n\nAt this time, one of his companions said to Buldeo Jee, \u201cO great king!\nat a short distance from this, there is a palm jungle, in which there\nare fruits, equal in flavour to nectar; an evil spirit in the shape of\nan ass keeps guard there.\u201d On hearing this, Bulram Jee went into that\njungle with the cowherds\u2019 children and began knocking down the fruits\nby throwing bricks, stones, clods and sticks. Having heard the noise,\nthe ass, whose name was Dhenook, came braying to the spot; and on\ncoming up, he turned round and kicked Buldeo Jee twice on the chest:\nupon which, having taken him up, Buldeo dashed him on the ground.\nAfter rolling about, the ass again got up; and pawing the ground, and\nputting his ears down, he began to go back, and continue kicking with\nboth hind legs. He continued fighting in this manner for some time. On\na sudden Bulram Jee having seized both his hind legs, and twisting\nthem round, threw him upon a high tree, from which he fell down dead:\nand with him the tree fell also, broken in pieces. There was a very\nloud noise in consequence of the fall of both, and all the trees of\nthe forest were shaken. Having beheld from a distance, Krishn\u00f9 said,\n\u201cThe trees have been shaken, and there has been a great noise.\u201d A\nfriend of Buldeo\u2019s came, (and said) \u201cCome quickly Krishn\u00f9, Buldeo has\nsent for you: A demon has been killed, and is lying on the ground.\u201d On\nhearing this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 went also to Bulram. Then all the demons,\nwho were companions of Dhenook, came and attacked him. Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund easily destroyed them all. Then the cowherds\u2019 children being\ndelighted and plucking the fruit without fear, filled as many baskets\nas they wished; and having brought all the cows together, they said to\nShree Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo Jee, \u201cO great kings! it is very long since\nwe came here, let us now go home.\u201d On hearing this, both brothers,\ntaking the cows with them, came home laughing and playing with the\ncowherds\u2019 children in the evening, and distributed the fruits they\nbrought throughout the whole of Brindabun. Having dismissed all their\nfriends and companions they went to sleep. In the morning they rose\nvery early, and Krishn\u00f9 having called the cowherds\u2019 children, and\ngiving them breakfast, taking the cows with him, went to the jungle;\nand whilst feeding the cows, they came to the whirlpool where the\nserpent Kalee lived--there the cowherds watered the cows in the Jumna,\nand drank some water themselves. When they got up after having drank\nthe water, they, as well as the cows, began rolling on the ground, in\nconsequence of the poison. Upon this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 having looked at\nthem with an immortal glance, (a glance like nectar,) restored them\nall to life.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XVII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! having thus preserved them\nall, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund began to play at ball with the cowherds\u2019\nchildren; and where Kalee was, the water of the Jumna for the distance\nof four koss boiled in consequence of poison; no beast or bird could\napproach it: If any went by mistake, they were scorched by the heat,\nand fell into the whirlpool; and no tree was produced on its banks.\nThere was a solitary, everlasting kudum tree on one shore. The Raja\nenquired,--\u201cO great king! how did that kudum tree escape?\u201d The sage\nsaid, On one occasion the bird of Vishn\u00f9 having ambrosia in its beak,\nalighted on that tree; a drop fell from its bill, and for this reason,\nthat tree escaped. Having proceeded thus far in the narration, Shree\nShookdeo Jee said to the Raja,--O great king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee\nhaving determined upon the destruction of Kalee, whilst engaged in\nplaying at ball, climbed up the kudum tree; and as one of his\ncompanions threw the ball from below, it fell into the Jumna, and\nShree Krishn\u00f9 jumped in at the same time. Having heard the sound of\nhis jumping in, Kalee began to vomit forth poison, and hissing flames\nto say, \u201cWho is this that can live so long in the whirlpool? Perhaps\nthe undecayable tree, not able to bear my heat, has fallen into the\nwater, broken in pieces; or some great beast or bird has come, the\nnoise of which is still heard.\u201d Having thus said the serpent vomited\nforth poison from a hundred and ten hoods, while Shree Krishn\u00f9\ncontinued swimming. At this time, his companions, weeping and\nstretching out their hands, called out; the cows with their mouths\nopen ran about on all sides, lowing and panting; the cowherds apart\nwere saying, \u201cKrishn\u00f9 come out quickly; otherwise, what answer shall\nwe give, if we go home without you?\u201d They were grieved, and continued\nspeaking thus, when one of them went to Brindabun, and mentioned, that\nShree Krishn\u00f9 had jumped into the whirlpool of Kalee. On hearing\nthis, Rohnee, Jusodha and Nund, with the cowherdesses and cowherds,\ncame running out weeping, and tumbling over each other on the way,\nreached the whirlpool all together. Not seeing Shree Krishn\u00f9 there,\nNund\u2019s wife being agitated, rushed straight forward to throw herself\ninto the waters. The cowherdesses, interposing, laid hold of her; and\nthe cowherds\u2019 children having seized Nund Jee, thus addressed\nhim--\u201cHaving left the great forest, we have come into this one;\nnevertheless devils have vexed us exceedingly. Great good fortune has\nbefallen from evil spirits, (that is, Krishn\u00f9 has obtained many\nsuccesses over them) now how will Huri come forth from the whirlpool?\u201d\nIn the meantime, Buldeo Jee arrived there also after them, and\nexplained to all the inhabitants of Bruj--\u201cThe immortal Krishn\u00f9 will\ncome forth immediately; why are you sad? I did not come with him\nto-day; Huri has gone into the whirlpool without me.\u201d Having told so\nmuch of the story, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja Pureechit,--O\ngreat king! whilst Bulram Jee was thus instilling confidence into all\nthe inhabitants of Bruj, Shree Krishn\u00f9 went swimming close to Kalee,\nwho came, and wound himself round his whole body. Upon this Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 became so large, that having quitted him, Kalee came into the\njungle. When hissing, he attacked Krishn\u00f9 with his hoods, he guarded\nhimself. Seeing that the inhabitants of Bruj were very much grieved,\nShree Krishn\u00f9, having jumped up suddenly, sat all at once on Kalee\u2019s\nhead. Having the weight of three worlds, Krishn\u00f9 was very heavy: he\ncontinued dancing on the different hoods, and beat time with his foot.\nUpon this, Kalee began to die from the weight, and having dashed his\nhoods against the ground, put out his tongues, from which streams of\nblood flowed. When all pride of his poison and strength had departed,\nhe thought \u201cThat the first man had descended upon the earth;\notherwise, who has such power that he could escape from my poison?\u201d\nThinking thus, and having abandoned all hope of life, he remained\nstupified with fear. The serpent\u2019s wife then came and joining her\nhands, and bowing her head, said to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund in a\nsupplicating tone, \u201cO great king! you have done well in having\ndestroyed the pride of this tyrannous and presumptuous creature; he\nhas been fortunate in having now seen you--the feet, which Bruhm\u00f9 and\nall the other gods contemplate, offering up prayers with devout\nausterity, shine conspicuously on the head of Kalee.\u201d Having spoken\nthus, she said again, \u201cO great king! have compassion on me, and\nrelease Kalee; if not, destroy me also with him; because it is proper\nfor a wife without her husband, (that is, deprived of her husband,) to\ndie: and if you consider, he is not all in fault, this is the custom\nof our kind, that by having milk given us to drink, our poison\nincreases.\u201d Having heard this speech of the serpent\u2019s wife, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund jumped down from Kalee\u2019s head. Then Kalee, making an\nobeisance and joining his hands, said, \u201cLord! be pleased to forgive my\noffence: I, through ignorance, attacked you with my hoods; I am a\nserpent of an inferior caste, whence could I have the intelligence to\nrecognize you?\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 said, \u201cWhat has happened, has happened;\nbut do not live here any longer, go and dwell with your family in the\nisland of Kounuck.\u201d On hearing this, Kalee said with fear and\ntrembling, \u201cO lord of liberality! if I go there, the bird, upon which\nVishn\u00f9 rides, will eat me up; from dread of which I ran off, and have\ncome here.\u201d\n\nShree Krishn\u00f9 said, \u201cGo there now without fear; no one will say any\nthing to you, after having seen the marks of my feet on your head.\u201d\nHaving thus spoken, and sent for the bird of Vishn\u00f9, Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund dissipated the fears of Kalee\u2019s mind. Then Kalee having offered\nup devotion in the manner prescribed, with perfumes, lamps and\nconsecrated food, and having placed many gifts before Krishn\u00f9,\njoining his hands, said in a supplicatory tone, after he had obtained\npermission to depart--\u201cYou have danced for four ghurees on my\nforehead: Lord! remember this act of friendship.\u201d Thus having spoken,\nand made an obeisance, Kalee went with his family to the island of\nKounuck, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund came out of the water.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XVIII.\n\nHaving heard thus much of the story, Raja Pureechit enquired from\nShree Shookdeo Jee,--\u201cO great king! the island of Kounuck was a fine\nplace; why did Kalee come away from it, and why did he remain in the\nJumna? Explain this to me, that the doubts of my mind may depart.\u201d\nShree Shookdeo said,--Raja! the bird, upon which Huri rides, dwells in\nthe island of Kounuck, it is very powerful; for this reason the great\nserpents in that quarter acknowledging his superiority, constantly\ngave him a snake. They brought it, and placed it upon a tree: he came\nand devoured it. One day Kalee, the son of the serpent Kudroo,\npresuming on his poison, went and ate up the food of Vishn\u00f9\u2019s bird.\nIn the meantime, the bird came there, and there was a great deal of\nfighting between the two. Of a sudden Kalee having given up all for\nlost, began to say to himself, \u201cHow shall I escape from him, and where\nshall I go?\u201d Having thus said, he thought that if he were to go and\ndwell at Brindabun on the banks of the Jumna, he would escape, because\nthe bird could not go there; thinking thus, Kalee proceeded there.\nAgain the Raja Pureechit enquired from Shookdeo, \u201cO great king!\nexplain to me, why he could not go there.\u201d Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja!\nonce on a time Suobhis, the sage, seated on the bank of the Jumna, was\nengaged in devotion: the bird of Vishn\u00f9, having gone there, killed\nand ate a fish. Then the sage, being angry, pronounced this curse upon\nhim, \u201cIf you ever come here again, you shall not escape with life.\u201d\nFor this reason, the bird could not go there; and from the time Kalee\nwent to that place, it was called the whirlpool of Kalee. Having\nrecited thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said, when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\ncame out of the water Nund and Jusodha being rejoiced, gave many\ngifts, and performed many acts of charity. Their eyes were delighted\nat beholding the countenance of their son, and (by beholding) life was\nrestored to all the inhabitants of Bruj. In the evening they said to\neach other, \u201cHow shall we go home now, having suffered fatigue, hunger\nand thirst all day long? Let us pass the night here, and go to\nBrindabun in the morning.\u201d Having thus said, they all fell asleep.\n\nAt midnight there was a heavy storm, and a conflagration on all sides.\nTrees, forests and cattle were all destroyed by the fire.\n\nWhen the fire occurred, they all started from sleep, and being\nfrightened, and looking round on all sides, they began to stretch out\ntheir hands, and call out--\u201cKrishn\u00f9! Krishn\u00f9! save us quickly from\nthis fire; or it will reduce us all to ashes in an instant.\u201d When the\ninhabitants of Bruj, together with Nund and Jusodha, had called out\nthus, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee rising, drank up the fire in a moment,\nand put an end to all their anxiety. They returned to Brindabun early\nin the morning, and there were rejoicings and songs of congratulation\nin every house.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XIX.\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo said,--O\ngreat king! listen attentively, and I will explain the seasons and the\ndifferent sports Krishn\u00f9 engaged in, in the course of them. The hot\nseason came first, and by its arrival, took away all the pleasure of\nthe world; and having heated the earth and atmosphere, made them like\nfire; but owing to the glory of Krishn\u00f9, there was constant spring in\nBrindabun. There creepers bloomed on numerous arbours of trees;\nflowers of different kinds blossomed, upon which there was the buzzing\nof swarms of bees. Kokilas poured forth their notes on the mango\nbranches, and peacocks strutted about in cool, shady places. A sweetly\nscented breeze was blowing, and on one side of the jungle, the retired\nJumna exhibited its beauty. Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram left the cows, and\nwere engaged in all sorts of rare sports with their companions, when a\ndemon, named Purlunt, who had been sent by Kuns, came in the form of a\ncowherd. On seeing him, Shree Krishn\u00f9 said to Buldeo with a\nwink--\u201cThis is no friend of ours, Bulbeer, this is an evil spirit, who\nhas come in a disguised form. Let us take measures for his\ndestruction, we cannot kill him while he is in the form of a cowherd;\nwhen he assumes his own form, do you kill him immediately.\u201d\n\nHaving thus instructed Buldeo, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee laughing and calling\nPurlunt to him, took hold of his hand and said, \u201cYour appearance is\nmost beautiful; you are certainly our friend, without any deceit.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, and taking Purlunt with him, he divided the\ncowherds\u2019 children into two equal portions, taking half himself and\ngiving half to Bulram Jee, and having made two of their young\ncompanions sit down, he and Bulram began to ask, and explain the names\nof fruits and flowers.\n\nIn this sport of explanation Shree Krishn\u00f9 lost, Buldeo won. Then\nthose who were on Shree Krishn\u00f9\u2019s side ran off with the companions of\nBuldeo on their shoulders. Purlunt outstripped them all, taking Bulram\nwith him, and having reached the jungle, he began to increase in size.\n\nBuldeo on this black hill-like (monster,) appeared as beautiful as the\nmoon in a dark-coloured cloud, and the splendour of his ear-rings was\nas dazzling as lightning, the perspiration fell from him like rain.\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja\nPureechit,--O great king! when having got him alone, the demon was on\nthe point of destroying Buldeo, he killed Purlunt with blows.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XX.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja! when Bulram returned, after having\nkilled Purlunt, he met Krishn\u00f9 with his companions. And the cowherds\u2019\nchildren, who were in the jungle pasturing the cows, having heard that\na demon had been killed, left their cows and came to look at him. The\ncows in the mean while went from one grass jungle to another. When the\ntwo brothers arrived, they could not see any cows.\n\nThe cows and cowherds were dispersed: they lost their road, and\nwandered about the grass and palm jungles. Climbing up trees, they\n(the cowherds\u2019 children) called out to each other, and repeating\nnames, they waived cloths in the air.\n\nIn the meantime, one of his companions came, and said to Krishn\u00f9,\njoining his hands, \u201cO great king! the cowherds\u2019 children and the cows\nhaving broken through (or destroyed,) the Mouj jungle have been mixed\nup together, just in the same way as in the months of Sawun and\nBhadon, rivers rushing along with high waves, mix in the sea.\u201d At this\ntime they perceived that there was a fire blazing furiously. On seeing\nit, the cowherds and their companions, being greatly alarmed and\nfrightened, called out, \u201cKrishn\u00f9! Krishn\u00f9! save us quickly from this\nfire or we shall all be instantly burnt to death.\u201d Krishnu said, \u201cAll\nof you shut your eyes.\u201d When they had shut their eyes, Krishn\u00f9,\nhaving put out the fire in a second, caused another delusion, and\nhaving taken off the cowherds\u2019 children with the cows into a fig tree\nforest, told them to open their eyes.\n\nThe cowherds having opened their eyes, said, gazing round, \u201cWhere has\nthat fire gone, Krishn\u00f9? When did we come into the fig tree forest:\nthis is indeed strange, Bulbeer?\u201d\n\nHaving thus said, they accompanied Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram with the cows\nto Brindabun, and each went home and mentioned, that Bulram had that\nday killed a demon, named Purlunt; and that there had been a fire in\nthe Mouj forest, which, through the power of Krishn\u00f9, had been\nextinguished. Having narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--Raja! hearing these words from the mouths of the cowherds\u2019\nchildren, all the inhabitants of Bruj went out to see: but they\nobtained no clue to the actions of Krishn\u00f9.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXI.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--O great king! having seen the\nexcessive violence of the hot season, the mighty king of the rains,\ntaking compassion on the four-footed beasts, and birds and animals of\nthe earth, and having collected clouds from all quarters, came forth\nto fight. At this time the thunder of the clouds was like the sounds\nof drums; and the clouds, of different colours, which were collected\ntogether, were brave and resolute heroes. In the midst of these the\nflashing of the lightning was as the glittering of arms. Here and\nthere rows of cranes in their flight looked like white flags: frogs\nand peacocks sung praises, like bards, who accompany armies, and the\ncontinued rain fell in large drops like arrows.\n\nBeholding the rainy season approach in this splendid style, the hot\nseason abandoned the plains, and ran off with its life. Then the lord\nof the clouds, having rained upon the earth, conferred gladness upon\nit. She (the earth) having performed penance during eight months\u2019\nseparation from her lord, now compensated herself by enjoyment.\n\nHer breasts came down and became cold. She was pregnant, and had\neighteen sons; who, taking presents of fruits and flowers, went to pay\nrespects to their father. The land of Brindabun appeared as beautiful\nat that time as a loving woman, adorned with ornaments. And on all\nsides the rivers, nullahs and tanks were full; on which were waterfowl\nof different kinds, adding beauty to the scene. The branches of lofty\ntrees were waiving to and fro; and on them cuckoos, pigeons, parrots\nand other birds were pouring forth their mingled notes. And here and\nthere the cowherdesses and cowherds, dressed in red and yellow\ndresses, and swinging, were singing melodies in high notes.\nApproaching them, Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram afforded them great\npleasure by engaging in, and exhibiting, their youthful sports. In\nthis delightful manner the rainy season passed away; then Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 began to say to the cowherds\u2019 children, \u201cBrothers! the\npleasure-giving surud season has now come. Now all, I know, will enjoy\ngreat pleasure; now is the season of enjoyment and fine weather. The\nstars by night shine in the sky, brilliant as the passionless Bruhm\u00f9.\nFor four months we have remained in the house; now that the surud\nseason has come, let us give up all love for it, (the house). People\nrun to and fro, occupied with their respective affairs. Princes\nproceed to conquer foreign countries.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund having\nthus spoken, took the cowherds\u2019 children with him again to engage in\nsports. And whilst Krishn\u00f9 was absent in the jungle, grazing the\ncows, the cowherdesses remained in their houses, singing his praises.\nOne day Shree Krishn\u00f9 played on the flute in the jungle: and, on\nhearing the sound of the flute, all the women of Bruj stood up in a\nstate of agitation; and, having assembled in one place, sat down on\nthe road they began to say to each other, \u201cOur eyes will then be fully\ngratified when we behold Krishn\u00f9; he is now with the cows in the\njungle, dancing and singing, in the evening he will return, and then\nwe shall see him.\u201d On hearing this a cowherdess said, \u201cHear me friend!\nhe has played upon the flute, and behold what greatness he has\nconferred upon the bamboo!\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat excellent qualities has it, that Shree Krishn\u00f9\u2019s mouth should\nbe fastened to it all day long. And having drank the nectar of his\nlips, and raining forth joy, (it) the flute emits sounds like the\nclouds?\n\n\u201cWhat, is it more beloved than ourselves, that Krishn\u00f9 keeps it near\nhim day and night?\n\n\u201cIt was made in our presence, and has now become a rival to us, being\nconstantly on his person.\n\n\u201cWhen Shree Krishn\u00f9, having wiped the flute with a yellow silk cloth,\nplays upon it, the gods, sages, celestial choristers and musicians\ntaking their wives with them and seated in their chariots, come\neagerly to hear him, and being fascinated by hearing him, they become\nfixed and motionless as pictures. What penance has the flute\nperformed, that all are so subservient to it?\u201d\n\nAnother cowherdess said in reply, \u201cHaving first of all been produced\nin the stock of the bamboo, the flute kept Huri in constant\nremembrance. Afterwards it endured heat, cold and rain. Suddenly,\nbeing broken up into small pieces, it burnt its body in fire and\ninhaled smoke.\n\n\u201cThis is the penance it has performed, by means of which it has become\ncomplete, and obtained this result (fruit).\u201d\n\nHaving heard this, one of the Bruj women said, \u201cWhy has the lord of\nBruj not formed us into flutes, that we might stay with Huri day and\nnight?\u201d Having narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja\nPureechit,--O great king! the cowherdesses constantly sung the praises\nof Krishn\u00f9, until his return from grazing the cows in the jungles.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXIII.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said, on the departure of the surud\nseason, the winter came, when there was very great cold and frost. At\nthis time the women of Bruj said to one another, \u201cBy bathing in the\nmonth Aghun, the sins of every birth are obliterated, and the hopes of\nthe mind are accomplished. I have heard so from old people.\u201d On\nhearing this, they all resolved to bathe in Aghun, that they might\nwithout doubt obtain Shree Krishn\u00f9. Having resolved upon this, and\nrisen very early in the morning, the women of Bruj dressed and\nornamented themselves, and went in a body to bathe in the Jumna.\nHaving bathed and made an offering to the sun, of eight ingredients,\ncoming out of the water, they made an earthen image of Parvutee.\nPutting sandal, rice, flowers and fruits upon it, placing before it\nperfumes, lamps and consecrated food, performing poojah with hands\njoined, and holding their heads, they beseeched Parvutee, saying \u201cO\nDewee! we constantly supplicate this boon from you, that Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 may be our lord.\u201d In this manner the cowherdesses constantly\nbathed. Fasting all day, they ate coagulated milk and rice in the\nevening, and slept on the ground at night. With a view of quickly\nobtaining the fruit of their fasting, all the women of Bruj went one\nday to a very steep ghaut to bathe; and on arrival, having taken off\ntheir clothes, and placed them on the bank, they went naked into the\nwater. They began sporting about, and singing the praises of Huri.\n\nShree Krishn\u00fa was also at this time pasturing cows, sitting under the\nshade of a fig tree. Having heard by chance the sound of their\nsinging, he came silently to the spot, and having concealed himself\nbegan to look on. A sudden thought struck him, while he was looking\non, and having stolen all their clothes, he climbed up a \u201ckudum\u201d tree,\nand placed them all in a bundle before him. In the meantime, the\ncowherdesses looking on the bank for their clothes could not find\nthem. Being alarmed, they got up and began searching all round, and\nsaying to each other, \u201cNot even a bird has come here; who can have\ntaken away our clothes?\u201d Just then a cowherdess saw Krishn\u00f9 sitting\nhid on a \u201ckudum\u201d tree, with a crown on his head, a club in his hand,\nmarked with saffron on the forehead, in a yellow silk dress, with a\ngarland of flowers reaching to his feet, and preserving a strict\nsilence, with a bundle of clothes before him. She called out, \u201cBehold\nhim! who has stolen our hearts and our clothes, seated on a \u2018kudum\u2019\ntree with our bundles.\u201d Hearing this, and seeing Krishn\u00f9, all the\nwomen were ashamed, sitting down in the water, joining their hands and\nbending their heads, they supplicated and entreated Krishn\u00f9, saying\n\u201cO compassionate to the poor! beloved destroyer of our griefs! O\nMohun! please give us our clothes.\u201d Krishn\u00f9 replied, \u201cBy the oath of\nNund, I will not give them thus; come out of the water one by one, and\nyou shall obtain your clothes.\u201d\n\nThe women of Bruj said angrily, \u201cThis is a pretty lesson you have\nlearnt, in telling us to come out of the water naked. We will go and\ntell this to your father and brother, and they will come and lay hold\nof you as a thief. And we will mention it also to Nund and Jusodha,\nwho will teach you better. We are ashamed at what you have done; you\nhave put an end to all recognition (acquaintance) between us.\u201d On\nhearing this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee was enraged and said, \u201cYou shall not\nhave the clothes until you come, and fetch them yourselves.\u201d The\ncowherdesses were alarmed and said, \u201cO kind to the poor! it is you,\nwho constantly keep us in remembrance, and who are the guardian of our\ngood name; how shall we fetch them? It is for your sake, that we have\noffered up our vows, and bathed in the month of Mungsir.\u201d Krishn\u00f9\nreplied, \u201cIf you have bathed with sincerity on my account in the month\nof Aghun, lay aside all bashfulness and deceit, and come and take your\nclothes.\u201d When Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund had thus spoken, the cowherdesses\non reflection began to say to each other, \u201cLet us go friend! let us\nmind what Krishn\u00f9 says, because he knows all the secrets of our\nbodies and minds. Why should we be ashamed before him?\u201d Having thus\ndetermined, acting according to what Shree Krishn\u00f9 had said, and\nconcealing their breasts and privities with their hands, all the women\ncame out of the water, bowing their heads. When they stood opposite to\nShree Krishn\u00f9 on the bank, he said laughing, \u201cNow put your hands\ntogether, and come forward, and I will give you your clothes.\u201d The\ncowherdesses said, \u201cDarling of Nund! why do you deceive us, we are\nplain, simple women of Bruj. We have been tricked, and all our mind\nand memory are gone. Is this the game you have determined upon\nplaying, Huri? Whenever we think of this, we shall be ashamed; now do\nsomething for us, O lord of Bruj!\u201d When they had thus spoken, and put\ntheir hands together, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee giving them their\nclothes, and approaching them said, \u201cBe not displeased at what has\nhappened, because this is a lesson I have given you. The habitation of\nthe god Varoon\u00f9 is in water: for this reason, if any one goes naked\ninto the water, his character is entirely destroyed. Having been\ndelighted at beholding the affection of your mind, I have told you\nthis secret, now go home, and return in the month of Kartik to dance\nthe circular dance with me.\u201d\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--O great king! the cowherdesses having\nheard this speech, returned to their homes, delighted and satisfied.\nAnd Shree Krishn\u00f9, having come to the fig tree, went along with the\ncowherds\u2019 children and their companions and cows. Beholding on all\nsides jungle of various kinds, they began to speak in high terms of\ntrees, saying, \u201cthat after coming into the world, they themselves\nsuffered many troubles, and afforded pleasure to mankind. It is thus,\nthat the coming into the world of those, who are attentive to the\ninterests of others is beneficial.\u201d Conversing in this manner and\nadvancing onward, they arrived near the Jumna.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXIV.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said, when Shree Krishn\u00f9, having arrived near\nthe Jumna, was standing under a tree, leaning on a club, all the\ncowherds\u2019 children and their companions came, and joining their hands\nsaid,--\u201cO great king! we are very hungry; we have eaten all the food\nwe brought with us, still our hunger has not gone off.\u201d Krishn\u00f9\nreplied, \u201cObserve that smoke, which appears some distance off. The\ninhabitants of Muttra are offering sacrifice secretly from fear of\nKuns: go to them, and having mentioned my name, and made an obeisance,\nstand before them with hands joined; and from a distance ask for food\nwith the same humility, as meek beggars ask for it.\u201d\n\nThe cowherds, after hearing this speech, went to the spot where the\ninhabitants of Muttra were sacrificing, (were seated preparing the\nsacrifice.) Having gone, and paid their respects, they said with the\ngreatest humility, joining their hands,--\u201cO great kings! Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund Jee has, with deferential respect, sent this message to\nyou through us, he is very hungry, and would be much obliged if you\nwould kindly send him something to eat.\u201d When the inhabitants of\nMuttra had heard this message from the cowherds, they replied angrily,\n\u201cYou must be very hungry to make such a request at this time; we will\nnot give any one any thing until the sacrifice is completed, when we\nhave made the offering; if any thing remains, we will distribute it.\u201d\nThe cowherds, imploring them again earnestly, said with\nimportunity,--\u201cO great kings! it is an act of great virtue to give\nfood to a hungry man, who comes to your house.\u201d They listened not to\nwhat the cowherds urged; but turning away from them, said to each\nother--\u201cThese are very foolish, low cowherds, who beg for food in the\nmiddle of a sacrifice.\u201d The cowherds, returning thence displeased and\nwith great regret, came and said to Krishn\u00f9,--\u201cO great king! we have\nforfeited our dignity and character by begging, and have not obtained\nany thing to eat: what shall we do now?\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee said, \u201cGo\nand ask their wives: they are very kind and virtuous. Observe their\naffection: on seeing you, they will give you food with the utmost\nrespect and deference.\u201d\n\nHaving heard this, the cowherds went to the place, where the wives\nwere cooking, and said to them, \u201cShree Krishn\u00f9 has become hungry,\nwhile pasturing cows in the jungle, and has sent us to you--if you\nhave any thing to eat, give it us.\u201d They were delighted on hearing\nthese words from the cowherds, and ran off and brought gold dishes,\nfilled with food of all sorts and flavours--and would not admit any\none hindering or preventing them.\n\nA woman of Muttra, whose husband would not allow her to go, having\nmeditated and quitted her body, arrived before them all, and joined\nKrishn\u00f9\u2019s party, in the same way that water mixes (or unites) with\nwater. And after her the rest of the women came to the place where\nKrishn\u00f9 was standing with the cowherds\u2019 children under the shade of a\ntree, with his hand on a companion\u2019s shoulder, his figure bent, and a\nlotus in his hand. On approaching him they placed the dishes before\nhim, and having made an obeisance, they said to each other, on\nbeholding the countenance of Huri, \u201cFriend! this is Nund\u2019s son; let us\ncompletely gratify our eyes by looking at the moon-like face of him,\non whom we meditated upon hearing his name; and let us receive the\nfruit, (that is,) the darling object of our lives.\u201d Conversing thus,\nand joining their hands together, they began to say in a tone of\nsolicitation to Krishn\u00f9, \u201cO lord of compassion! except through your\nmercy, who can obtain a sight of you. Great is our good fortune\nto-day, that we have seen you, and got rid of all our sins in every\nbirth!\n\n\u201cThe foolish, avaricious proud priests, whose minds have been stained\nby the spirit, avarice and fascination of wealth, regarded God as man.\nHow shall men, blinded by delusion, recognize the difference? Why\nshould they not give food to him, to whom they offer up prayers,\npenance, sacrifice and love?\n\n\u201cO great king! that wealth, those mortals, and that modesty are\nadvantageous, which may be useful to you; and likewise the penance,\nprayers and knowledge, by which your name is celebrated.\u201d After\nhearing this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, having made enquiries about their\nwelfare and condition, said, \u201cDo not make obeisance to me, I am merely\nthe child of the chief Nund. Do they who cause themselves to be\nworshipped by Brahmins\u2019 wives, obtain greatness in the world? knowing\nme to be hungry, you took compassion, and thought of me in the jungle.\nHow shall I now entertain you? Brindabun, my home, is far off; how\nshall I be able to treat you with proper dignity and respect? If I\nwere there, I would bring flowers and fruits, and place them before\nyou. You have suffered inconvenience on my account by coming into the\njungle; and I regret, that I have not been able to serve you in any\nway.\u201d He said again in the same complaisant manner, \u201cIt is a long time\nsince you came here: be pleased now to go home, as the Brahmins, your\nhusbands, will be expecting you; because the sacrifice is not\npropitious without the presence of the wife.\u201d Having heard this speech\nof Krishn\u00f9\u2019s, they said, joining their hands, \u201cO great king! we\nfixing our affections on your lotus-like feet, have abandoned all\nfeelings of consideration for our families and relatives. How can we\nreturn to those, in disobedience to whose injunctions we came here? If\nthey will not admit us into their houses, where shall we live; for\nwhich reason it is better that we should remain under your protection.\nAnd lord, one of our women, from a wish to see you, was coming here,\nher husband stopped her, and the wife being distracted resigned her\nlife.\u201d When Krishn\u00f9 heard this, he laughed, and showed them the woman\nwho had quitted her body, and said, \u201cThey who show love for Huri are\nnever destroyed. She came here before you all.\u201d Having narrated thus\nmuch, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! on seeing her, they were\nall astonished. Afterwards, when they recovered their understanding,\nthey began to sing the virtues of Huri. In the meantime Krishn\u00f9\nhaving eaten the food they gave him, said to them, \u201cReturn home now,\nyour husbands will not say any thing.\u201d When Shree Krishn\u00f9 had thus\nexplained to them, having made their salutations they took their\ndeparture and went home. And their husbands, engaged in thought and\nexpressing great regret, continued saying, \u201cWe have heard a story in\nthe Pooran\u00f9s, that at one time Nund and Jusodha performed great\npenance for a son; and Bhugwan came and gave them a promise, that he\nwould descend upon the earth in the family of Judoo, and go to their\nhouse. He has been born, and it was he, who sent to procure food\nthrough the cowherds\u2019 children. What have we done in refusing food to\nKrishn\u00f9, when he asked it? To-day we have not gone into the presence\nof him, for whose sake sacrifice and religion have been established.\nWe regarded Krishn\u00f9 as a mortal, and did not listen to what the\ncowherds said. Accursed are our minds, and the performance of this\nsacrifice, that we did not recognize Bhugwan, and worship him. Our\nwives are superior to us, who went in such a spirited manner to behold\nKrishn\u00f9, and gave him food with their own hands, without having\noffered prayers, penance or sacrifice.\u201d Thus expressing their regret,\nthe inhabitants of Muttra said in presence of their wives, joining\ntheir hands, \u201cGreat is your good fortune in having seen Huri, your\nlives have been most propitious.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXV.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja! I will now inform you, how Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund raised the hill Goberdhun, and destroyed the pride of\nIndr\u00f9: listen with attention. All the inhabitants of Bruj, on the\nanniversary of the fourteenth of the dark part of the month of Kartik,\nhaving bathed, and filled a square place with saffron and sandal,\nbringing different kinds of sweetmeats and confectionary, and perfumes\nand lamps, were in the habit of worshipping Indr\u00f9. This was a\ntraditional custom with them. On one of the returns of that\nanniversary, Nund Jee made great preparations for a feast, and there\nwere also great preparations in the houses of all the inhabitants of\nBruj. Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund came and asked his mother, \u201cWhat is the\nreason of there being so many sweetmeats, and so much confectionary in\neach house to-day? Explain the secret to me, that the doubts of my\nmind may be removed?\u201d Jusodha replied, \u201cSon! I have no leisure now to\ntalk: Go and ask your father, and he will explain to you?\u201d\n\nOn hearing this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 came to Nund and Oopnund, and said,\n\u201cFather! for what god\u2019s worship are such splendid preparations being\nmade to-day, that there are sweetmeats and confectionary in each\nhouse? What power has he of accomplishing men\u2019s desires, of granting\nabsolution from sin and conferring boons? Explain to me his name, and\nhis virtues, that the doubts of my mind may disappear?\u201d\n\nNund said, \u201cSon! have you not yet found out the secret, that it is the\nworship (poojah) of the lord of the clouds, who is the ruler of the\ngods, through whose benignant liberality, prosperity and increase are\nobtained in the world, and also grass, water and grain. The forests\nand groves produce flowers and fruits: and through him all living\nthings, animals, four-footed beasts and birds have a joyful existence.\nThis custom of performing poojah to Indr\u00f9 has obtained from the times\nof our ancestors\u2019 ancestors, and is not one, which has been lately\nintroduced.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words from Nund Jee, Shree Krishn\u00f9 replied, \u201cFather!\nour ancestors may with knowledge or without knowledge have worshipped\nIndr\u00f9; but why do you intentionally leave a straight road and follow\na steep one? By obeying Indr\u00f9 nothing is gained; because he has not\nthe power of granting men\u2019s desires, or absolution from sin; and who\nhas obtained prosperity and the accomplishment of his objects from\nhim: mention to me on whom has he ever conferred a boon?\n\n\u201cIt is indeed true, that in consequence of his penances and\nsacrifices, the gods made him their Raja, and seated him on a throne,\nbut he has no divine power; often (when he is worsted by evil\nspirits,) he runs away, and passes his time in some hiding place. Why\nserve such a coward, and why not have proper regard for your own\ndignity of character? Indr\u00f9 has not power to do any thing. What is\nwritten in fate, happens. Men obtain enjoyment, wealth, benefactors,\nbrothers and relations, as the result of their virtues, or their\nfates. And the sun, which dries up the water for eight months of the\nyear, causes it to fall down in rain for the remaining four. In\nconsequence of this, grass, water and grain are produced on the earth.\nAnd Bruhm\u00f9, who has formed the four castes, Brahmins, Chutrees, Bys,\nSoodr\u00fas, has attached particular occupations to each; viz., that\nBrahmins should read the scriptures (Vedas); Chutrees should protect\nall the others; Bys should carry on agriculture, and trade; and\nSoodr\u00fas should be servants to the three other divisions of caste.\nFather! we belong to the Bys caste; in consequence of the number of\ncows we possess, we obtained the town of Gokool, and thence is derived\nour name of cowherds. Our business is to carry on agriculture and\ntrade, and to attend upon cows and Brahmins. The Vedas command us not\nto abandon our family customs. They, who abandon their own religious\ncustoms and conform to others, are like a virtuous woman of a good\nfamily, who should form an attachment to a stranger of another family.\nBe pleased, therefore, to abandon the worship of Indr\u00f9, and perform\npoojah to the forests and hills; because we are inhabitants of the\nforest, and they are our kings. It is not right for us to abandon\nthose, under whose government we live happily, and worship others.\nWherefore take all the sweetmeats, confectionary and grain, and\nperform poojah to the mountain Goberdhun.\u201d\n\nHaving heard these remarks, Nund and Oopnund arose, and went to a\nplace of assembly, where all the grown-up cowherds were seated.\n\nOn hearing what Krishn\u00f9 had said, they remarked, \u201cKrishn\u00f9 speaks\ntruly, do not consider his words as those of a child, and set them\naside. If you yourselves consider well, who is Indr\u00f9? And why do we\ntreat him with deference? It is proper we should worship those who\ngive us sustenance.\n\n\u201cWhat have we to do with the ruler of the gods; let us worship\nforests, rivers and the hill Goberdhun.\u201d The cowherds again said,\n\u201cKrishn\u00f9 has given good counsel, let us abandon all the gods;\nGoberdhun is a great mountain, let us worship it.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this Nund Jee was delighted, and caused proclamation to be\nmade throughout the village, that on the next day, he and all the\ninhabitants of Bruj would go and perform poojah to Goberdhun. Having\nheard this proclamation, all the inhabitants of Bruj rose very early\nnext morning; and having bathed, and performed their religious\nmeditations, placed all articles necessary for the poojah in baskets,\nplates, dishes and pots of various kinds, and brought them on carts\nand bhangies to Goberdhun. Nund and Oopnund also with their relatives\ntook a stock of things necessary, and accompanied the rest; and\nadvancing in musical procession, they arrived at Goberdhun. On arrival\nthere, having swept and cleared the ground all round the hill, and\nsprinkled water, they selected and deposited all kinds of sweetmeats,\nfood, condiments and pickles: so much indeed, that the mountain was\nconcealed by them; and they spread garlands above, and silks of all\ncolours.\n\nThe beauty of the scene at this time is not to be described: the\nmountain appeared as splendid as a person in a jewelled dress,\nornamented from head to foot. And Nund Jee having summoned a family\npriest, and accompanied by all the cowherds\u2019 children, placed on the\nground the mixture roolee, unbroken rice, flowers, perfumes, lamps,\nconsecrated food, pawn, betelnut and sacrificial presents, and\nperformed poojah according to the injunctions of the Vedas. Upon this\nShree Krishn\u00f9 said, \u201cMeditate now with pure minds upon the mountain\nGoberdhun, and he will appear and eat with you.\u201d\n\nHearing this all the cowherds, together with Nund and Jusodha, stood\nwith their hands joined, their eyes shut, and in deep meditation. Nund\nLal on the other hand, having then assumed a huge, monstrous form,\nwith large hands and feet, came forth silently from the middle of the\nhill, having lotus eyes, a face like the moon, a crown and a garland\nof flowers reaching to his feet, dressed in yellow, and wearing jewels\nand ornamented gems, and with his mouth open. And at the same time, in\nhis own proper form, looking at his assumed form, Krishn\u00f9 calling out\nto all his companions said, \u201cBehold! the mountain Goberdhun, whose\npoojah you performed with such sincerity, has manifested itself.\u201d\n\nHaving said this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee made a salutation to\nGoberdhun. The cowherdesses and cowherds, seeing this, did the same,\nand began to say to each other, \u201cWhen did Indr\u00f9 show himself in this\nmanner? We have worshipped him to no purpose: and there is no knowing\nwhy our ancestors abandoned so perceptible a deity as Goberdhun, and\nobeyed Indr\u00f9;--there is no understanding this.\u201d Whilst they were thus\ntalking, Shree Krishn\u00f9 said, \u201cWhat are you looking at? give him the\nfood, which you have brought.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this the cowherdesses and cowherds filled plates and dishes\nwith food of all kinds, (literally of six flavours,) and began to\noffer it to Goberdhun, who stretched out his hands to receive it, and\nbegan eating. At length all that the inhabitants of Bruj, and Nund and\nJusodha had brought with them was eaten up. The form of Goberdhun then\nwent back to the hill.\n\nHaving finished these wonderful sports, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, taking\nall his companions with him, went round the hill to the right by way\nof adoration; and next day leaving Goberdhun they arrived at\nBrindabun, laughing and playing on the road. Then there were\nrejoicings and festivities in every house; and the cowherds\u2019 children,\nhaving painted all the cows and calves, and fastened rings, small\nbells and other tinkling ornaments on their necks, engaged in games\nand sports separately.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXVI.\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said, when they\nabandoned the worship of the ruler of the gods, and worshipped the\nmountain, Indr\u00f9 was enraged and summoned all the gods.\n\nOn their arrival, Indr\u00f9 asked them to explain, whose poojah had been\nperformed yesterday in Bruj. At this time, Narud Jee came and said to\nIndr\u00f9, \u201cO great king! every one obeys you, except the inhabitants of\nBruj; and they do not obey you, because Nund has had a son, according\nto whose instructions they act. He has abolished your worship, and\ncaused them since yesterday to worship the mountain.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this Indr\u00f9 was angry, and said, \u201cThe inhabitants of Bruj\nhave great wealth, and therefore they have become excessively proud.\nThey have given up the prayers, penances, sacrifices and fasts, which\nthey used to observe, and offer up on my account. They have invited\nfamine and wretchedness. They look upon the man, Krishn\u00f9, as a god:\nand believe all he says to be true. He is a foolish, unintelligent\nchild, a great talker, and very proud. I will now put an end to his\npride by destroying all cattle, and deprive him of wealth.\u201d\n\nHaving spoken in this angry, foolish manner, the ruler of the gods\nsent for the lord of the clouds. On receiving the message, he came and\nstood before Indr\u00f9 trembling, and with his hands joined. Indr\u00f9, when\nhe saw him, said, passionately, \u201cTake all your army immediately with\nyou, and overwhelm with water the mountain Goberdhun, and the space\nround about Bruj; so that not a single trace of the mountain, or the\nname of the inhabitants of Bruj may remain.\u201d\n\nHaving received this order, the lord of the clouds made his obeisance,\nand received permission from Raja Indr\u00f9 to depart. On reaching his\nown abode, he called together all the great clouds, and said to them,\n\u201cIt is the order of the great king, that you should go immediately and\npour down rain in such quantities as to set adrift the whole of\nGoberdhun.\u201d\n\nHaving heard this, all the clouds collected their masses, and\naccompanied their ruler. He came and surrounded the whole country\nabout Bruj; and having thundered, began to pour down heavy rain in\nlarge drops, and to point out the hill with his finger.\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja\nPureechit,--O great king! when the thundering clouds began to pour\ndown rain in this manner from all quarters, the cowherdesses and\ncowherds together with Nund and Jusodha, alarmed and drenched with\nwet, trembled violently, and having gone to Krishn\u00f9 called out, \u201cO\nKrishn\u00f9! how shall we escape from this great deluge? You made us\nabandon the worship of Indr\u00f9, and perform poojah to the hill; please\ncall him quickly to preserve us: otherwise, we shall all be drowned in\na second, together with the city.\u201d\n\nHaving heard this speech, and perceiving that they were all terrified,\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund replied, \u201cBe not at all anxious, the lord of\nhills will come immediately and protect you.\u201d Thus saying, and heating\nthe hill Goberdhun, he made it like fire, and raised it up, and\nsupported it on the little finger of his left hand; upon this, all the\ninhabitants of Bruj with their cattle came and stood under it, and on\nbeholding Shree Krishn\u00f9, began to say with astonishment to each\nother, \u201cSome Vishn\u00f9 has descended upon the earth; Krishn\u00f9 is a god\nof gods. How, brother, can Mohun be a mortal, since he has supported a\nhill upon his finger?\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the history, Shree Shookdeo, the Sage,\nsaid to the Raja Pureechit,--The lord of the clouds, with his\ncollected force and in great wrath, poured down rain very heavy, which\nfell upon the hill with a hissing sound, and became like drops falling\nupon a hot baking plate.\n\nHaving been informed of this Indr\u00f9 was enraged, and came himself and\npoured down rain for seven days without ceasing; but through the glory\nof Huri, not a drop fell upon Bruj. When all the water was expended,\nthe clouds came with joined hands and said, \u201cLord! we have expended as\nmuch water as was expended at the general destruction (the great\ndeluge,) what shall we do now?\u201d\n\nHaving heard this, Indr\u00f9 reflecting and meditating, thought to\nhimself, \u201cVishn\u00f9 has descended upon the earth: otherwise, who else\ncould have had the power, by supporting the hill, to protect Bruj?\u201d\nWith these thoughts, and feeling great regret, Indr\u00f9 returned to his\nabode with the clouds, which having been dispersed, there was light.\nThen all the inhabitants of Bruj, being delighted, said to Krishn\u00f9,\n\u201cO great king! be pleased now to restore the hill to its former\nposition, as the clouds are all gone.\u201d On hearing which Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund placed the hill where it was before.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXVII.\n\nShree Shookdeo said, when Huri had let the hill down from his hand,\nand restored it to its former place, all the older cowherds, on\nbeholding this miraculous work, said amongst themselves, \u201cHow can we\ncall him the son of Nund, whose power has this day saved the country\nall round Bruj from this great deluge? Truly, Nund and Jusodha must at\nsome time have performed a great penance, for which reason (or in\nconsequence of which) Bhugwan has been born in their house.\u201d And the\ncowherds\u2019 children having come and embraced Krishn\u00f9, asked him,\n\u201cBrother! how did you support the weight of such a huge hill on your\nsoft lotus-like hand?\u201d\n\nAnd Nund and Jusodha, clasping their son with tenderness to their\nbosoms, rubbing his hand, and making his finger crack, began to say to\nhim, \u201cYou placed the hill for seven days on your hand; it must now be\npainful.\u201d\n\nAnd the cowherdesses came to Jusodha, and having mentioned to her all\nthe sports which Krishn\u00f9 had last been engaged in, said, \u201cMay this\nchild, your son, live a very long time, the guardian of Bruj. He has\ndestroyed demons, giants and evil spirits. Where are the limits to his\nliberation of the inhabitants of Bruj. Every thing has happened,\nexactly as Rae Gurug, the sage, said.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXVIII.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--O great king! early in the morning,\ntaking the cows, cowherdesses and cowherds with them, Krishn\u00f9 and\nBulram playing on the flute, and singing sweet notes, were proceeding\nto the jungle to give grazing to the cows, when Raja Indr\u00f9,\naccompanied by all the gods, preceded by the cow Ramdhenoo, and\nmounted upon the elephant Yerawut, having come to Brindabun from the\nregion of the gods, stood obstructing the road to the jungle. When he\nbeheld Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund at a distance, dismounting from his\nelephant, he came bare-footed and trembling, with a cloth thrown about\nhis neck, and fell at the feet of Krishn\u00f9; and expressing great\nregret, and shedding tears began to say, \u201cO lord of Bruj! have mercy\non me. I have been very proud, and presumptuous; and have given up my\nmind to sensual enjoyment and illusion. Intoxicated with wealth I have\nplaced my enjoyment in riches. Your nature I have not understood at\nall; you are god, the lord of all; who, except you, is the lord of the\nworld? Bruhm\u00f9, Roodr\u00f9 and all others, who grant boons, have obtained\nprosperity by your gift. You are lord of the world, dwelling in the\nVedas. Luchmee, constantly attending on you, has become your servant.\nYou descend upon the earth for men\u2019s sake; and then remove all the\nburthens of the earth. Put away all my faults: I have been very\npresumptuous and foolish.\u201d\n\nWhen Indr\u00f9 had eulogized Krishn\u00f9 with such humility, Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund, taking compassion on him, said, \u201cYou have come now with the cow\nRamdhenoo; and, therefore, I pardon your sin. Do not again indulge in\npride, because by doing so the understanding is destroyed: and\nfoolishness, from which disrespect proceeds, is increased.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words from the mouth of Shree Krishn\u00f9, Indr\u00f9 having\nrisen, performed poojah according to the injunctions of the Vedas; and\nhaving pronounced the name of Gobind, took the water, in which his\nfeet had been washed, and circled to the right hand by way of\nadoration of Krishn\u00f9. At this time the heavenly musicians, playing\nupon instruments of different kinds, began to celebrate the praises of\nShree Krishn\u00f9; and the gods, seated in their chariots, to rain down\nflowers from the sky. And the crisis appeared the same, as if Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 had been born for the second time.\n\nWhen Indr\u00f9 had finished the poojah, he stood before Krishn\u00f9 with\nhands joined: and Shree Krishn\u00f9 gave him the order to return to his\nown city with the cow Ramdhenoo. On receiving the order, Ramdhenoo and\nIndr\u00f9 taking their departures, after having made obeisance, went to\nthe region of Indr\u00f9. And Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund having allowed the cows\nto graze, returned, in the evening with all the cowherds\u2019 children to\nBrindabun. They having gone to their homes, related that they had that\nday seen Indr\u00f9 in the jungle, through the glory of Huri.\n\nHaving related so much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the\nRaja Pureechit,--Raja! by hearing and reciting this account of Shree\nGobind, which I have narrated to you, the four blessings of religion,\nsubstance, desire and deliverance are obtained in the world.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXIX.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! one day Nund Jee abstaining\nfrom food, observed the fast of the eleventh day of the lunar\nfortnight. He spent the day in bathing, meditation, worship and\nprayer, and the night in vigil. When six ghurees of the night\nremained, and the twelfth day of the lunar fortnight had begun, having\ngot up, and purified his body, and perceiving that it was day-break,\nhe took a bathing cloth and ewer, and went to the Jumna to bathe: many\ncowherds followed him. Having gone upon the bank, made a salutation\nand taken off his clothes, as Nund Jee went into the water, the\nservants of Varoon\u00f9, who were guarding the stream, that no one might\nbathe at night, went to Varoon\u00f9, and said, \u201cO great king! some one is\nnow bathing in the Jumna: what are your orders to us on the subject?\u201d\nVaroon\u00f9 replied, \u201cLay hold of him, and bring him here.\u201d On receiving\nthis order, the servants returned to the spot where Nund Jee having\nperformed his ablutions was standing in the water, muttering prayers.\nThe servants coming, and having quickly thrown a noose over Nund Jee,\ntook him to Varoon\u00f9. Then the cowherds, who accompanied Nund Jee,\ncame to Krishn\u00f9 and said, \u201cO great king! the attendants of Varoon\u00f9\nhave carried off Nund Rae Jee from the banks of the Jumna to the\nregion of Varoon\u00f9.\u201d On hearing this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 got up enraged,\nand went off, and arrived in a second at the abode of Varoon\u00f9. On\nbeholding him, Varoon\u00f9 rose and stood up, and joining his hands, said\nin a supplicating manner, \u201cMy birth has this day been propitious,\n(that is, all the objects of my present birth have been gained\nto-day,) by my having obtained a sight of you, O lord of the Judoos!\nPut away far from me all my crimes, I have circumvented Nund, your\nfather, with this object in view. You are celebrated as the father of\nall. We know not your father. Seeing Nund bathing at night, my\nattendants through ignorance laid hold of him. Well, by stratagem, I\nhave obtained a sight of you; be pleased now to have mercy on me, and\ndo not think of my crime.\u201d Being thus humble, and having brought many\npresents, which he placed before Nund Jee and Shree Krishn\u00fa, when\nVaroon\u00f9 with hands joined, and having bowed his head, stood before\nthem, Shree Krishn\u00f9, having taken the presents, returned thence to\nBrindabun, accompanied by his father. On seeing them, all the\ninhabitants of Bruj came crowding together. The cowherds enquired from\nNund Rae, \u201cWhere did the attendants of Varoon\u00f9 carry you to?\u201d Nund\nJee replied, \u201cShree Krishn\u00f9 arrived just as they had laid hold of me,\nand taken me to Varoon\u00f9\u2019s. On seeing him, Varoon\u00f9 having descended\nfrom his throne, and fallen at his feet, said with the greatest\nsupplication of manner, Lord! pardon my offence, I have committed this\ncrime through ignorance, which be pleased not to cast a thought upon.\u201d\n\nHearing this speech of Nund Jee\u2019s, the cowherds said to each other,\n\u201cBrother! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund by supporting the hill protected\nBruj, we knew that Vishn\u00f9 had descended on the earth in the house of\nNund, our chief.\u201d\n\nConversing thus amongst themselves, all the cowherds with hands\njoined, said to Shree Krishn\u00f9, \u201cO great king! you have deceived us\nfor a long time, but now we have found out all your secrets, you are\nthe creator of the world, and the remover of all affliction. O lord of\nthe three worlds! be so kind as to show us the paradise of Vishn\u00f9.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee, having in a second made a\nparadise, exhibited it to them in Bruj. On beholding it, the\ninhabitants of Bruj became possessed of knowledge; and they said with\nhands joined, and bended heads, \u201cLord! your greatness is infinite; we\ncannot speak of it, but through your goodness we have this day\ndiscovered, that you are Narayun, and have been born in the world to\nremove the burthens of the earth.\u201d\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! when the inhabitants of Bruj\nhad thus spoken, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, having brought them all under\nthe influence of charms and fascination, carried off the paradise\nwhich he had just created for their inspection, and made his own\ndeceptive power vanish. All the cowherds thought what had happened a\ndream; and Nund Jee, being under the power of delusion, regarded Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 as his own son.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXX.\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo said,--I will relate, in\nfive sections, according to the light of my understanding, the manner\nin which Huri engaged in pleasures and festive songs and dances with\nthe cowherdesses.\n\nWhen Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee stole the clothes, he gave a promise to the\ncowherdesses, that he would engage with them in festive songs and\ndances in the month of Kartik. From the time the promise was made, the\ncowherdesses, entertaining a hope of its accomplishment, and of\nengaging in festive songs and dances with Krishn\u00f9, became dispirited\nin mind, and constantly endeavoured to propitiate the month of Kartik.\nBy lucky accident, while they were engaged in propitiation, the\npleasure-giving season, including Assin and Kartik came.\n\nFrom the time the month of Kartik commenced, heat, cold and rain were\ndestroyed. Tanks were filled with pure water. Lotuses flourished in\nfull bloom. The white lotus, partridge and loving couples are filled\nwith delight on beholding the moon at night. The female ruddy goose is\ndirty, and the lotus withered, who regard the sun as friendly to them.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, then said,--O lord of the earth! Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund having come forth on the night of the full moon in the\nmonth of Kartik, saw the stars scattered in the sky--the light of the\nmoon was spread abroad on all sides, a cool, fragrant, gentle breeze\nwas blowing; and on one side a thick forest of great beauty exhibited\nits many ornaments. Beholding such a scene it came into his mind, that\nhe had made a promise to the cowherdesses to engage in festive songs\nand dances with them in the season, comprising the month of Assin and\nKartik, and that it was necessary for him to fulfil this promise.\nThinking of this, and coming to the jungle, Krishn\u00f9 played upon the\nflute. Having heard the notes of the flute, all the young women of\nBruj, who were filled with desire of Krishn\u00f9, on account of their\nseparation from him, were very much frightened. At length having laid\naside all feeling for kindred and family modesty, abandoning their\nhousehold occupations, they put on their ornaments and came forth in\nthe greatest confusion. One cowherdess, in attempting to go off, was\nstopped by her husband on the road, who brought her back home, and\nwould not allow her to go. Upon this she meditated upon Huri, and\nhaving quitted her body arrived before them all. Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nhaving seen her affection immediately granted her deliverance of the\nsoul from the body, and exemption from further transmigration.\n\nAt this point of the history, Raja Pureechit said to Shree Shookdeo\nJee,--\u201cO lord of kindness! the cowherdess did not esteem and regard\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Jee as the deity, but merely as an object of sense, for\nwhich she felt desire in her mind; how came it to pass that she\nobtained this state of deliverance and exemption? Please explain this\nto me, that the doubts of my mind may disappear?\u201d The sage replied, O\nincarnation of justice! even mortals, who without knowledge celebrate\nthe greatness of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, obtain without doubt this\nreligious deliverance and exemption. Just as a man who drinks the\nwater of life without knowing it, will be immortal; in like manner he\nwho knowingly drinks it, will derive full benefit from its excellent\nqualities. All men are aware, that the virtues and benefits of\nblessings must manifest themselves. And the same holds good with\nreference to the glory of the adoration of Huri. In whatever manner a\nman may worship him, he will obtain deliverance. Muttering prayers,\nrosaries, sectarial marks on the body and forehead, are all utterly\nuseless and unprofitable, if the mind is wavering and infirm. But if\nthe mind be true, Ram is pleased with them. And I will explain the\nvarious ways, in which different persons have acknowledged Shree\nKrishn\u00f9, and obtained deliverance. Nund and Jusodha looked upon him\nas their son; the cowherdesses as their gallant; Kuns worshipped him\nthrough fear; the cowherds\u2019 children prayed to him as their friend;\nthe Pandoos regarded him as their most dearly loved; Sissoopal\nacknowledged him as an enemy. The descendants of Judoo made him one of\ntheir own family--and jogees, and devotees with long hair, and sages\nmeditated on him as the deity. But in the end, all obtained the\nblessing of deliverance and exemption. What reason is there for wonder\nthat a single cowherdess should have obtained this blessing by\nmeditating on Krishn\u00f9?\n\nHaving heard this explanation, Raja Pureechit said to Shree Shookdeo,\nthe sage, \u201cO lord of favour! my doubts have vanished: do me the\nkindness to proceed now with the narrative.\u201d\n\nShree Shookdeo said,--O great king! The meeting of the cowherdesses\nwith Krishn\u00f9, the light of the world, and sea of beauty, to meet whom\nthey rushed forth in crowds, may be compared to the violent rushing of\nrivers in the rains to mix with the sea.\n\nThe splendid manner in which Shree Krishn\u00f9 was decorated, baffles\ndescription. Ornamented from head to foot, and in the guise of a\njuggler, he appeared so fascinating, beautiful and elegant, that the\nwomen of Bruj were lost in delight at beholding his splendid\nappearance. Mohun, having enquired after their health, asked them in a\nrather dry, rough manner, \u201cWhether they had been very much frightened\ntravelling at night, when goblins and spirits appear abroad, over a\ndreadful road, and with all their clothes and ornaments put on in the\ngreatest disorder?\n\n\u201cHow did you come to this immense forest, abandoning all affection for\nyour relatives and family? Such obstreperous, violent conduct is\nunbecoming in women. It is said, that a wife should perform her duties\nwith strict obedience to her husband, whoever he may be; whether she\nmarry one who is a coward, wicked, foolish, deceitful, ugly, a leper,\none-eyed, blind, decrepit, lame or poor. From acting thus, her welfare\nand reputation in the world are derived. It is the highest excellence\nin a high-born, chaste woman not to leave her husband for a second.\nAnd the wife, who having abandoned her own husband, goes to another,\nobtains in each birth a residence in the regions below.\u201d Krishn\u00f9\nadded, \u201cYou have come here and seen the thick forests, pure moonlight,\nand the beautiful banks of the Jumna; you had better now return home,\nand minister affectionately to your husbands.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words from the mouth of Shree Krishn\u00f9, all the\ncowherdesses at once lost their reason, and were overwhelmed with the\nboundless sea of thought. Afterwards they looked down, and heaved deep\nsighs, and dug up the earth with their toes. The tears, which streamed\nfrom their eyes, were like the falling pearls of a broken necklace.\n\nAt length being much depressed with grief, they said weeping to\nKrishn\u00f9, \u201cYou are a great impostor; first of all by playing on the\nflute you stole away, unawares, our mind and thoughts, now being\naltogether without compassion, and practising deceit, you wish to\ndestroy us by harsh speeches.\u201d\n\nAgain they said, \u201cWe have left our families, relatives, homes,\nhusbands, and have put out of our minds the reproach of our relations,\nto which our conduct has exposed us. We are deprived of our husbands:\nthere is no one to protect us. Grant us an asylum, O lord of Bruj!\npersons who live under your protection, desire not wealth, corporal\nform, modesty or greatness. You are their lord in each successive\nbirth, O god, in the form of life! To what home shall we go: our souls\nare wrapped up in affection for you.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, Shree Krishn\u00f9 smiled, and calling the\ncowherdesses said to them, \u201cIf you really have such great affection\nfor me, engage with me in festive songs and dances.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, the cowherdesses abandoned all grief, and\ngathered round him with delight from all sides, and began to feast\ntheir eyes with beholding the face of Krishn\u00f9.\n\nThe cloud-coloured Krishn\u00f9 stood in the midst; and the women, engaged\nin diversions, appeared like golden creepers, growing from under a\ndark-coloured hill. Shree Krishn\u00f9 had before intimated to his\ndelusive power, that he would engage in festivities, and had ordered\nthe power to raise a fine building, remain in it, and grant all the\ndesires and wishes, which any one might form.\n\nO great king! the delusive power, on hearing the order, went to the\nbanks of the Jumna, and having made a large, round golden terrace,\nstudded with pearls and diamonds, and surrounded it on all sides with\npillars of sprouting plantains, in which were wreaths and garlands of\nflowers of all kinds, came and informed Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund of what\nhe had done. He was delighted at hearing it, and taking all the women\nof Bruj with him, went to the banks of the Jumna.\n\nOn arrival, they saw that the splendour of the circular terrace, which\nhad been made for their festivities, was four times more brilliant\nthan the moon\u2019s orb. The sand, which surrounded it, appeared like the\nlight of the moon. There was a fragrant, cool, sweet breeze blowing.\nAnd on one side the verdure of all the forests displayed its numerous\nbeauties in the brightness of the night.\n\nOn viewing this scene the cowherdesses were highly pleased, and having\ngone to the bank of a tank, named Manusrowur, which was near the\nterrace, and putting on pleasing, elegant dresses and ornaments,\nadorning themselves from head to foot, they brought sweet-toned lutes,\ntimbrels and other musical instruments; and being intoxicated with\nlove, abandoning all reflection and modesty, they began to play, sing\nand dance with Krishn\u00f9. At that time, Shree Gobind, in the assembly\nof cowherdesses, appeared as beautiful as the moon amidst stars.\n\nHaving recited so much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O\ngreat king! when the cowherdesses, having utterly abandoned reason,\nlooked upon Huri in the course of their festivities, as their natural\nhusband, and considered him as subservient to themselves. Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund reflected in his mind,--\u201cThe cowherdesses now think me\nin their power, and regard me, in their minds, as their natural lord;\nthey have become ignorant, abandoning all modesty, and twine\nthemselves round my neck, and embrace me with great affection; they\nhave all utterly forgotten knowledge and meditation; I will now leave\nthem, as they have increased their pride; I will see what they will\ndo, and how they will live without me in the jungle.\u201d Having thus\nreflected, and taken Shree Radhika with him, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\ndisappeared.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXXI.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--O great king! all at once on their\nnot seeing Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, darkness clouded the eyes of the\ncowherdesses; and being much troubled in mind, they were agitated in\nthe same degree, as a snake is alarmed at having lost the jewel on its\nhead.\n\nUpon this, a cowherdess began to say,--\u201cTell me, friend! where has\nMohun gone, after having dispersed us. He was caressing me with his\narms round my neck. He was but now engaged with us in festive songs\nand dances. Where has he gone, and did not any of you see him, while\nhe was going away?\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, all the cowherdesses were exceedingly sad at\ntheir separation from Krishn\u00f9, and said, heaving deep sighs, \u201cWhere\nshall we go, what shall we do, to whom shall we call out? No one knows\nwhere he is, how shall we find Krishn\u00f9?\u201d\n\nSpeaking thus, and being inflamed with the love of Huri, all the\ncowherdesses began to search for Huri in every direction: and singing\nhis praises, (celebrating his many good qualities,) and weeping\nexclaimed, \u201cWhy have you left us, O lord of Bruj! we have given up\nevery thing to you?\u201d\n\nWhen they did not find Krishn\u00f9 where they first searched, they\nadvanced some distance, and said to each other, \u201cWe can see no one\nhere, from whom shall we enquire where Krishn\u00f9 has gone?\u201d A\ncowherdess said, \u201cFriends! a thought occurs to me, that all the\nbeasts, birds and trees in this forest are saints and sages. They have\ndescended upon the earth to behold the sports of Krishn\u00f9, enquire\nfrom them, who must have seen from their present position, and who\nwill be able to point out where Huri has gone.\u201d On hearing this\nsuggestion, the cowherdesses, who were very uneasy in their minds in\nconsequence of their separation from Krishn\u00f9, began to question every\nanimate and inanimate object:--\u201cO fig tree and other trees! you have\nobtained your present lofty form through the performance of acts of\nvirtue. You have been beneficent to others, assuming on earth the form\nof trees. You have endured the pains of heat, cold and rain, and\nremained standing for others\u2019 advantage. O bark, blossoms, roots,\nfruits and branches! with which you benefit others, be so kind as to\ntell us, whether Huri, who has stolen all our affections and wealth,\nhas come here. O palm, mango, and kuchnari! have you seen Moorari\ngoing off in any direction? O chumpa and other trees! have you seen\nBulbeer any where? O full blown toolsee! much beloved by Huri, whom he\nnever allows to be separated from his body, have you met Krishn\u00f9\nto-day? Who will point out to us where he is? O jasmines of different\nkinds! has Shree Krishn\u00f9 come in this direction?\u201d The women of Bruj\ncalled out to the deer, \u201cHave you seen Krishn\u00f9 pass in this\ndirection?\u201d\n\nHaving recited thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said, O great king! the\ncowherdesses, enquiring in this way from animals, birds, trees and\ncreepers, where Krishn\u00f9 had gone, began, after the manner of Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 to represent the death of Pootna, and to go through all the\nsports and amusements, which Huri had engaged in, and continued to\nsearch for him.\n\nAt length after searching some time, and having gone some distance,\nthey beheld the marks of Krishn\u00f9\u2019s feet, his lotus banner and iron\ngoad, glittering on the sand.\n\nThe women of Bruj seeing the dust, which gods, men and sages search\nfor, made an obeisance to it; and having placed it upon their heads,\nand entertaining a hope of meeting Krishn\u00f9 proceeded onward; when lo!\nthe traces of a woman\u2019s feet became visible near the marks of the\nfeet, which they had first beheld. They were surprised at the sight,\nand advancing further, they found a beautiful looking glass, studded\nwith gems, on a bed of soft leaves. They began to question it. When it\nwould not speak in consequence of the pain of separation from a loved\nobject, they asked each other, \u201cFriend! why did he take this with\nhim?\u201d Then, one, who knew the mutual feelings of lovers and their\nbeloved, replied, \u201cFriend! when the lover sat down to plait the hair\nof his beloved, and his lovely form was concealed from sight, his\nbeloved then took the looking glass in her hand, and showed it to her\nlover. Then the image of Shree\u2019s face was reflected from the mirror.\u201d\n\nThe cowherdesses were not at all angry at hearing this remark; but\nbegan to say, \u201cShe must have worshipped Shiv\u00f9 and Parvuttee well, and\nperformed great penance, to be able to enjoy diversion with the lord\nof life in this retired manner, without fear.\u201d O great king! all the\ncowherdesses, intoxicated with love, were thus idly talking, and\nwandering about in search of Krishn\u00f9, whilst Shree Radhika Jee,\nderiving great enjoyment from Huri, and thinking her beloved in a\nstate of subserviency to her, considering herself greater than all\nothers, and indulging in great presumptuousness of mind, said, \u201cO\nbeloved! I am not able to walk, please carry me on your shoulders.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the annihilator of pride, and\nacquainted with the secrets of the heart, smiled, and sitting down,\nsaid to her, \u201cCome and sit on my shoulders.\u201d When she put forth her\nhands to climb up, Shree Krishn\u00f9 disappeared; and she remained\nstanding in that posture, with her arms stretched out; just as\nlightning forces its way presumptuously from the clouds, or the angry\nmoonbeams separate themselves from the moon. And the splendour of her\nfair form, escaping and spreading upon the earth, displayed as much\nbeauty, as an elegant woman, standing upon ground of gold. Tears\nstreamed from her eyes; and she could not drive away the bees, who\noverpowered by the sweet smell came and settled near her face. And\nheaving deep sighs, she wept so violently in her solitude in the\njungle, distressed by the separation from Krishn\u00f9, that the animals,\nbirds, trees and creepers, hearing her lamentations, began weeping\nalso.\n\nAnd thus she exclaimed, \u201cO lord! best of lovers, where have you gone,\nO self-willed Beharee! I am the slave of the asylum of thy feet. O sea\nof beneficence! have compassion on me.\u201d\n\nIn the mean while the cowherdesses, continuing their search, came up\nto where she was; and throwing themselves on her neck, embraced her\nwith the same degree of pleasure, as a man, who had lost great wealth,\nwould experience in the midst of his losses, in recovering half of it.\nAt length, observing that she was very much distressed, the\ncowherdesses, taking her with them, went in the great forest, and\nsearched for Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund as long as the moonlight lasted.\nWhen they could not find their road in the jungle on account of the\ndarkness, they all returned thence with a confident hope of meeting\nKrishn\u00f9, and came and sat down on that bank of the Jumna on which\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund had afforded them very great pleasure.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXXII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! all the cowherdesses,\nsitting on the bank of the Jumna, and intoxicated with love, began to\nsing the exploits and virtues of Huri: \u201cO most beloved! since you came\nto Bruj, you have diffused new pleasures there. Luchmee in the hope of\nyour protection, has come and taken up her fixed abode. We,\ncowherdesses, are your slaves; show compassion, and quickly take\nthought of us; since we have seen your elegant, dark-coloured,\nbeautiful form, we have become your slaves without purchase. The\narrows of your eyes have pierced our breasts. Beloved! in what way and\nmanner are we not yours? Have mercy on us, as our lives are ebbing\nout. Lay aside relentlessness, and be pleased to present yourself soon\nto our sight. If your wish was to destroy us, why did you save us from\nthe poisonous serpent, from fire and from inundation; why not have\nallowed us then to die? You are not merely Jusodha\u2019s son. Bruhm\u00f9,\nRoodr\u00f9, Indr\u00f9 and all the gods, humbling themselves before you, have\nbrought you on the earth for the protection of the world.\n\n\u201cO lord of life! it is a subject of great wonder to us, whom you will\npreserve, if you destroy your own! Beloved! your are acquainted with\nthe secrets of the heart; why do you not put an end to our affliction,\nand grant the accomplishment of our hopes! What, beloved! do you wish\nto display your heroism towards us weak women? What pain do we not\nsuffer, when we behold your gentle smile, your affectionate glance,\nthe bend of your eye-brows, the coquetry of your eyes, the undulating\nmotion of your neck, and the splendour of your discourse? And when you\nused to go to the jungle to give pasture to the cows, the stones and\nthorns of the forest gave pain to our minds when we thought of your\nsoft feet. You went early in the morning, and returned in the evening:\nbut still these four puhurs appeared to us like four ages. When\nsitting in your presence, we gazed on your elegant form, we thought in\nour minds, that Bruhm\u00f9 was very foolish in having formed the eye-lid,\nto prevent our fixed and uninterrupted gaze.\u201d\n\nHaving told so much of the story, Shree Shookdeo Jee said, O great\nking! the cowherdesses, distressed at their separation from Krishn\u00f9,\ncontinued in this disconsolate manner to sing his exploits, and were\nworn out by their exertions in doing so; but still Beharee did not\ncome.\n\nAt length, being utterly without hope, and giving up all expectation\nof living, they became quite senseless from total want of resolution;\nand falling down, wept so violently and with such lamentations, that\nall things, animate and inanimate, on hearing them, were very much\nafflicted.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXXIII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund,\nwho is acquainted with the secrets of the heart, knew that the\ncowherdesses would not survive without him, then appeared amongst them\nthe son of Nund, just as a juggler would appear again, after having\nbeen concealed, whilst a person shut his eyes. When they saw that Huri\nhad come, the senses of all of them were revived, just as the organs\nof perception are restored to animation, when life is revived in a\ndead man. Whilst they did not see him, their minds were in a state of\nagitation, as though they had all been bitten by the mind-agitating\nsnake. Their troubles were ended on the arrival of him they loved, as\ncreepers are revived by being sprinkled with the water of life. In the\nsame way that the lotus appears withered at night, but revives on\nbeholding the splendour of the sun, the large eyes of the women of\nBruj were restored to animation on beholding Krishn\u00f9.\n\nHaving recited thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said, O great king! the\ncowherdesses, on seeing Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, being\nall at once released from the sea of despondency, approached him, and\nwere as much rejoiced, as a man, drowning in the unfathomable ocean,\nwould be to find a shallow place. And they collected round him on all\nsides. Then Shree Krishn\u00f9 took them with him to the place where they\nhad first engaged in festive songs and dances. On their arrival, one\nof the cowherdesses took off her scarf, and spread it for Krishn\u00f9 to\nsit down upon. As he sat down upon it, many of the cowherdesses were\nangry, and said, \u201cO great king! you are very deceitful, and steal away\nthe minds and wealth of others, but do not respect the good qualities\nof any one.\u201d\n\nAfter this, they said to each other, \u201cHe has abandoned what is good,\nand embraced what is bad. Deceit suits his mind. Consider, friend! how\ncan we possibly form an association with him.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this, one of them said, \u201cFriends! do you remain apart; as\nwe derive no benefit from our own speaking, I will make Krishn\u00f9\nhimself speak.\u201d Saying these words, she smiled and enquired from Shree\nKrishn\u00f9,--\u201cO great king! explain to us who is a good man, and who a\nbad man in the four following instances:--One, who without having done\na good action, shall expect good actions from others, (or shall expect\nto have his non-performance of good actions considered in the light of\nthe performance of them:) a second shall make a return for a good\naction: a third shall return evil for good: a fourth shall take no\nthought whatever of any good, that may be done to him.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund replied, \u201cAll of you listen with attention, whilst I explain who\nis the good, and who the bad man, in the cases mentioned. The best is\nhe who does good without receiving any, as a father loves a son. It is\nno virtue to return good for good, in the manner that a cow gives milk\nfor the food she receives. Consider as your enemy one who regards good\nand evil alike. The most ungrateful of all is he who forgets good done\nto him.\u201d\n\nWhen the cowherdesses, on hearing these words and looking at each\nother, began to laugh, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund was frightened, and said,\n\u201cI am not to be reckoned amongst any of these four kinds of persons,\nwhich you seem to think by your laughing; moreover, it is my custom to\ngrant the accomplishment of any wish or desire a person may ask from\nme. Perhaps you will say, if this is your practice, why did you\nabandon us in the jungle? The reason was, that I made trial of your\naffection. Do not think ill of me for this, but believe what I say.\u201d\n\nAfter this, he again said, \u201cI have now tried you: remember and\nmeditate upon me. You have increased your affection for me, who am\nlike a poor man that has obtained wealth. You have met my wishes in\nevery respect; and in doing so, have foregone the reproach of the\nworld, and the Vedas; just as a religious devotee, who abandons his\nhome, and entertains a love for Huri with sincerity of mind. If I\nshould live for a hundred years of Bruhm\u00fa, I should never be quit of\nmy debt to you.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXXIV.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--Raja! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund had\nspoken in this agreeable manner, all the cowherdesses, laying aside\ntheir anger, and being greatly rejoiced, arose, and having united with\nHuri, began to indulge in every kind of pleasure, delight and pastime;\nwhen Krishn\u00f9 had recourse to his deceptive power, and divided his\nbody into numberless particles, desiring to give pleasure to them all;\nand engaging in their sports with the greatest affection, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund, having assumed as many bodies as there were\ncowherdesses, took them all with him to the circular terrace, where he\nhad before gone; and again began engaging in festive dances and songs.\n\nThe cowherdesses, in pairs, joined their hands, and Huri was in the\nmidst of them. Each thought he was at their side, and did not\nrecognize him near any one else. They placed their fingers within his\nfingers, and whirled about with the greatest enjoyment, taking Huri\nwith them. The son of Nund in the midst of the cowherdesses was like\nthick masses of clouds, surrounded on all sides by lightning. The\ndark-blue Krishn\u00f9 amongst the fair women of Bruj was like a sapphire\non a necklace of gold.\n\nO great king! standing thus together, the cowherdesses and Krishn\u00f9\nbegan to tune various kinds of musical instruments, preluding\ndifficult airs, and played and sang, producing great varieties of\ntone, and singing whilst they danced. And so delighted were they, that\nthey seemed to lose all recollection of their very existence.\nSometimes the breast of one was uncovered, and the diadem of another\nslipped off. At one place, the pearl necklaces of some were broken,\nand the pearls fell on the ground: at another, garlands of flowers\nwere strewed about. The drops of perspiration on their foreheads\nglittered like strings of pearls; and the ringlets of the cowherdesses\nwere spread in such a loose and dishevelled manner over their faces,\nthat they resembled young snakes, who had flown up, and then become\nfastened to the moon, from an eager desire to obtain the water of\nlife.\n\nSometimes a cowherdess, singing in high tones, accompanied Krishn\u00f9\u2019s\nflute: and sometimes one of them sang without accompaniment. And when\nany one of them, having stopped Krishnu\u2019s flute, poured forth the same\nnotes from her own voice, he was as much fascinated as a child on\nbeholding its own image in a mirror.\n\nThus singing and dancing, and practising all kinds of coquetry and\nogling, they passed the hours in mutual enjoyment, and being pleased\nwith each other, they laughed and embraced and made a propitiatory\noffering of their dresses and ornaments. At that time, Bruhm\u00f9,\nRoodr\u00f9, Indr\u00f9 and all the gods and celestial musicians, seated in\ntheir chariots with their wives, looked down upon the festivities, and\nshowered down flowers with delight. And the wives, gazing on this\nscene of pleasure with eager desire, thought to themselves, that if\nthey could be born in Bruj, they also might join in festivities with\nHuri. And to such a pitch were the musical notes and tones carried,\nthat on hearing them, the air was stilled, and water ceased to flow;\nand the moon, together with the whole of the stars, was astonished,\nand poured down the water of life from its rays. The night was\nprolonged so that six months passed away, whence that night was named,\nBruhm\u00f9\u2019s night.\n\nHaving proceeded thus far with the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--O lord of the earth! whilst engaged in these festive sports, a\nwhim seized Krishn\u00f9, and he went with the cowherdesses to the banks\nof the Jumna. Going into the water and engaging in aquatic pastimes,\nafter he had got rid of his fatigue, he came out; and having\naccomplished the wishes of them all, said to them, \u201cThere are four\nghurees of the night remaining; go all of you to your homes.\u201d The\ncowherdesses were sad at these words, and said, \u201cLord! how shall we go\nhome, leaving your lotus-like feet? Our greedy minds do not approve of\nwhat you have suggested.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 replied, \u201cMeditate on me in\nthe manner that religious devotees meditate; and wherever you may be,\nI will always be with you.\u201d They were gratified at these words, and\ntaking leave returned home; and no one at their houses was aware that\nthey had not been all along at their respective house.\n\nHaving heard thus much of the history, Raja Pureechit said to Shree\nShookdeo, the sage,--\u201cO kind to the poor! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund had\ncome upon the earth to destroy evil spirits, and remove the burthens\nof the world, and, having conferred happiness on saints and religious\nmen, to promote piety. Explain to me, why he engaged in festivities\nwith other men\u2019s wives; as it is the act of a dissolute person to\nenjoy himself with another man\u2019s wife?\u201d Shookdeo Jee replied, Raja!\nyou do not understand this mystery, and regard the deity as a mortal.\nHis body is glorious and pure, by remembrance of whom sin is\nobliterated, just as any thing falling into fire, itself becomes fire.\n\nWhat cannot the powerful do? because by their acts they overcome fate:\nas Shiv\u00f9 took poison, and after having taken it made of it an\nornament for his neck, and formed a black snake into a necklace. Who\ncan understand his actions? Beings with power do nothing for\nthemselves, but confer boons on all petitioners, who worship and hold\nthem in remembrance.\n\nThe nature of Krishn\u00f9 is this; that he seems to associate with all:\nbut if you consider, you will perceive, that he appears as separate as\nthe lotus leaf from the water. I have already narrated to you the\nhistory of the cowherdesses\u2019 birth, and that Dewee and the mystical\nprayers of the Vedas were born, and came to Bruj to see and touch\nHuri. And in this manner Shree Radhika also, having obtained a\nblessing from Bruhm\u00f9, was born to be a servant to Krishn\u00f9 Chund; and\nremained in the service of her master.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee continued, O great king! we are told to believe all\nthe acts that Krishn\u00f9 performed, but not to turn our thoughts to the\nmanner in which, and the means by which, they were performed. Whoever\ncelebrates the fame of the lord of the cowherdesses, obtains, fearless\nand unmoved, the highest dignity. And the same benefits which are\nprocured by bathing in the sixty-eight places of pilgrimage, are\nprocured by celebrating the great renown of Shree Krishn\u00f9.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXXV.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--Raja! listen with attention, and I\nwill relate to you, how Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee released a celestial\ndancer, and destroyed Sunkhchoor. Nund Jee one day called all the\ncowherds, and said to them, \u201cBrothers! when Krishn\u00f9 was born, I made\na vow to my family Dewee and Unbika, that I would go in musical\nprocession with all the city, and perform poojah on his twelfth\nbirth-day. As, through the mercy of Dewee, I have lived to see his\ntwelfth birth-day, which is to-day, we must go and perform the\npoojah.\u201d\n\nAll the cowherds arose, on hearing these words of Nund Jee, and\nimmediately brought forth from their houses all things necessary for\nthe poojah. Nund Rae did the same, and loaded carts and bhangees with\nmilk, curds and butter; and accompanied them with all his relations,\nand arrived at the abode of Unbika. Having gone and bathed in the\nriver Suruswutee, Nund Jee sent for a family priest, and went,\naccompanied by all his retinue, to the temple of Dewee, and performed\npoojah. And having placed before her all the different articles they\nhad brought to offer, and having performed the act of going round to\nthe right by way of adoration, they exclaimed with joined hands and in\na supplicating manner, \u201cO mother! through your beneficence, Krishn\u00f9\nhas attained the age of twelve years.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, and bowing their heads, they quitted the temple,\nand fed a thousand Brahmins. In consequence of the delay which this\ncaused, Nund Jee remained there with all the inhabitants of Bruj, and\nthey fasted, as they would at a place of holy pilgrimage. As they were\nsleeping at night, a bo\u00e2 came and seized Nund Rae\u2019s foot, and began\nswallowing it. He was alarmed at seeing this, and called out,\n\u201cKrishn\u00f9! Krishn\u00f9! take thought of me quickly: otherwise the snake\nwill swallow me up.\u201d On hearing his voice, all the inhabitants of\nBruj, both men and women, started from sleep, and came to where Nund\nwas. Having struck a light, they saw a bo\u00e2 lying on the ground,\nhaving hold of his foot. In the meantime, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee\nhaving arrived, placed his foot upon its back in sight of them all. On\nwhich the snake, immediately abandoning its former body, was\ntransformed into a handsome man; and having made an obeisance, stood\nbefore them with joined hands. Then Shree Krishn\u00f9 enquired, \u201cWho art\nthou, and explain for what crime thou wast transformed into a snake?\u201d\nHe, bowing his head, said in a supplicating voice, \u201cO thou who knowest\nthe secrets of the heart! all the circumstances of my origin are known\nto thee. I am a celestial dancer, named Soodursun, and dwelt in the\nregion of the gods; and through pride thought myself superior to all\nothers in beauty and excellence of mind; I went forth one day, seated\nin my chariot, to the place where Angira, the saint, was sitting,\nengaged in religious devotion. And I went backwards and forwards a\nhundred times over him. Once on seeing the shadow of my chariot, he\nlooked up, and being angry pronounced a curse upon me, saying, \u2018O\npresumptuous: be thou changed into a bo\u00e2.\u2019 As he uttered these words,\nI fell to the earth, in the form of a bo\u00e2.\n\n\u201cThe saint told me at the time that my release would be accomplished\nby Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund. For this reason, I came and seized the foot\nof Nund Rae Jee, in order that you might come and grant me release. O\nlord of compassion! you have come, and mercifully released me.\u201d Thus\nhaving spoken, the celestial dancer circled to the right by way of\nadoration; and having obtained Krishn\u00f9\u2019s permission to depart,\nascended his chariot, and went to the region of the gods.\n\nOn beholding this wonderful act, all the inhabitants of Bruj were\nastonished. In the morning, having gone to see Dewee, they all\nreturned together to Brindabun.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo, the sage,\nsaid,--O lord of the earth! Huldhur and Gobind one moonlight night\nwere singing in the forest with the cowherdesses, and enjoying\nthemselves, when a demi-god, attendant of Koover\u00f9, named Sunkhchoor,\nwho had a jewel on his head, and was very powerful, came forth amongst\nthem. He saw the cowherdesses engaged in sports on one side, and in\nanother direction Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo intoxicated, and singing\nin a state of great delight. A thought having occurred to him, he\ncollected all the women of Bruj together, and drove them before him.\nThe women were frightened, and called out to Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram to\nprotect them. The brothers having heard the cries of the women,\nuprooted a tree, and seizing it in their hands, rushed forth as\ndrunken elephants rush upon lions, and told the cowherdesses not to be\nat all alarmed, as they had arrived. The demi-god, looking upon them\nas the agents of his destruction, was filled with fear; and ran off\nfor his life, leaving the cowherdesses. Nund Lal left Buldeo with\nthem, and went after Sunkhchoor himself, and seizing him by the hair\nbehind, brought him to the ground. After this, lowering his hand, he\ncut off his head, and taking possession of his jewel, gave it to\nBulram.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXXVI.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--Raja! whilst Huri remained in the\njungle pasturing the cows, all the women of Bruj went and sat near\nNund\u2019s wife, and sung the praises of their lord, and related the\nsports in which Shree Krishn\u00f9 had engaged in the forest.\n\n\u201cFriend! when he plays on the flute, animals and birds derive\npleasure. Dewee, seated with her husband in a chariot, is fascinated;\nhearing the notes with the greatest delight. The bracelets and rings\non his hand steal away all sensation from the agitated mind and body.\u201d\nThen one of the women of Bruj said, \u201cThe clouds were so overcome, that\nthey ceased to thunder. Huri sings joyfully standing in one position,\nand makes his eye-brow, feet and cheek keep time. The doe and deer are\nfascinated with the notes. The Jumna is turned from its course; and\nthe cows gather together. The charmed clouds cast a shadow, and form a\ncanopy over Krishn\u00f9\u2019s head. At one time Krishn\u00f9 retired to arbours\nwith thick foliage; at another, all sat with him under a fig tree. The\ncows roamed about behind him; and when they were collected, he took\nthem to water. In the evening Huri returned, and the cows lowed on\nhearing the sound of the flute.\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! in this manner the cowherdesses\nconstantly celebrated the great fame of Krishn\u00f9 during the whole day:\nand going forth in the evening to meet Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root\nof joy, derived the greatest enjoyment from his society. And at the\nsame time the Ranee Jusodha, having wiped the dust-covered face of her\nson in a most affectionate manner, was delighted to embrace him.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXXVII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! one day Shree Krishn\u00f9 and\nBulram, having given pasture to the cows, were returning home in the\nevening from the jungle, when a demon, in the form of a huge bull,\ncame amongst the cows. His body reached to the sky; his hard back was\nlike a stone, his two sharp horns were standing erect: and blood-red\neyes filled with rage. Raising his tail, he wandered about bellowing,\nsometimes he stopt, and then roamed about again, letting fall dung. He\nmade his shoulders writhe, and ears shake. All the gods left their\nchariots, and ran off. With his hoof he dug up the bank of the river,\nand upset a hill with his back, and cast it on the ground. All were in\nconsternation at that time; the supporters of the world, and the\nguardian deities of the ten quarters trembled. The earth quaked: the\nking of the serpent race, on whose head the world is supported,\ntrembled. Cows dropped their calves, and women miscarried. On seeing\nthe bull, the cows dispersed in every direction; and the inhabitants\nof Bruj ran off to where Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram were coming up behind\nthem. Making obeisance they said, \u201cO great king! a little distance in\nfront, there is an immense bull, standing in the road: save us from\nit.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, acquainted with the secrets of\nthe heart, said, \u201cDo not be afraid of it. It has come upon the earth\nin the form of a bull, because it desires its destruction from me.\u201d On\nsaying these words, he went forward, and on seeing the bull, Krishn\u00f9\nexclaimed, \u201cCome to me; you, who have assumed a treacherous form? Why\ndo you frighten any one else, why not come near me? The so-called\nlion\u2019s enemy runs not after deer. Behold! I am Gobind, in the form of\ndeath, and have utterly destroyed many like you.\u201d\n\nHe again called out, striking the upper parts of his arms in\npreparation for battle, \u201cCome and fight with me.\u201d On hearing these\nwords, the enraged demon rushed forth with such impetuous violence,\nthat it seemed as if a thunderbolt of Indr\u00f9\u2019s were hurled upon the\nearth. As often as Krishn\u00f9 drove him back, he recovered himself, and\nrushed on again. At one time, when Krishn\u00f9 had dashed him upon the\nearth, he rose up in great fury, and pinned Huri between his two\nhorns. Then Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee, escaping with activity, and placing\nhis foot on one of the legs of the bull, laid hold of his horn, and\ntwisted it in the same way, that a person would wring wet clothes. At\nlength, the bull fell down, and its life ebbed out.\n\nAt this time, the gods seated in their chariots, were so rejoiced,\nthat they began to rain down flowers; and the cowherdesses and\ncowherds, to celebrate with songs the great renown of Krishn\u00f9. In the\nmean while Shree Radhika Jee came and said to Huri, \u201cO great king! you\nhave committed a crime in having killed any being in the form of a\nbull. For this reason go and bathe in some place of holy pilgrimage,\nthen you may touch other persons.\u201d Krishn\u00f9 replied, \u201cI will summon\nall the places of pilgrimage to Bruj.\u201d Having thus said, he went near\nthe hill Goberdhun, and caused two deep pits to be dug. And the places\nof pilgrimage came there in bodily shape; and having mentioned their\nnames, and thrown water into the pits, departed. After this Shree\nKrishn\u00f9, having bathed in the pits, on coming out, made an offering\nof a great many cows, and having fed many Brahmins, was purified. And\nfrom that day, the two pits became famous as the pit of Krishn\u00f9, and\nthe pit of Radhika.\n\nHaving finished narrating this incident, Shree Shookdeo, the sage,\nsaid,--O great king! one day, Narud Jee, the sage, came to Kuns; and\nwhen he had explained to him the secrets of the birth of Bulram and\nKrishn\u00f9, and of the coming of the delusive power, and of the going\noff of Krishn\u00f9, Kuns was angry, and said, \u201cYou speak truth. At first,\nhe brought his son and gave him to me, having by that means increased\nthe confidence of my mind: as a thug, who shows you something, and\nafterwards runs off with all your property.\u201d\n\nOn saying these words, having sent for Basoodeo, he had him bound\ndown, and putting his hand on his sword, said with great agitation of\nmind, \u201cI have discovered that you acted with great treachery towards\nme. I looked upon you as a good and virtuous man. You sent Krishn\u00f9\noff, and gave him to Nund; Dewee has come and shown me. Your words\ncorresponded not with your thoughts and designs; I will certainly put\nyou to death to-day on this spot. A friend, relation, attendant or\nperson professing great regard for another, who practices deceit, is\nvery sinful. Your words were sweet, but your mind filled with poison.\nYou were intent only on deceit. An evil spirit is better than one who\nacts maliciously in affairs which concern himself.\u201d\n\nSpeaking in this vain, foolish manner, Kuns said again to Narud Jee,\n\u201cO great king! I have not yet found out the secrets of his mind: a boy\nwas born, and he came and showed me a girl. The child, which he\nmentioned as having died in consequence of the mother\u2019s miscarriage,\nwas born at Gokool as Buldeo.\u201d Thus having said, he gnashed his teeth\nwith rage: and as he raised his sword to kill Basoodeo, Narud, the\nsage, having laid hold of his hand, said, \u201cRaja! keep Basoodeo a\nprisoner for the present, and arrange so that you may lay hold of\nKrishn\u00f9 and Buldeo, (or so that Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo may come here.)\u201d\n\nWhen Narud Jee had made this suggestion and departed Kuns shut up\nBasoodeo and Dewukee in a room; and being distracted with fear, sent\nfor a devil, named Kesee, and said to him, \u201cO possessed of great\nstrength! you are one of my retainers. I have great confidence in you.\nGo at once to Bruj, and having killed Bulram and Krishn\u00f9, show their\nbodies to me.\u201d\n\nKesee, on hearing this speech, and receiving the order, bowing his\nhead, took leave, and went to Brindabun. And Kuns summoned Sal,\nToosal, Chanoor, Arisht, Byomasoor and all his other counsellors. On\ntheir arrival, he explained to them and said, \u201cMy enemy has taken up\nhis abode near me; reflect and deliberate how you can draw out the\nthorn which is pricking my mind.\u201d\n\nThe counsellors said, \u201cO great king! you are very powerful, whom do\nyou fear? What great difficulty will be in destroying Bulram and\nKrishn\u00f9? Be not at all anxious. We will counsel you, how, by means of\nstratagem and force, they will come here. First of all we will cause\nto be built such a beautiful and elegant theatre, that on hearing of\nits splendour people will crowd from towns and villages to see it.\nAfter this, do you cause a sacrifice to be made to Muhadeo, and\nprocure goats and buffaloes for the burnt-offering. On hearing news of\nthis, all the inhabitants of Bruj will bring presents, and Bulram and\nKrishn\u00f9 will come with them. Then some wrestler will throw them down,\nor some other very strong man will kill them at the gate.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these suggestions, Kuns assenting to the advice, said,\n\u201cCounsellors! you have given good counsel.\u201d He sent for a wrestler,\nand having treated him with great respect gave him a beera of betel.\n\nAfter this, holding a court, he began to say to his powerful devils,\n\u201cWhen my nephews, Bulram and Krishn\u00f9, come here, one of you destroy\nthem, that the apprehensions of my mind may be removed.\u201d Having thus\nexplained to them, he sent for a mahout and said to him, \u201cYou have a\nmust elephant under you, take it to the gate and remain there. When\nthe two brothers come and attempt to enter, have them torn to pieces\nby the elephant, and do not give them a chance of escape. If you will\ndestroy them both, I will give you whatever wealth you may ask for.\u201d\n\nHaving thus explained to them all, and determined upon a sacrifice to\nShiv\u00f9 on the fourteenth of the dark part of the month Kartik, Kuns\nsent for Akroor in the evening; and having given him a most civil\nreception, took him inside his house; giving him a seat on a throne\nnear him, and laying hold of his hand, he said with the greatest\naffection, \u201cYou are the greatest in the family of Judoo; intelligent,\nreligious and resolute; and, therefore, all know and respect you.\nThere is no one, who is not pleased at seeing you. For this reason, as\na dwarf, (the fifth incarnation of Vishn\u00f9,) accomplished, an\nimportant business for Indr\u00f9, having by stratagem taken possession of\nthe whole government of Bali, the sovereign of the infernal regions,\nand made it over to Indr\u00f9; so do you perform an important action for\nme, and go at once to Brindabun, and bring the two sons of Dewukee\nhere; in whatever way the affair may be managed, whether by artifice\nor force. It is said, that the great endure difficulties themselves in\naccomplishing the objects of others; you have the same interest in all\nmy affairs as myself. What more shall I say; bring them here in any\nway you can, and they will easily be destroyed. Either Chanoor will\nthrow them prostrate, or the elephant Koobliya will lay hold of and\ntear them to pieces. If not, I, myself, will kill them, and accomplish\nmy object with my own hand. And after having destroyed them, I will\nput Oogursen to death; because he is very deceitful and desires my\ndestruction. And after that, having first burnt Dewukee\u2019s father,\nDewuk, I will drown him. Having thus put Basoodeo to death with him, I\nwill thus destroy by the very roots all the worshippers of Huri. Then,\nif you will but bring Bulram and Krishn\u00f9, reigning without any\nopposition, I will unite with my very powerful friend, Joorasindh,\nfrom dread of whom, the nine divisions of the world tremble; and with\nNurkasoor, and Banasoor, and other great and mighty demons, who are\nhis attendants.\u201d\n\nKuns continued to urge Akroor, saying, \u201cGo to Brindabun to the house\nof Nund, and tell him, that a sacrifice is about to be made to Shiv\u00f9;\nthe bow has been placed upon it, and that there will be all kinds of\nsports and pastimes; on hearing this Nund and Oopunud will come with\nthe cowherds, and bring goats and buffaloes to offer as presents, and\nKrishn\u00f9 and Buldeo will accompany them to see what goes on. This is\nthe plan I suggest to you for bringing them here. Hereafter, as you\nare possessed of great knowledge, if it should be necessary to make up\nany other story, do so, and act accordingly. What more need I say?\nThere is a saying, If the ambassador is a man of wonderful capacity,\nwho possesses understanding and power himself, and is bold in others\u2019\naffairs, place implicit confidence in him.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these speeches, Akroor thought to himself, \u201cIf I were now\nto speak honestly to him, and give him good advice, he would not\nlisten to it: wherefore, it is better that I should now say what may\nbe flattering and agreeable to him. There is also a saying, applied in\nanother sense, that we should make speeches, which will please.\u201d With\nthese thoughts in his mind, Akroor joined his hands, and bowing his\nhead, said, \u201cO great king! you have given good advice. I give my most\nfull consent and approbation to all you have said. We have no power\nover the future. Man busies himself forming many projects: but those\nalone, which are written in fate, are brought to completion. The event\ndoes not always correspond with our thoughts; and no man has all his\nwishes fulfilled. You have considered this business, predicting the\nfuture: we know not what may happen. In compliance with what you have\nsaid, I will go off to-morrow morning early, and bring Bulram and\nKrishn\u00f9.\u201d On saying this, Akroor having obtained the permission of\nKuns to depart, came to his own house.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXXVIII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! listen attentively, and I\nwill narrate how Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund killed Kesee, and Narud came and\neulogized the act; and afterwards how Huri destroyed Byomasoor. At\ndawn of day, Kesee came to Brindabun in the form of an immense horse\nof terrifying aspect; and began to paw the ground, and dig up the\nearth; having blood-shot eyes, and uplifted nostrils, and ears and\ntail erect; and continued neighing and writhing its shoulders and\nkicking.\n\nOn seeing the animal, the cowherds\u2019 children were frightened, and ran\noff and told Krishn\u00f9, who came to the spot: and on beholding it, made\npreparations for an encounter, and striking the upper parts of his\narms, roared like a lion, exclaiming, \u201cIf you are a great friend of\nKuns, and have come here in the form of a horse, why do you run after\nothers? Come and fight with me, that I may see your strength? How long\nwill you wander about, like a moth circling round a lamp? Your death\nis at hand.\u201d On hearing these words Kesee was enraged, and began to\nsay to himself, \u201cTo-day I will make trial of his power, and laying\nhold of him and chewing him like sugar-cane, will do what Kuns\nwishes.\u201d He then rushed forward with his mouth open, as though he\nwould devour the whole world. On his first approach he attacked\nKrishn\u00f9 with his mouth, who drove him back; when he rushed forward\nthe second time with his mouth open, after having recovered from the\nfirst shock, Shree Krishn\u00f9 thrust his hand into his mouth, and so\nenlarged his hand, which was like an iron club, that it blocked up the\nten passages of the horse\u2019s body. Kesee was alarmed, and began to say\nto himself, \u201cMy body is now bursting, how has this happened? I have\nadmitted my own death into my mouth, and have lost my life, as a fish\nloses its life by swallowing a hook.\u201d\n\nHe then attempted many plans of extricating the hand, not one of which\nsucceeded. At length, he ceased to breathe, and his belly burst, so\nthat he fell backwards. The blood streamed from his body like a river.\nAt this time the cowherds\u2019 children came to see what had happened; and\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund advanced into the jungle, and stood under the\nshade of a kudum tree. In the mean while Narud, the sage, arrived with\na lute in his hand. Having made an obeisance, he stood up, and playing\non the lute, and singing of the past and future sports and exploits of\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, he said, \u201cO lord of compassion! your sports are\nunlimited. Who has power to describe your actions? But through your\nfavour I know so much, that you frequently descend and are manifest\nupon the earth to confer happiness on your worshippers, protect\nvirtuous men, destroy demons and evil spirits and remove the burthens\nof the world.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words Krishn\u00f9 permitted Narud, the sage, to depart;\nand he bowed his head and went away. Krishn\u00f9 took all the cowherds\u2019\nchildren and his companions with him; and sitting under a fig tree, he\nmade one a minister, another a counsellor of state, a third the chief\nof an army, and being himself a Raja, they all began to play a game in\nimitation of royalty, and afterwards at blind man\u2019s buff.\n\nHaving recited so much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O\nlord of the earth! Kuns having heard that Kesee had been killed, early\nin the morning, raving and trembling, said to Byomasoor, \u201cO powerful\nByomasoor! the extirpator of enemies, great is your fame in the world!\nAs the son of Poonuv\u00fa (the ape Hunooman) is Ram\u2019s messenger of death,\nso are you mine. Destroy the sons of Basoodeo, effect this object for\nme to-day.\u201d\n\nByomasoor with joined hands said in reply, \u201cO great king! to-day I\nwill do all in my power. My body is yours. They, who are fond of life,\nshrink from sacrificing it for their masters. The good name and virtue\nof servants and wives consist in giving up their lives for their\nlords.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, and taken up the beera of betel in token of\nundertaking the project, proposed by Kuns, against Krishn\u00f9 and\nBuldeo, Byomasoor made an obeisance to Kuns, and set out for\nBrindabun. On the road he assumed the appearance of a cowherd, and\narrived in that disguise at the place where Huri was playing at blind\nman\u2019s buff with the cowherds\u2019 children and their companions. When, as\nhe was going along, he said to Krishn\u00f9 from a distance with his hands\njoined, \u201cO great king! allow me also to play with you,\u201d Huri invited\nhim to come near, and said, \u201cDo not conceal any wish you may have\nformed, but play with us at any game you prefer?\u201d He was delighted,\nand replied, \u201cThe wolf and rams is a good game.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nsmiled and said, \u201cVery good, you be the wolf, and the cowherds\u2019\nchildren shall be the rams.\u201d\n\nByomasoor was rejoiced at these words, and became a wolf, and the\ncowherds\u2019 children were rams, and they began to play the game\ntogether. The demon took them off one by one, and placed them in the\ncave of a hill, and shut them up there, by placing a stone across the\nentrance. When he had thus placed them all there, and Shree Krishn\u00f9\nalone remained, he called out, \u201cI will to-day accomplish Kuns\u2019\nbusiness for him, and destroy all the family of Judoo.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, and abandoned the appearance of a cowherd, and\nhaving been transformed into a real wolf, he rushed upon Krishn\u00f9, who\nseizing him despatched him by means of suffocation and blows, in the\nway the sacrificial goat is killed.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XXXIX.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--O great king! Kesee and Byomasoor\nwere killed on the eleventh of the dark part of the month of Kartik;\nand early in the morning of the thirteenth, Akroor obtained permission\nfrom Kuns to set out, and when he had ascended his chariot, these\nthoughts passed in his mind on his road to Brindabun: \u201cWhat prayers,\ndevotion, sacrifice, offering, pilgrimage or fast have I performed, by\nvirtue of which I have obtained this great benefit? To my knowledge I\nhave not once during my present birth mentioned the name of Huri, but\nhave constantly remained in the retinue of Kuns; how shall I obtain a\nknowledge of the mysteries of his adoration? (of the manner in which I\nam to offer adoration to him) I must certainly have performed some\nvery virtuous act in a former birth, the excellence and glory of which\nhave procured me this very great advantage, that Kuns has sent me to\nbring Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy. By going and obtaining a\nsight of him, I shall obtain the greatest happiness my present birth\ncan afford; (literally, I shall make my birth fruitful.) I will fall\nat his feet with joined hands; and afterwards put the dust of his feet\non my head. The feet, which have come to destroy crime! and which\nShree Bruhm\u00f9 and the other gods worship. The feet, which fell on\nKalee\u2019s head; and which are filled with the milk of the breast, and\nthe perfume of sandal, which danced beautifully amidst the\nfestivities, and the assemblage of the cowherdesses; and after which\nthe cows roamed. The feet, by the dust of which the wife of Guotum\u00f9\nwas saved, from which the Ganges issued forth, having deceived the\nRaja Buli, they performed an important act for Indr\u00f9. Those feet I\nshall see to-day: the omens are propitious to me, herds of deer are\nrunning on the right.\u201d O great king! with these thoughts in his mind,\nAkroor said again to himself, \u201cI hope they will not any of them look\nupon me as the ambassador of Kuns.\u201d Again it occurred to him, \u201cThat\nhe, whose name is acquainted with the secrets of the heart, requires\nthe true affection of the mind, and can recognize friends and\nenemies--he will never look upon me as Kuns\u2019 ambassador; moreover on\nseeing me, he will embrace me with kindness, and place his soft,\nlotus-like hand on my head, then by gazing fixedly on his moon-like\nbody, on which body Bruhm\u00f9, Roodr\u00f9, Indr\u00f9 and all the gods\nconstantly meditate, I will feast my eyes, in the way the red\npartridge is delighted by gazing at the moon.\u201d\n\nHaving recited so much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the\nRaja Pureechit,--O great king! occupied with these thoughts, and\ndriving his chariot along, Akroor Jee proceeded on his journey, and\nKrishn\u00f9 and Buldeo were coming in an opposite direction, after having\ntaken the cows to pasture; and the two parties met outside Brindabun.\nOn beholding the brilliance of Huri, from a distance, Akroor\ndismounted from his ruth, and running fell at his feet in great\nagitation of mind, and was so overjoyed, that he could not speak, and\nthrough excess of joy began to shed tears.\n\nShree Krishn\u00f9 lifted him up, and embracing him with the greatest\naffection, laid hold of his hand, and brought him to his house. Nund\nRae, on seeing Akroor there, was delighted, and rose up to meet him;\nand having treated him with very great respect, and washed his feet,\nplaced him upon a seat.\n\nThe attendants brought oil, and bathed him, after having rubbed his\nbody with perfumed paste, and anointed it with sweet scents. Jusodha\ngave him a square place to cook upon, and a board to sit upon, and\nprepared all sorts of delicacies for him to eat. When he had rinsed\nhis mouth after eating, and sat down to eat pawn, Nund Jee made\nenquiries regarding his health and welfare, and said, \u201cAmongst the\nmembers of Judoo\u2019s family, you are esteemed very virtuous, and always\nmaintain the dignity of your character. Explain to us, how you fare\nwith the demon Kuns, and what is the condition of people in that\nquarter, speak without any reserve?\u201d\n\nAkroor Jee said, \u201cFrom the time Kuns has come to the city of Muthoora,\nhe has caused affliction to all. You ask after the welfare of the\ncity: the inhabitants suffer great distress. How can any of the family\nof Judoo escape, so long as Kuns remains at Muttra? As the hunter is\nan enemy to beasts, rams and goats, Kuns is an enemy to his subjects;\nevery one suffers.\u201d Akroor added, \u201cYou are well aware of Kuns\u2019\nproceedings; what more need I say about them?\u201d\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XL.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O lord of the earth! When Nund Jee had\nfinished conversing, Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram, having made a sign to Akroor\ntook him aside. Treating him with respect and dignity they enquired\nabout the welfare and affairs of Muttra. \u201cAre Basoodeo and Dewukee\nwell? Has the enmity of the Raja fallen upon them? Our maternal uncle,\nKuns, is a great sinner, who has destroyed all the family of Judoo.\n\n\u201cSome great disease of the family of Judoo must have been born upon\nthe earth in bodily shape, which has distressed them severely. In\ntruth, Basoodeo and Dewukee suffer all their present affliction on our\naccount; if they had not concealed us, they would not have been\nsubjected to so much misery.\u201d Again Krishn\u00f9 said, \u201cWhat did they say\nto you as you were starting? We shall remain indebted to them for\never. They will keep us in remembrance; and must be very wretched in\ntheir present misfortunes.\u201d\n\nAt these words Akroor Jee said, \u201cO lord of beneficence! you know all\nthings; why need I speak of the tyranny of Kuns, who has not\nfriendship or affection for any one? He is constantly thinking of\nputting Basoodeo and Dewukee to death: but they have hitherto escaped\nthrough their good fortune. And since Narud Jee, the sage, came and\nexplained to him all the circumstances of your birth, he has subjected\nBasoodeo and Dewukee to very painful imprisonment with fetters and\nhandcuffs. To-morrow, he will offer sacrifice to Muhadeo, and the bow\nhas been placed upon the sacrifice. All people will come as\nspectators; and he has sent me to invite you, saying, go and bring\nBulram, Krishn\u00f9 and Nund Rae, together with their presents, for the\nsacrifice. I have, therefore, come to bring you.\u201d\n\nWhen Akroor had thus spoken, Bulram and Krishn\u00f9 went to Nund Rae and\nsaid, \u201cOur uncle, Akroor, says, that Kuns has invited us, father. It\nis the sacrifice, in which the bow is introduced; let us take\nbutter-milk, rams and goats, as offerings. Come, accompanied by us\nall: the Raja Kuns says he will not admit any excuse.\u201d\n\nWhen Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund had explained this matter to Nund Jee, Nund\nRae sent for a public crier, and had proclamation made throughout the\nwhole city, that all should go with him together to Muthoora; as the\nRaja had invited them. On hearing the proclamation, all the\ninhabitants of Bruj came early in the morning with presents; and Nund\nJee having taken milk, curd, butter, rams, goats and buffaloes, and\nhaving yoked oxen in carts, went in company with them. And Krishn\u00f9\nand Buldeo were conveyed on a ruth, accompanied by their companions,\nthe cowherds\u2019 children.\n\nNund and Oopnund went in advance, Huldhur and Gobind behind all the\nrest.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said, O lord of the earth! having heard of Shree\nKrishn\u00f9\u2019s sudden departure, all the women of Bruj were in a state of\ngreat alarm and agitation, and came rushing forth from their houses in\na state of confusion. They came to Krishn\u00f9\u2019s ruth, with lamentations\nand trembling--and surrounding the ruth on all sides, said, with\njoined hands, and in a supplicating manner, \u201cWhy are you leaving us, O\nlord of Bruj! We have sacrificed every thing for you. The friendship\nof a virtuous man never diminishes, but always endures, like the lines\nof the hand, and the friendship of a fool is unstable, like a wall of\nsand. What fault towards you have we committed, that you are leaving\nus?\u201d\n\nHaving thus addressed Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the cowherdesses, looking\nat Akroor, said, \u201cThis Akroor is very cruel; he does not sympathize\nwith our pain. He is taking away him, by being separated from whom,\nfor a second, we are widowed. Kroor is deceitful, and hard-hearted:\nwho has wrongly given him the name of Akroor, that is, not cruel? O\nperverse Akroor! void of all understanding, why do you destroy, with\nfire, us poor, weak creatures?\u201d\n\nHaving uttered these harsh words, and laying aside all modesty and\nreflection, they laid hold of Huri\u2019s ruth, and began to say, to each\nother, \u201cThe women of Muthoora are very playful, lively and possessed\nof beauty and many good qualities. Beharee will fall in love with\nthem, and being under the influence of their agreeable and pleasing\ndispositions, will remain with them. Why should he then think of us?\nThe women of Muthoora are very fortunate, in having one so much loved\nto stay with them. What error has there been in our prayers and\npenance, that Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund is separated from us?\u201d After thus\nconversing amongst themselves, they began to address Huri again, \u201cYour\nname is lord of the cowherds, why do you not take us with you? How\nwill the moments pass away without you? You have become the shade of\nour eye-lids, our bosoms will burst; after having felt love for us,\nwhy do you absent yourself? You are relentless and unkind, and have no\naffection.\u201d The women thus offered their supplications, and were\nfilled with anxious thoughts, having fallen into a sea of affliction,\nthey remained gazing at Huri with unmoved gaze, like a doe that has\nbeen charmed, or a red partridge fascinated by the moon. Tears gushed\nfrom their eyes, and their tresses were spread in disorder over their\nfaces.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said, the state of the cowherdesses was such\nas I have described; and the Ranee Jusodha, having embraced her son\nwith affection, said to him in a very endearing manner, \u201cSon! take\nprovisions with you for as many days as you will be absent; do not\nform an affection for any one there, and come back quickly to your\nown.\u201d On hearing these words, Krishn\u00f9 descended from his ruth, and\nhaving entered into an explanation with them all, took leave; making\na salutation, and receiving his mother\u2019s blessing, he ascended the\nruth again, and started on his journey. The cowherdesses and Jusodha\nwere deeply grieved, and shedding tears, continued to call out the\nname of Krishn\u00f9; whilst Krishn\u00f9 stood up in his ruth, and said to\nthem, as he went along, \u201cGo to your homes and be not at all anxious, I\nwill return hither in four or five days.\u201d\n\nWhilst he was thus speaking, and looking at them, when the ruth had\ngone some distance, and there was so much dust, (literally, the dust\nwas spread to the sky,) that the flag of the ruth could not be seen;\nbeing in despair, they fluttered like fish deprived of water, and fell\nfainting to the ground. After some delay they recovered, and rose up\nand consoled themselves with the confident hope of his return. Jusodha\ntook all the cowherdesses back with her to Brindabun; and Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 arrived with his companions at the banks of the Jumna. The\ncowherds\u2019 children drank water there; and Huri placed his ruth under\nthe shade of a fig tree. When Akroor Jee descended from the ruth with\nthe intention of bathing, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund said to Nund Rae, \u201cBe\npleased to take all the cowherds\u2019 children on with you, my uncle\nAkroor will bathe, and we will join you by and bye.\u201d\n\nNund Jee, on hearing these words, went forward. And Akroor Jee\nundressed; and having washed his hands and feet, sipping a little\nwater from the palm of his hand, he went upon the bank and into the\nwater. After this, he dipped his head under water, performed pooja,\npoured out a libation of water to the manes of deceased ancestors,\nengaged in prayers and meditations; and after having dived his head\nunder the water, opened his eyes, and beheld Shree Krishn\u00f9 and his\nruth in the water.\n\nHe then raised his head, and saw the lord of the Judoos in the same\nplace, as he first occupied. He was astonished on reflecting upon this\nstrange appearance, when he saw Krishn\u00f9 far off on the ruth. They\nwere both under the shade of a fig tree: and he saw them both in the\nwater. He said to himself, \u201cI cannot understand the mystery of their\nbeing both out of the water, and in it. Which shall I call the real\nfigures?\u201d\n\nO great king! Akroor Jee, on seeing the same forms in and out of the\nwater, was thinking of the ph\u0153nomenon; when in the mean while, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund Jee appeared first of all in a form with four arms; and\nbearing a shell, quoit, club and lotus; and the gods, sages, celestial\nmusicians and dancers together with all the worshippers of Huri,\nappeared in the water: and afterwards, Krishn\u00f9 appeared as the\nsleeper on the serpent Shesh\u00f9. On beholding this Akroor Jee was still\nmore perplexed.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XLI.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! whilst Akroor was standing\nin the water, and meditating for some time on Krishn\u00f9, he obtained\nknowledge; and joining his hands, and making obeisance, began to say\nto Krishn\u00f9, \u201cYou are the divinity, both creator and destroyer; and\nhaving come into the world for the sake of your worshippers, you\nassume endless forms and shapes; and gods, men and sages are particles\nof you. Being manifested from you, they are contained in you, as water\nis contained in the sea, having issued from the sea! Your greatness is\nincomparable! Who can describe it? You remain constantly in the form\nof the embodied spirit? The heaven is your head, the earth your feet,\nthe sea your belly, the atmosphere, your navel, clouds your hair,\ntrees the hair of your body, fire your mouth, the ten quarters of the\nworld your ears, the sun and moon your eyes; Indr\u00f9 your arm, Bruhm\u00f9\nyour intellect, Roodr\u00f9 your pride, thunder your speech, air your\nlife, water your seed; day and night depend on the opening and\nshutting of your eye-lids. This is the form, in which you constantly\ndwell? Who can recognize you?\u201d Akroor, having thus offered up praises\nto Krishn\u00fa, and meditated upon his feet said, \u201cO lord of compassion!\ntake me under your protection.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XLII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9, with a\ndelusive power, like that of jugglers, had shown himself in many\nshapes to Akroor, and had stolen away his senses, Akroor came out of\nthe water, and standing on the bank, made an obeisance to Huri. Nund\nLal then enquired from Akroor, \u201cUncle! why do you stay so long in the\nwater, when it is so cold? I was very anxious about you, supposing\nthat you had forgotten to proceed on your journey! Have you seen any\nthing strange? Explain to me, that the doubts of my mind may be\nremoved?\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, Akroor said, joining his hands, \u201cLord of Bruj!\nyou know every thing? You have shewn yourself admirably to me in the\nwater. Nothing is too wonderful for Krishn\u00f9 to perform. I have\nconfidence in thee, let us proceed, lord! on the road to Muthoora? Let\nus not delay here, but go on quickly, and perform what we have to do.\u201d\nAt these words Huri went into the ruth, accompanied by Akroor, and\nstood up. Nund and all the cowherds had proceeded on their journey,\nand on arrival had pitched their tents outside the city of Muttra; and\nin anxious expectation of the arrival of Bulram and Krishn\u00f9, said to\none another, \u201cWhat has been the reason of the delay they have made in\nbathing, and why has Huri not yet arrived?\u201d when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund,\nthe root of joy, arrived and met them.\n\nThen Akroor Jee, with joined hands, and bowing his head, said in a\nsupplicating manner, \u201cO lord of Bruj! come and make my house pure, and\ngratify your worshippers with a sight of you?\u201d Huri said in reply to\nAkroor, \u201cFirst acquit yourself of your debt to Kuns, then show me your\nhouse. Present our humble compliments.\u201d Akroor bowed his head at these\nwords, and departed.\n\nHaving descended from his ruth, he arrived after some time at the\nplace where Kuns was holding a court. On seeing him, Kuns descended\nfrom his throne, and gave him a most friendly reception; and taking\nhold of his hand with great respect, seated him on a throne near\nhimself, and asked him to communicate all the news, and the\noccurrences of his late visit.\n\nAkroor replied, \u201cThe greatness of Bruj cannot be explained. How shall\nI speak in fitting terms of the greatness of Nund. I have accomplished\nwhat you instructed me to do. Bulram and Krishn\u00f9 have both come here;\nand all the inhabitants of Bruj have brought presents. They are\nencamped on the banks of the river; great numbers of them have come\nwith numerous carts.\u201d\n\nKuns was delighted at these words, and said, \u201cAkroor Jee! you have\nexecuted a most important business for me to-day, in having brought\nBulram and Krishn\u00f9; go now to your home, and repose.\u201d\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja\nPureechit,--O great king! on receiving permission from Kuns, Akroor\nJee went home; and was occupied with many thoughts and reflections.\nAnd Huldhur and Gobind, having gone to where Nund and Oopnund were\nsitting, and asked their permission to look at the city, Nund Rae Jee\nproduced some sweetmeats, which the two brothers ate; and afterwards\nhe gave them permission to go, and not to delay long.\n\nWhen Nund, the chief, had thus spoken, the two brothers being greatly\nrejoiced, took their companions, the cowherds\u2019 children, with them,\nand went forth to see the city. As they proceeded, they saw woods and\norchards on all sides of the city, in full blossom and fruit: and\nbirds were pouring forth in them all kinds of agreeable melodies.\nThere were large tanks, filled with pure water. In them, lotuses were\nin full flower, on which swarms of bees were humming. And on the bank,\ngeese and herons, and other birds were sporting. A cool, fragrant\nbreeze was blowing. And on the margins of the enclosed grounds,\ngardens of betel were planted. In the midst, for many koss, beds of\nflowers were blooming. At different places, wheels and leather buckets\nwere in full play at the wells; and the gardeners, singing sweet\nsongs, were sprinkling water.\n\nBeing pleased at beholding this beautiful appearance of the woods and\ngroves, Krishn\u00f9 entered the city of Muthoora with his companions.\nThere were castles of copper on all sides of the city, and there was a\ndeep, broad ditch, with water springing at the bottom. There were four\ncrystal gates, whose doors were composed of eight metals, and inlaid\nwith gold. And in the city, there were five-storied and seven-storied\nhouses of all colours, red, yellow, green and white, which vied with\nthe clouds in height. The brilliancy of the ornaments on their domes\nshone like lightning: flags and banners were waving: the sweet scent\nof the perfume, burnt at the time of worshipping, came forth from the\ntrellis-work, lattices and air-holes. At the doors there were pillars\nformed of plantain trees; and golden waterpots filled with sprouts.\nThere were garlands and nosegays, and strings of flowers suspended in\nevery direction. There was music in every house. And on one side, the\njewelled and golden palace of the Raja stood apart in its splendour,\nof which the beauty admits not of description. Such was the beautiful\nand elegant city of Muthoora, which Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo,\naccompanied by the cowherds\u2019 children, went to see.\n\nThere was great bustle in Muthoora on the arrival of Nund\u2019s son; all\nthe people, on hearing it, rushed forth from their houses, leaving\ntheir domestic business. And the women of Muthoora, on hearing the\nnews, were very much agitated. They exclaimed to each other,\n\u201cBulbhudr\u00f9 and Moorari are come, let us go friend! and see those whom\nAkroor went to bring.\u201d Some ran off in the middle of their dinner:\nothers, while bathing; and others, while engaged in plaiting their\nhair. They forgot all amorous sport and dalliance with their husbands;\nand put on their dresses and ornaments in a most confused, irregular\nmanner. They got up, and went off in the state they were then in, and\ncame to look upon Krishn\u00f9. Laying aside shame, modesty and fear, some\nstood at the windows, some in the balconies, some at the doors, and\nsome wandered about the lanes. Wherever the women stood, they pointed\nto Krishn\u00f9, stretching out their hands. The fair Bulram was dressed\nin blue, and Krishn\u00f9 in a yellow silk vest. \u201cThese are the two\nnephews of Kuns, from whom no evil spirit escapes. Let us behold with\nour own eyes the forms of those, of whom our ancestors have only\nheard. One of us in a former birth must have performed a most\nmeritorious act, as a reward for which Bruhm\u00f9 has granted us an\nopportunity of seeing them.\u201d\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, continued,--O great king! in this manner,\nthe inhabitants of the city, both men and women, conversed with each\nother, making all kinds of remarks, and were rejoiced at beholding\nKrishn\u00f9 and Bulram. In whatever market, road or cross-road, they and\ntheir companions made their appearance, the inhabitants stood upon\ntheir houses, and through joy sprinkled them with, and poured down\nupon them, perfumes and sandal, and flowers. And whilst admiring the\nbeauty of the city, they said to the cowherds\u2019 children, \u201cBrothers! do\nnot any of you mistake the road; and if any should mistake it, let him\ngo to our last encampment.\u201d When they had gone some distance, they saw\nthe dhobees of Kuns with loads of washed clothes and bundles. They\nwere drunk and besmeared with coloured earths, and singing the praises\nof Kuns, as they were coming out of the city. On seeing them, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund said to Buldeo Jee, \u201cTake away all their clothes, and\nwear some yourself, and give some to the cowherds\u2019 children to wear,\nand allow them to steal whatever is surplus.\u201d When he had spoken thus\nto his brother, they all went up in a body to the dhobees, and Huri\nsaid to them, \u201cGive us the fine white clothes, and receive them back\nagain, when we have paid our visit to the Raja. We will give you some\ndresses from amongst those, which the Raja presents us with.\u201d\n\nAt these words, the head dhobee amongst them, laughed, and said, \u201cWe\nwill arrange and place the clothes at the Raja\u2019s gate; come there, and\ntake them, and give us what you please. You wander about the jungle,\ntending cows; you are of the cowherd caste, and wear blankets. You\nhave come here disguised as jugglers: do you flatter yourselves, that\nyou are to wear the Raja\u2019s garments? By going all together to the\nRaja, with the hope of obtaining his dresses, you run an almost sure\nrisk of losing your lives.\u201d\n\nAt this speech of the dhobee\u2019s, Huri smiled, and again said, \u201cWe ask\nyou for the clothes in a proper manner; why do you misunderstand us?\nIt will be no loss to you, giving us the clothes: but you will gain a\ngood name by doing so.\u201d\n\nThe dhobee was enraged at these words, and said, \u201cJust look at the\nfellow, who wants to wear the Raja\u2019s clothes: be off with you, or I\nwill put you to death instantly.\u201d Krishn\u00f9 was angry at these words,\nand gave him a blow with the side of his hand, so that his head flew\noff like a stalk of Indian corn. Then all his companions and\nassistants, fearing to meet the same fate, left their bundles and\nloads behind them, and ran off to Kuns, and bawled out, \u201cShree\nKrishn\u00f9 Jee has taken all our clothes: some he wears himself, and has\ngiven some to his brother to wear, and distributed some to the\ncowherds\u2019 children, and allowed them to steal the remainder.\u201d In the\nmeantime, the cowherds\u2019 children were much pleased, and began to put\nthe clothes on wrong. Having tightened their waists, they put the\nupper garments on their feet, and their arms in drawers. They did not\nunderstand the proper way of putting on the different articles.\nKrishn\u00f9 laughed on seeing what took place.\n\nWhen they proceeded thence, a tailor came, and making a salutation\nsaid, standing before them with joined hands, addressing Krishn\u00f9, \u201cO\ngreat king! I am called the servant of Kuns, but in my mind I am\nconstantly celebrating your many virtues; if you will be so kind as to\ngive me the order, I will put on the clothes for them, and from doing\nso, shall be called your servant.\u201d\n\nWhen he had thus spoken, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, acquainted with the\nsecrets of the heart, knowing him to be one of his worshippers, called\nhim near, and said, \u201cYou have come at a lucky moment; (or it is lucky\nyou have come,) fit the clothes well on them.\u201d\n\nUpon this he began at once to unseam and unravel, and cut and patch;\nand sewed the clothes up again so as to fit exactly; then having\nselected dresses for Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram and all the rest, he assisted\nin dressing them. After this, Nund Lal, having granted him absolution\nfrom sin, took him with him and went on.\n\nSoodama, gardener, came there and brought them to his house. He placed\ngarlands upon all of them; there were songs of congratulation and\nrejoicing in the gardener\u2019s house.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XLIII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O lord of the earth! having seen the\ngardener\u2019s great attachment, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund was rejoiced, and\ngranted him a blessing for his faith; and as he proceeded onwards, he\nsaw standing before him in a lane a hump-backed woman, who had cups\nand broad plates, filled with saffron and sandal in her hand. Huri\nenquired, \u201cWho art thou, and where art thou taking these things?\u201d She\nreplied, \u201cO kind to the poor! I am the servant of Kuns; my name is\n\u2018Hump-back,\u2019 and I constantly rub and anoint Kuns\u2019 body with sandal;\nand in my own mind, sing of your many excellent qualities. Through the\nglorious favour of which I have obtained a sight of you to-day; and\ngained the greatest happiness in my present birth, and have seen the\nobject my eyes most wished to see. The wish of this slave now is, with\nyour permission, to rub you with sandal.\u201d\n\nSeeing her great faith, Huri said, \u201cRub me with it, if it will give\nyou any pleasure.\u201d On hearing these words the hump-backed woman, with\nvery great affection and endearment, anointed Krishn\u00f9; who,\nperceiving her sincere attachment, took compassion on her, and placing\nhis foot on hers, and putting his two fingers under her chin, caused\nher to jump up, and made her straight. On being touched by Huri\u2019s\nhand, she became very beautiful, and said in a most supplicating\nmanner to Krishn\u00f9, \u201cO lord of favour! as through your beneficence you\nhave made this slave\u2019s body straight, be pleased to extend your\ncompassion by coming to my house, and purifying it; and having taken\nrepose confer happiness on your servant.\u201d Huri taking hold of her\nhand, and smiling, replied, \u201cThou hast removed all my fatigue by\nrubbing me with cool sandal: thy beauty is great; and the good\nqualities of thy mind, and thy virtues are excellent. My friendship\nfor thee shall be without end. After having destroyed Kuns, I will\ncome to see thee.\u201d Saying these words, Krishn\u00f9 went on; and the\nhump-backed woman, who had been made straight, went home; and having\nfilled a square place with coloured meal, perfumes and sweetmeats, and\nentertaining a firm hope of again meeting Krishn\u00f9, began to indulge\nin rejoicings.\n\nThe women of Muthoora came there, and on seeing her, were astonished,\nand said--\u201cGreat, very great is your good fortune, O hump-back! to\nwhom Bruhm\u00f9 has shown affection! What difficult act of penance have\nyou performed, that the lord of cowherdesses has visited you and taken\nyou in his arms? We, who are without bodily defects, have not seen\nHuri, he has had an interview with you, and shown you the greatest\naffection.\u201d The women continued talking thus, whilst Krishn\u00f9 went\nabout, looking at Muthoora.\n\nWhilst they were engaged in seeing the city, Krishn\u00f9 arrived with his\ncompanions at the gate, where the bow was. On seeing them approach,\nbesmeared with colours of different kinds, and in a state of\nintoxication, the sentinels called out angrily, \u201cWhere are you coming,\nyou stupid villagers? go away some distance off, this is the royal\ngate.\u201d Huri, pretending not to hear what the sentinels said, went\nstraight to the spot where the bow of Muhadeo, which was very large\nand weighty, and as long as three palm trees, was placed. On arrival\nthere, he immediately took it up, and, bending it with ease to its\nfull extent, broke it in pieces, in the same way that an elephant\nbreaks sugar-cane in pieces.\n\nAll the sentinels of Kuns, who were guarding the bow, rushed forward\nand attacked him, but Krishn\u00f9 overthrew and killed them also. On\nbeholding these exploits, the inhabitants of the city began to\nreflect, and say fearlessly to each other, \u201cBehold! the Raja, sitting\nin his own house, has himself invited his own death; he will not\nescape alive from the hands of these two brothers.\u201d And having heard\nthe crash, caused by the breaking of the bow, Kuns enquired, with\ngreat terror from his people, \u201cWhat had occasioned so great a noise?\u201d\nIn the mean while, many of his attendants, who were looking on at a\ndistance, came with their heads uncovered, and called out, \u201cBy the\noath of the great Raja! Bulram and Krishn\u00f9, by coming into the city,\nhave caused great disturbance: they have broken in pieces the bow of\nShiv\u00f9, and killed all the guards.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, Kuns assembled a great many powerful men, and\nsaid to them, \u201cAccompany these men, and having by artifice or force,\ndestroyed Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo, bring their bodies here immediately.\u201d\nWhen Kuns had thus spoken, they took their arms and weapons, and went\nforth to meet the two brothers. They had no sooner called out to them,\nthan the brothers killed them all. When Huri saw, that not a single\nattendant of Kuns was left, he said to Bulram Jee, \u201cBrother! it is\nsome time since we came here; we ought to return to our encampment,\nbecause our father Nund will be expecting us, and will be anxious on\nour account.\u201d\n\nHaving thus said, Krishn\u00f9 returned with Bulram and the cowherds to\nthe encampment. On arriving, he said to the chief Nund, \u201cFather! we\nhave been to the city, and seen fine games, and have shown our\nhonorary dresses to the cowherds.\u201d\n\nThen Nund, looking at him, said, \u201cYour old practices will not leave\nyou. This is the habitation of the Raja Kuns, and not our own village\nin the forest of Bruj. Keep my instructions, son, in mind, and do not\ncommit any violence here.\u201d\n\nWhen Nund Rae had thus instructed him, Nund Lal replied, with great\ncoaxing and endearment of manner, \u201cFather! we are hungry; please give\nus whatever our mother may have sent for us to eat.\u201d Nund, at these\nwords, produced the different articles of food they had brought with\nthem; and Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo, and the cowherds partook of them.\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo, the sage,\nsaid,--O great king! Krishn\u00fa and all his party on their return ate\ntheir supper in the highest glee, and went to sleep; whilst Kuns,\nhaving heard what Krishn\u00f9 had done, suffered the greatest anxiety of\nmind; and could not obtain any ease or relaxation of his griefs,\nwhether reclining or standing erect. His mind mourned, and did not\ncommunicate its griefs to any one. It is said, as the weevil eats into\nwood, and no one knows the pain the wood suffers: thus, when there is\nanxiety in the mind, the understanding, strength and body are\ndiminished. At length, being in a state of great fear, he went into\nhis house, and reclined upon a bed; but he was so alarmed, that he\ncould not sleep.\n\nHe remained awake during three watches of the night, when he shut his\neye-lids, and had a moment\u2019s sleep. Then in a dream he saw, in\nimagination, the shadow of a body, wandering about without a head. He\nsometimes bathed naked upon the sand; and then, having eaten poison,\nrushed about, mounted on an ass. He took up his abode in a burial\nground with ghosts, wearing garlands of blood-red flowers. Then he saw\ntrees all round him, on which young children were sitting.\n\nO great king! when Kuns had this dream, he was in a state of such\nexcessive agitation, that he awoke; and being occupied with anxious\nthoughts, rose up, and came forth; and having summoned all his\nministers, said, \u201cGo immediately, and have the place of amusement\nsprinkled over with water, and thoroughly arranged and prepared, and\ninvite Nund and Oopnund, and all the inhabitants of Bruj, and Basoodeo\nand all the members of the family of Judoo; and invite also all the\nRajas, who may have come here. Whilst this is being done, I will come\nalso.\u201d\n\nHaving received Kuns\u2019 orders, the counsellors came to the place of\namusement, and having had it thoroughly swept, and sprinkled with\nwater, they spread silken cloths; and having suspended garlands, and\nstrings of flowers, and flags, and banners, and having caused musical\ninstruments of all kinds to be played, they issued invitations to all.\n\nThey, who were invited, came and took their seats on their chairs of\nstate. In the meantime, the Raja Kuns came, filled with very great\npride, and took his seat on a platform erected for him. The gods, at\nthat time, seated in their chariots, began to look down from the sky.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XLIV.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! when Nund, Oopnund and all\nthe older cowherds had joined the assembly at the place of amusement,\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund said to Buldeo, \u201cBrother! all the cowherds have\nalready gone, do not delay now, but let us take our companions, the\ncowherds\u2019 children, with us, and go quickly to visit the place of\namusement.\u201d On hearing these words, Bulram Jee arose, and said to the\ncowherds\u2019 children, his friends, \u201cBrothers! let us go and see the\npreparations at the place of amusement.\u201d At these words they all\naccompanied him. Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram afterwards assumed the\nappearance of jugglers, and proceeding with their companions, the\ncowherds\u2019 children, came to the gate of the place of amusement, and\nstood near where the \u201c_must_\u201d elephant Koobliya, possessing the\nstrength of ten thousand elephants, was moving to and fro. Beholding\nthe elephant in a state of the greatest excitement at the gate, Bulram\ncalled out to the keeper, \u201cMahout! listen to what I say, and drive\naway the elephant from the gate. Let us have access to the Raja; lest\nthe elephant should be destroyed. I tell you beforehand it will not be\nour fault, do not consider Huri a child. He is lord of the three\nworlds, and has descended upon the earth to destroy the wicked and\nremove the burdens of the world.\u201d To this speech, the driver replied\nangrily, \u201cI am aware that while tending herds, he has become lord of\nthe three worlds, and for this reason has made his appearance here as\na very great hero. Do not look upon his breaking the bow as any thing:\nmy elephant possesses the strength of ten thousand. You shall not\nobtain entrance, until you fight with it. You have destroyed many\npowerful creatures; but if you escape to-day from this elephant, I\nwill acknowledge that you are very strong.\u201d Huldhur was enraged, and\nsaid, \u201cHear me! you foolish, low creature, be cautious what you say,\nor I will presently dash you in pieces, and the elephant also; to\nhesitate is not advisable, as the elephant will be put to death\nimmediately. Believe what I am saying, and calling out to you.\u201d At\nthese words the driver was in a great passion, and drove the elephant\ntowards them. As the elephant charged Buldeo Jee, he struck it such a\nblow with his hand, that it folded up its trunk, and reeled back,\nscreaming. When the strong men of Kuns, who were standing near, beheld\nthis wonderful act, they began to despair, and say to themselves, \u201cWho\ncan possibly win against two such powerful antagonists?\u201d And the\nelephant driver, perceiving that the elephant had been forced back,\nwas very much alarmed, and began to reflect, \u201cThat unless these two\nchildren were killed, Kuns would not allow him to escape with life.\u201d\nWith these thoughts in his mind, he goaded on the elephant again, with\nhis iron goad, and made it enraged, and impelled it against the two\nbrothers. When he laid hold of Huri with his trunk, and, in his rage,\nendeavoured to crush him between his teeth, Krishn\u00f9 assumed a very\nsubtile body, and escaped between his teeth.\n\nAt this time all rose up through fear, gods, sages, men and women.\nKrishn\u00f9 escaped between the elephant\u2019s two tusks, and the treasury of\nstrength clapped his hands. He rose up with the elephant, and then in\nsport drove him forward. All became conscious of being restored to\ntheir lord, on beholding the exploits of Krishn\u00f9. On hearing the\nsound of Krishn\u00f9 impelling Koobliya, many more elephants rushed to\nthe spot, enraged, and with trunks uplifted. Moorari remained crouched\nunder Koobliya\u2019s belly, who thinking he had gone, continued looking\nafter him. Huri then appearing behind the animal called out, and\nBuldeo circumvented it in front. They both began to make the elephant\nsport and gambol; and all were frightened at seeing this. O great\nking! sometimes Bulram laid hold of its trunk, and Krishn\u00f9 of its\ntail; and when the elephant ran to lay hold of them, they slipped\naway.\n\nThey remained sporting with it for some time in the same way that they\nused to play with calves in their infancy. At length Huri seizing it\nby the tail, and whirling it round, dashed it on the ground, and\nkilled it with blows. He pulled out the elephant\u2019s tusks, and blood\nstreamed like a river from its mouth.\n\nOn the death of the elephant, the driver came bawling out to Krishn\u00f9,\nwho instantly destroyed him, and threw him under the feet of the\nelephant. And the two brothers laughing and disguised as jugglers,\neach with an elephant\u2019s tusk in his hand, went and stood in the centre\nof the place, which had been prepared for amusement (the theatre.)\nWhoever beheld Nund Lal at this time, he appeared to him in the same\nform as the beholder; wrestlers thought him a wrestler; Rajas a Raja;\nthe gods as their lord; the cowherds\u2019 children, as a companion; Nund\nand Oopnund as their child; the women of the city regarded him as the\nabode of beauty; Kuns and all evil spirits looked upon him in the\nlight of death.\n\nO great king! whilst looking at Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo, Kuns being very\nmuch afraid called out to the wrestlers, \u201cTo knock them down and\ndestroy them; or drive them away from his presence.\u201d When Kuns had\nthus spoken, the wrestlers, accompanied by their instructors, their\nsons and pupils, and adopting various different appearances, striking\ntheir arms in preparation for battle, collected together on all sides\nto attack Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram, who remained firm, as they advanced.\nChanoor, one of the wrestlers, looking towards them, said with sly\nimpertinence of manner, \u201cOur Raja is a little out of spirits to-day,\nand wishes to see you fight by way of amusing his mind; because during\nyour abode in the jungle, you have learnt all the science of fighting.\nBe not at all anxious in your minds, but come and wrestle with us, and\ngive pleasure to our Raja.\u201d\n\nShree Krishn\u00f9 replied, \u201cThe Raja Jee has acted with great kindness in\nhaving invited us to-day; what shall we be able to do for him? You are\nvery powerful, and possessed of skill; and we are ignorant children;\nhow shall we be able to encounter you? It is said, that we ought to\nmarry, and have friendship and enmity with equals; but we have no\npower over the Raja Jee; and therefore consent to what you propose;\nsave us and do not exert your strength to dash us to pieces. It is\nproper that both parties should act with due regard to justice, and\nunite in endeavouring to please the Raja.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, Chanoor was alarmed and said, \u201cIt is\nimpossible to understand your nature and condition. You are not two\nchildren, but powerful men in disguise. Whilst playing with the bow\nyou broke it into two pieces; the elephant Koobliya was immediately\nkilled and obtained deliverance. You never sustain defeat in fighting,\nevery one knows these circumstances.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XLV.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--O lord of the earth! having made\nvarious speeches of this kind, and striking his arms in preparation\nfor the contest, Chanoor opposed himself to Krishn\u00f9, and Moostuk\nencountered Bulram Jee, and both parties began to wrestle. They joined\nhead to head, arm to arm, eye to eye, and leapt about laying hold of\neach other\u2019s feet, and entwining themselves round each other\u2019s bodies,\nhugged and shook each other.\n\nThe spectators said to each other, \u201cBrothers! great cruelty is being\nperpetrated at this meeting; what comparison is there between these\nbeautiful children, and those strong wrestlers, (or what chance have\nthese beautiful children with those strong wrestlers?) If we prohibit\nthe wrestling, Kuns will be angry; and if we do not, our character for\njustice will be forfeited. It is not proper for us to stay here as\nspectators, since we have no power to act.\u201d\n\nO great king! whilst the spectators were carrying on this\nconversation, Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram were contending with the wrestlers.\nAt length the two brothers threw their adversaries and killed them. On\ntheir death all the other wrestlers rushed upon them; but Krishn\u00f9\ndestroyed them also in a second. At this time the worshippers of Huri\nwere rejoiced, and playing upon musical instruments, raised shouts of\nvictory; and the gods, seated in their chariots in the firmament,\ncelebrated the praises of Krishn\u00f9, and rained flowers. Kuns being\ngreatly afflicted, restless and enraged, said to his attendants, \u201cWhy\nare you playing on musical instruments? What! is the victory of\nKrishn\u00f9 agreeable to you?\u201d\n\nHe afterwards added \u201cThese two children are very wanton, seize and\nremove them from this assembly, and also lay hold of Dewukee and\nOogursen, and the treacherous Basoodeo, and bring them here. I will\nfirst destroy them, and afterwards these two children?\u201d When Kuns had\nthus spoken, Krishn\u00f9, the friend of his worshippers, in an instant\nput all the evil spirits to death, and leapt upon a lofty platform, on\nwhich Kuns was sitting in great pride and pomp, wearing a coat of\nmail, and with a helmet, shield and sword. On seeing Krishn\u00f9\napproach, Kuns regarding him as death, stood erect, and was greatly\nterrified, and began to tremble violently.\n\nHis secret wish was to fly, but through shame he could not; seizing\nhis sword and shield, he commenced an attack upon Krishn\u00f9, who\ncontrived to escape from all his attempts to wound him. And the gods,\nmen, sages and celestial musicians, who beheld this great encounter,\nwere alarmed, and exclaimed, \u201cO lord! O lord! destroy this wicked\nsinner quickly.\u201d The fighting continued for some time on the platform.\nAt length, Krishn\u00f9, perceiving that all the spectators were\nafflicted, seized Kuns by the hair, and dashed him down from the\nplatform, and leapt down himself.\n\nLife departed from the body of Kuns, when all the assembled people\nexclaimed, \u201cShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund has destroyed Kuns.\u201d All the gods,\nmen and sages were delighted at hearing this exclamation.\n\nThe gods being overjoyed then began to glorify Krishn\u00f9, and to shower\nupon the earth heaps of flowers. In their delight they played upon the\nlarge kettle-drum, raising shouts of victory, and eulogizing Nund. The\nmen and women of the city of Muttra were in the highest degree\npleased. And as the beautiful lotus of the forest expands into full\nbloom on beholding the light of the moon, in like manner the\ninhabitants of Muttra experienced the greatest joy on again beholding\nHuri.\n\nHaving narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O incarnation of justice! on the death of Kuns,\nhis eight brothers, who were possessed of great strength, came to\nfight with Krishn\u00f9, who destroyed them all. When Huri saw that not a\nsingle evil spirit was left, he dragged away the body of Kuns, and\nbrought it to the banks of the Jumna, where the two brothers sat down\nand rested; and from that day, the name of that place was \u201cThe ghaut\nof rest.\u201d\n\nOn hearing of Kuns\u2019 death, his wives and brothers\u2019 wives came in a\nstate of great agitation, and with lamentation and tears, to the banks\nof the Jumna, where the brothers were sitting and had brought the\ncorpse. They began to look upon the face of their lord, and to call to\nmind the happiness he had conferred upon them, and to celebrate his\nmany good qualities; and through excessive grief and affliction they\nreeled about, and suffered all the agonies of death. In the mean while\nKrishn\u00f9, the receptacle of compassion, taking pity on them,\napproached and said, \u201cBe not grieved, mothers! but perform the last\nfuneral offices of my uncle, Kuns. No one lives for ever; he speaks\nfalsely, who calls any relation his own. Mothers, fathers, sons,\nbrothers and other relations belong exclusively to none: the\nrevolutions of birth and death constantly succeed each other. So long\nas a relation remains with us, we should derive pleasure from\nassociating with him.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund had given this explanation to\nthe wives of Kuns, they rose up; and being restored to tranquillity of\nmind, came to the banks of the Jumna, and performed the last obsequies\nto the corpse of their husband, and Krishn\u00f9 himself assisted in the\nfuneral rites by lighting the pile.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XLVI.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--Raja! the wives of Kuns and his\nbrothers\u2019 wives, having completed the necessary ablutions, returned in\ntears to the royal palace: and Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram, having come\nto Basoodeo and Dewukee, and knocked off their handcuffs and fetters,\nmaking obeisance, stood before them with joined hands. Whilst\nbeholding the countenance of Krishn\u00f9, Basoodeo and Dewukee became\npossessed of knowledge, and had a firm belief in their minds, \u201cThat\nboth brothers were deities; and that they had descended upon the earth\nto destroy evil spirits, and remove the burthens of the world.\u201d Whilst\nthese thoughts were passing in the minds of Basoodeo and Dewukee,\nHuri, acquainted with the secrets of the heart, sent forth his\ndelusive power, which deprived them both of understanding; and they\nlooked upon them both again as their children. In the mean while,\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund said, with very great humility, \u201cYou have for a\nlong time past suffered great afflictions, and have retained a\nconstant recollection of us both. It has not been any fault of ours,\nbecause since you placed us under charge of Nund, at Gokool, we have\nbeen under the authority of others, and have had no power of our own.\nBut this thought was constantly in our minds, that we had not\ncontributed in any way to the happiness of her, who had borne us in\nher womb; and had not enjoyed the delightful society of our parents,\nand had wasted our lives to no purpose in the house of strangers. They\nhave suffered great misfortunes on our account, and we have not done\nthem any service. In the world they are possessed of power, who serve\ntheir fathers and mothers. We have remained indebted to them, and have\nnot been able to do any kind offices for them.\u201d\n\nO lord of the earth! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee had thus given expression\nto his mental grief, Basoodeo and Dewukee embraced the two brothers\nwith the greatest affection, and forgot all their former affliction in\ntheir present joy. Having thus made their parents happy, the two\nbrothers went thence to Oogursen, and joining their hands said,\n\u201cGrandfather! be pleased to assume the regal power: this is a\nfavourable constellation and a propitious day for doing so.\u201d\n\nWhen the Raja Oogursen had heard these words of Huri, he rose up, and\nhaving come and thrown himself at the feet of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund,\nbegan to say, \u201cO lord of compassion! be pleased to listen to my humble\npetition; that, as you have destroyed the great sinner, Kuns, and all\nevil spirits, and thereby conferred happiness on your worshippers, you\nshould yourself ascend the throne and rule over Muttra, and grant\nprotection to your subjects.\u201d\n\nKrishn\u00f9 replied,--\u201cO great king! the members of the family of Judoo\nhave not any right of inheritance to the kingly power, a circumstance\nwhich is universally known. When the Raja Jujat was in his old age, he\ncalled his son Judoo, and said to him, \u2018Give me your youth, and take\nmy old age.\u2019 On hearing this, Judoo thought to himself, \u2018If I give my\nfather my present youth, he, being young again, will have sexual\nconnexion, the sin of which will fall on me: wherefore, it is better I\nshould not do so.\u2019 Having thus reflected and considered, he said to\nhis father, \u2018I cannot comply with your request.\u2019 On hearing these\nwords, the Raja Jujat was angry and pronounced a curse upon Judoo,\nsaying, \u2018Begone! none of your descendants shall ever have regal\npower.\u2019 In the mean while, his younger son, named Poor, presented\nhimself, and joining his hands said, \u2018Father! give me your old age,\nand accept my youth; this body is useless to me: if any advantage can\naccrue to you from it, what can be better?\u2019 When Poor had thus spoken,\nthe Raja Jujat was highly pleased, and exchanged with him his old age\nfor Poor\u2019s youth, and said, \u2018The succession to the throne shall\ncontinue in your family.\u2019 For this reason, grandfather! as I am a\ndescendant of Judoo, it is not right for me to exercise sovereign\npower. Do you ascend the throne, and assume royal authority and banish\nall solicitude. We will accomplish whatever you may order us to\nperform. We will inflict severe punishment on all, who do not obey\nyour commands. And be not troubled with care and anxiety, but carry on\na just and equitable government, and promote the welfare of your\nsubjects. Cause search to be made for all members of the family of\nJudoo, who, from dread of Kuns, have abandoned their own cities to\ndwell under the authority of strangers, and grant them a happy\nsettlement in Muttra. Worship brahmins, cows and the gods, and\nconstantly give your attention to their protection and support.\u201d\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said, O\nincarnation of justice! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the king of kings and\nthe benefactor of his worshippers, knowing Oogursen to be one who\noffered devotion to him, having thus advised and seated him on the\nthrone, made the marks of sovereignty on his forehead; and having\nraised the royal canopy over his head, both the brothers began to fan\nhim.\n\nAll the inhabitants of the city were highly delighted, and began to\nshout forth exclamations of joyful praise, and the gods to rain\nflowers. O great king! having thus seated Oogursen upon the throne,\nthe brothers brought away with them many rich dresses and jewels, and\nwent thence to Nund Rae Jee, in whose presence they stood with joined\nhands, and said with the greatest humility, \u201cHow shall we speak in\nfitting terms of your greatness? If we had a thousand tongues, we\ncould not explain your many excellent qualities. You have brought us\nup with the greatest affection as your own sons, and shown us the most\ntender kindness; and our mother, Jusodha, loves us greatly, fixes her\nkindest regards upon us, and always treats us as her own children; she\nnever allows her mind to be estranged from us.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 added,\n\u201cFather! you must not be offended at my words, I will speak to you\nwith sincerity, and will call you both my parents; but shall now\nremain for some days at Muttra, and having visited my brethren of the\nsame caste, hear the history of the family of Judoo, and will gladden\nmy mother and father with a meeting, for they have suffered great\ngriefs on our account, if they had not had us conveyed to your house,\nthey would not have endured any troubles.\u201d With these words Krishn\u00f9\nplaced the dresses and jewels before Nund, and, abandoning all\naffection, said, \u201cOffer my respects to my mother by kissing her feet,\nand continue to love me with affection.\u201d\n\nOn these words coming from Shree Krishn\u00f9\u2019s mouth, Nund Rae was very\nsad, and began to heave deep sighs; and the cowherds\u2019 children said to\nthemselves, reflecting on what Krishn\u00f9 had said, \u201cThis is a very\nstrange speech he has made, we are inclined to infer from it, that he\nis about to deceive us, and go away, otherwise he would not have\nspoken so unkindly.\u201d\n\nO great king! after a short time, one of their companions, named\nSoodam\u00f9, said, \u201cBrother Krishn\u00f9! what business have you now at\nMuttra, that you thus unfeelingly abandon your father? You have done\nwell in destroying Kuns, and completing the work you came to\naccomplish. Unite now with Nund, and come and rule over Brindabun; be\nnot eagerly desirous to reign here, you will not be so happy as at\nBrindabun. Fools, on obtaining sovereign power, forget themselves, and\nare delighted at beholding elephants and horses. Do not quit Brindabun\nto dwell elsewhere. Spring is perpetual there; the beauty of the thick\nwoods and of the Jumna is never effaced from the mind. Brother! if you\nare determined on taking up your abode at Muttra, resigning the\npleasures of Brindabun, not attending to my suggestion, and abandoning\nall affection for your parents, what accession to your greatness will\nyou acquire by doing so. You will attend upon Oogursen, and suffer\nanxiety night and day. You must be subservient to him, on whom you\nhave conferred the government. How will you submit to this disgrace?\nIt is, therefore, most advisable that you should not cause grief to\nNund Rae, but continue to remain with him. Think of the forests, the\nrivers and sports of Bruj. Forget not the herds! We will not let you\ngo alone, O lord of Bruj! but will all accompany you.\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in his recitation, Shree Shookdeo, the sage,\nsaid to the Raja Pureechit,--O great king! when they had made many\nspeeches to the above effect, ten or twenty of their companions\nremained with Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram; and they suggested to Nund\nRae to go on, without any anxiety, with all others, and that they\nwould come afterwards with Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram. On hearing these\nwords, the cowherds were in great agitation, as though they had been\nbitten by snakes; gazing on the face of Krishn\u00f9, and losing all\nresolution, they stood like pictures.\n\nBuldeo Jee, perceiving that Nund Rae was deeply grieved, said to him,\n\u201cFather! why are you so sad? We will return in a few days, after\nhaving accomplished what we have to do here. We send you on in advance\nof us, because our mother must be much disquieted by being left alone;\nshe will, in a measure, be restored to confidence by your going.\u201d Nund\nJee replied, \u201cSon! come once with us, and return after the interview.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, Nund was greatly disquieted and continued\nembracing his feet. The splendour of his understanding abated and\nbecame dull; he could not shed tears. O great king! when Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund Jee saw, that Nund and the cowherds\u2019 children were\ngreatly troubled in mind, without being under the power of delusion,\nhe thought to himself, that they would not live, if separated from\nhim. He then sent forth that particular delusive power belonging to\nhim, which has deluded the whole world. This power deprived Nund and\nthe cowherds of all understanding. Krishn\u00f9 then said, \u201cFather! why do\nyou indulge in such regrets? Consider what a short distance there is\nbetween Muttra and Brindabun. We are not going far from you, that you\nshould be so sad. The people of Brindabun must be in grief, and,\ntherefore, we send you before us.\u201d\n\nWhen Krishn\u00f9 had thus explained to Nund, his confidence was restored,\nand joining his hands, he said, \u201cKrishn\u00f9! if these are your\nsentiments, I have no power to gainsay them. I will depart, as I\ncannot refuse compliance with your expressed wishes.\u201d When Nund Jee\nhad thus spoken, Huri permitted him and the cowherds and their\nchildren to depart to Brindabun; and the two brothers remained at\nMuttra with some of their companions. The cowherds, who accompanied\nNund were all during the whole journey, perplexed with heavy thoughts,\nlike gamblers, who have lost every thing. Some retained their senses,\nbut others had lost them entirely; they fell down on the road,\ntripping over each other. Although going to Brindabun they continued\nlooking towards Muttra; and were greatly distressed by the pain of\nseparation. In this state, they managed, by some means or other, to\narrive at Brindabun. Hearing of their arrival, the Ranee Jusodha came\nrunning forth in a state of great perturbation; and being greatly\ndisquieted in mind, at not seeing Bulram and Krishn\u00f9, she said to\nNund Jee, \u201cHusband! where have you lost our sons, that you have only\nbrought back dresses and jewels? You have thrown away the gold, and\nkept the glass. You have foolishly rejected nectar, and taken poison.\nLike a blind man, obtaining possession of the philosopher\u2019s stone, who\nthrows it away, and afterwards strikes his forehead on hearing of its\nvaluable qualities. You have thrown away gems of high value, (meaning\nKrishn\u00f9 and Bulram.) You have thus lost our sons, and brought dresses\nand jewels instead of them. What will you do with wealth without them?\nO foolish husband! how can we pass life without them, whose separation\nfrom us even for a moment caused us the deepest grief? What was the\nstate of your feelings, when they suggested separation?\u201d\n\nNund Jee was much grieved at these words, and replied, with downcast\nlooks, \u201cIt is true Krishn\u00f9 gave me these dresses and jewels; but I\nknow not who brought them here. How shall I mention what Krishn\u00f9 said\nto me? You will also be grieved, when you hear his words. He returned\nto me after having killed Kuns, and made use of most unkind\nexpressions. They have become the sons of Basoodeo; and have gone away\nfrom us, after having completely gained our affections. When I was\nastonished at what they said, they talked of remuneration to us for\nbringing them up. Do not call Huri, Nund\u2019s son; look upon and worship\nhim as a deity. I thought, that he was Narayun from the very first;\nbut being under the power of delusion, regarded him as a son.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Nund Rae Jee had repeated truly all Shree Krishn\u00f9\nhad said to him, Jusodha, being under the influence of delusion, at\none time looked upon Krishn\u00f9 as her son, and was sorrowful and\ndisturbed in mind, and shed tears. At another time, recovering her\nreason, she regarded him as a deity; and meditating upon him, and\ncelebrating with songs his excellent attributes, she dissipated the\ngrief of her mind. And in this manner all the inhabitants of Bruj,\nboth men and women, being deeply imbued with love for Huri, held\nvarious discourses regarding him, which I have not power to describe.\n\nFor which reason, I will mention the sports of Muttra; listen\nattentively. When Huldhur and Gobind came to Basoodeo and Dewukee,\nafter having permitted Nund Rae to depart, they were delighted at\nseeing them, and forgot all their former griefs, as a devotee is\ndelighted on obtaining the fruit of the penance which he has\nperformed. Basoodeo Jee first addressed Dewukee, saying, \u201cKrishn\u00f9 and\nBuldeo have dwelt amongst strangers, and have ate and drank with them;\nand are not acquainted with the customs of their own caste. It is\nright, therefore, that we should send for, and consult the family\npriest, and act by his advice.\u201d Dewukee assented. Basoodeo Jee then\nsent for Gurg, the sage, who was the family priest; and on his\narrival, after having explained all the perplexities of his mind,\nenquired, \u201cO great king! kindly inform us, what we ought to do.\u201d Gurg,\nthe sage, replied, \u201cFirst of all send an invitation to all their\nbrethren of the same caste; and afterwards admit Bulram and Krishn\u00f9\nto the caste, and present them with Brahminical threads.\u201d\n\nWhen the family priest had thus spoken, Basoodeo sent an invitation\ninto the city, and invited all Brahmins, and all descendants of Judoo.\nThey came, and were received with the greatest respect, and offered\nseats. Basoodeo, first of all, having gone through all the ceremonies\nof initiation into caste, and caused their nativities to be written,\npresented to the Brahmins ten thousand cows with horns of gold, backs\nof copper, and feet of silver, dressed out in silken cloths, which\ncows he had made a vow to give at the birth of Krishn\u00f9. He afterwards\ncaused festive rejoicings to be made, and having observed all the\ncustoms and ordinances of the Vedas, bestowed Brahminical threads on\nBulram and Krishn\u00f9; and, having made presents to the two brothers,\nsent them forth to acquire knowledge. They departed and came to the\nhouse of a learned sage and great pundit, named Sandeepun, of the city\nof Awuntika, who was then residing at Benares, and possessed of great\nknowledge; and approaching him with an obeisance, and joined hands,\nthey said to him with great humility of manner, \u201cO king of sages! take\ncompassion on us, and with sincerity of mind bestow upon us the gift\nof knowledge.\u201d O great king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram Jee had\nmade this humble address to Sandeepun, the sage, he brought them to\nhis house in the most affectionate manner, and began to instruct them\nwith great kindness. In a short time, having read the four Vedas, and\nOopvedas, six Shastr\u00f9s, nine treatises upon Grammar, eighteen\nPooran\u00f9s, and discourses upon charms, amulets, enchantments,\nfuturity, astrology, physic, copulation, music and prosody, they\nbecame the receptacles of the fourteen sciences. After this, the two\nbrothers said one day to their spiritual preceptor, with joined hands\nand great humility, \u201cO great king! it is said, that however much a man\nmay give in different births, and various descents upon the earth, he\ncannot give a sufficient recompense to those who have imparted\nknowledge to him: but please to direct that we should make you a\npresent according to our power; and we will bestow it to the utmost\nlimit of our means; and receiving your blessing return home.\u201d\n\nWhen Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram had thus spoken, Sandeepun, the sage,\nrose up, and engaged in thought and reflection returned home. He\nexplained to his wife, \u201cThat the two children, Bulram and Krishn\u00f9,\nare immortal deities, and have descended upon the earth for the sake\nof their worshippers, and to remove the burthens of the world. I have\ndiscovered this secret by witnessing their sports; because they, who\nread continually in several successive births, cannot fathom the\ndepths of sea-like knowledge, and behold they have, in this state of\ninfancy, passed over this limitless and unfordable sea in a few days:\nthey can accomplish whatever they wish in a single second.\u201d The sage\nadded, \u201cWhat boon shall we ask of them, wife?\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, she thought for a short time and said \u201cGo and\nask them for our deceased son\u2019s corpse; they will bring it to us, if\nthey possess the powers of Huri.\u201d\n\nHaving thus reflected, Sandeepun, the sage, came out of his house with\nhis wife, into the presence of Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo, and joining\nhis hands said, in a supplicating manner, \u201cO great king! I had a son,\nwith whom, on a certain festival, I went, accompanied by my relations,\nto bathe in the sea, when we arrived there, and all having undressed\nbegan to bathe, a great wave of the sea came, in which my son was\ndrowned, and did not come forth again. Some shark must have swallowed\nhim, I am greatly grieved for his loss, if you desire to make me a\npresent, as your spiritual preceptor, restore that son, and remove the\naffliction of my mind.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram, having made\nobeisance to their spiritual preceptor and his wife, and having\nascended their ruth, went towards the sea for the purpose of bringing\ntheir son; and, having proceeded on their journey for some time,\narrived on the shore. Seeing them approach in angry mood, the sea was\nalarmed, and assuming mortal shape came forth with many presents from\nher own element, and stood on the shore before them trembling, and\ngreatly agitated with fear; placing her presents before them, and\nbowing her head, and making submissive salutations, she said with\njoined hands, and in a tone of supplication, \u201cGreat is my good\nfortune, that Krishn\u00f9 has appeared to me, for what purpose have you\ncome here?\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund said, \u201cMy spiritual preceptor came\nhere with his relatives to bathe, whose son you swept away with a\nwave; bring him here, and give him up to us. This is the purpose for\nwhich we have come.\u201d\n\nThe sea replied, bowing her head, \u201cI have not overwhelmed him with a\nwave. You are the spiritual guide of all, and lord of the universe,\nand are the deity under the form of Ram\u00f9. I have been very much\nafraid since this circumstance occurred, and have continued to live\nwith a regard to the dignity of my character and my limits.\u201d Huri\nreplied, \u201cIf you did not take him off, who else did so?\u201d The sea said,\n\u201cO lord of compassion! I will explain the mystery: there is a demon,\nnamed Sunkhasoor, in the form of a shell, who dwells in me, and who\nexercises tyranny over all animals, moving in the water, and carries\noff all who come to the shore to bathe; perhaps he may have taken away\nyour preceptor\u2019s son. I do not know certainly that he has done so; but\nbe pleased to come into the sea yourself and ascertain.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words Krishn\u00f9 went eagerly into the sea; on\nbeholding Sunkhasoor, he killed him, and splitting his belly, cast out\nhis entrails. He did not find his spiritual preceptor\u2019s son; and in\nconsequence thereof, expressed regret to Bulbhudr\u00f9, saying, \u201cBrother!\nI have destroyed Sunkhasoor to no purpose.\u201d Bulram Jee replied, \u201cIt\ndoes not matter, carry him now about with you.\u201d On hearing this Huri\nmade that shell his weapon. The two brothers proceeding thence reached\nthe city of Jum, the region of the dead, the name of which is\nSunjumnee, and Dhurm Raj, the Raja thereof. On beholding them, Dhurm\nRaj descended from his throne, and advancing to meet them, gave them a\nmost welcome reception. Having seated them on a throne, washed their\nfeet, and taken the water with which their feet had been washed, he\nsaid, \u201cHappy is this place! fortunate this city! which Krishn\u00f9 has\nvisited, and fulfilled the supplications of his worshippers. Give me\nsome business to perform for you, that your servant may execute it.\u201d\nKrishn\u00f9 replied, \u201cBring the son of my spiritual preceptor.\u201d\n\nWhen Huri had thus spoken, Dhurm Raj went off immediately and brought\nthe child, and joining his hands said in a tone of submission, \u201cO lord\nof compassion! through your favour I knew, beforehand, that you would\ncome to fetch the child, and have therefore taken the greatest care of\nhim; and have not yet restored him to life.\u201d O great king! with these\nwords Dhurm Raj, presented the child to Huri, who immediately placed\nhim upon his ruth, and proceeding thence conveyed him in a short time\nto the presence of his spiritual preceptor. The two brothers, joining\ntheir hands said, \u201cO divine preceptor! what further orders have you\nfor us?\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, and seeing his son, Sandeepun, the sage, was\nhighly delighted, and bestowing many benedictions on Shree Krishn\u00f9\nand Bulram Jee said, \u201cWhat more shall I ask, O Krishn\u00f9! you have\nconferred the greatest happiness on me by restoring my son. Great will\nbe my renown from having had such pupils as you. Return home now; and\nmay you have a safe and pleasant journey.\u201d\n\nWhen the spiritual preceptor had given them this injunction, the two\nbrothers departed, after the usual ceremonies of obtaining permission\nto go, and salutation; and ascending their ruth proceeded on their\njourney, and arrived at Muttra. On hearing of their arrival, the Raja\nOogursen, together with Basoodeo and the inhabitants of the city, both\nmale and female, came forth to meet them. They met them outside the\ncity, and being greatly pleased brought Krishn\u00f9 into the city in\nmusical procession, spreading silken cloths on the road for him to\nwalk upon. There were rejoicings and festivities in every house.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XLVII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O lord of the earth! I will give an\naccount now how Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund brought Brindabun to mind; listen\nattentively. One day Huri said to Bulram Jee, \u201cBrother! all the\ninhabitants of Brindabun must be very much grieved on thinking of me,\nbecause the time has elapsed, in which I promised to return. We ought\ntherefore, to send some one there, to console them for my absence.\u201d\n\nHaving thus advised his brother, Huri sent for Oodho, and said to him,\n\u201cOodho! you are a great friend of mine; and are wise and intelligent,\nand resolute. I therefore wish to send you to Brindabun to offer\nexplanations and consolation to Nund and Jusodha, and the\ncowherdesses, and to bring my mother Rohnee here.\u201d Oodho expressed an\nimmediate readiness to comply with this request. Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nagain said, \u201cFirst of all, inform Nund and Jusodha, and cheer up their\nspirits, and suggest to them to abandon all grief, and to look upon my\narrival as near at hand; and not to regard me as their son, but\nworship me as a deity. Afterwards explain to those cowherdesses, who\nfor my sake have given up all respect for the world and for the Vedas,\nand day and night sing of my sports, and are ready to die, if I do not\nfulfil their expectation of my returning, that they must no longer\nconsider me as their lord, but worship me as Bhugwan, and lay aside\nall the anxiety they now suffer in consequence of my separation from\nthem.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus instructed Oodho, the two brothers wrote a\nletter, in which they expressed to Nund and Jusodha, and the cowherds\nand their children their respects and compliments, and blessing in due\nform: and advised all the women of Bruj to perform penance, and\ndelivered the letter to Oodho, and told him to read it to them; and\nafter having made the necessary explanations to return quickly. Having\ngiven him this message, Krishn\u00f9 dressed Oodho in his own clothes, and\ngave him his own jewels and crown, and seating him on his own ruth,\nallowed him to depart to Brindabun. Proceeding on his journey, Oodho\nreached the neighbourhood of Brindabun after a short time, and on\narrival there, heard birds singing melodiously in the thickly stocked\narbours, and cows of all colours, scattered like clouds in every\ndirection--and the cowherdesses and cowherds, with their children,\nsinging the praises of Shree Krishn\u00f9.\n\nHe was delighted at the beauty of the scene, and making obeisance to\nthe site of Krishn\u00f9\u2019s sports, arrived at the outskirts of the\nvillage, when some one having recognized the ruth of Huri from a\ndistance came and having enquired his name, went to Nund and said, \u201cO\ngreat king! a person, named Oodho, has arrived from Muttra, in the\nappearance and ruth of Shree Krishn\u00f9.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words Nund Rae came forth from amidst the assembly of\nthe cowherds, where he was then sitting, and immediately approached\nOodho. Regarding him as the companion of Bulram and Krishn\u00fa, he\nembraced him with the greatest affection; and enquiring kindly of his\nhealth and welfare, escorted him to his house with great dignity and\nrespect; having caused his feet to be washed, he offered him a seat,\nand feasted Oodho with delicacies of all kinds; when Oodho had enjoyed\nand finished his meal, Nund had an elegant couch prepared for him,\nshining like the foam of the sea, on which, after eating pawn, he\nreclined most agreeably, and forgot all the fatigues of his journey.\n\nWhen after some time, Oodho awoke, Nund, the chief, came and sat near\nhim, and enquired after his son, Soorsen, and his great friend,\nBasoodeo and his family, and asked whether they still continued to\nlove him. Nund added, \u201cGive me news of my son, with whom you have\nabode constantly. Does he ever think of me, who am greatly grieved at\nhis absence? He promised us all to return, but the time of his return\nhas long elapsed. Jusodha constantly churns and makes butter for\nKrishn\u00f9, and places it apart for him. Does Krishn\u00f9 ever think of her\nand the women of Bruj, who are deeply imbued with love and affection\nfor him?\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O lord of the earth! in this manner enquiring the\nnews and celebrating the former sports of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, Nund\nRae Jee, being deeply impregnated with affection for Krishn\u00f9, and\nmeditating upon him, became silent--\u201cHe has destroyed Kuns, and other\npowerful men; why should Krishn\u00f9 now forget us?\u201d\n\nIn the mean while the Ranee Jusodha, greatly agitated, and losing all\nsense and perception, came weeping bitterly to Oodho and enquiring\nafter Bulram and Krishn\u00f9 said, \u201cTell me, Oodho Jee! how has Huri\npassed his time so long without us, and what message has he sent us,\nand when will he return to us?\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words Oodho Jee read the letter of Shree Krishn\u00f9 and\nBulram to Nund and Jusodha, and said, \u201cWho can explain the greatness\nof those, in whose house Bhugwan has been born, and whom he has made\nhappy by his sports? You are most fortunate, because how can the\nimmortal Vishn\u00f9, the lord of Shiv\u00f9 and Bruhm\u00f9, who has neither\nmother, nor father, nor brother nor relations, whom you look upon as\nyour own son, and constantly fix your thoughts and meditate upon,\nremain separated from you? Huri is constantly near those who love him;\nhaving assumed mortal shape for the sake of men, he has neither\nfriends nor enemies, whether of high or low estate. Whoever offers\nadoration and worship to Huri, will be united to him, and become a\nfollower of his. As the large black bee carries off another insect,\nand moulds it to its own form, and as it remains enclosed in the\nflower of the lotus, and does not leave it and fly away, although\nother bees buzz over it during the whole night: in like manner Huri\nfashions after his own model, and never abandons those who love him,\nand meditate upon him.\u201d Oodho added, \u201cDo not any longer regard Huri as\nyour son, but reverence him as the deity. Krishn\u00f9, the lord, who\nknows the secrets of the heart, and befriends his worshippers, will\nappear and come to you, and accomplish all your desires: be not at all\nanxious in your minds.\u201d\n\nO great king! when in conversation of this kind the whole night, with\nexception of about an hour, was spent, Oodho Jee said to Nund Rae, \u201cO\ngreat king! it is now time for churning: with your permission, I will\ngo and bathe in the Jumna.\u201d Nund, the chief, gave his assent; he\nremained seated where he was, engaged in thought and reflection, and\nOodho Jee went in his ruth to the banks of the Jumna. Having taken off\nhis clothes, and purified himself, he approached the water, and\nplacing dust on his head, and joining his hands, singing the praises\nof the Jumna, sipping water in the palm of his hand, he went into the\nriver; and having bathed, and performed his ablutions, and completed\nhis meditations, adorations and libations, began to count his beads.\nAt the same time, all the women of Bruj rose, and having swept and\nbesmeared with mud and cow-dung, the inside of their houses, and\nhaving burnt perfumes and lighted lamps, began to churn. The sound of\nthe churning was like thunder, and like the sound produced by anklets\nand ornaments for the toes. The beautiful women of Bruj, having\nchurned took away the butter, and finished their household work, went\nall together for water.\n\nO great king! the cowherdesses being distracted at separation from\nKrishn\u00f9, and deeply imbued with love for him, and celebrating his\nmany excellent qualities with songs, began, as they went along the\nroad, to meditate upon him, and sing of his sports. One said, \u201cI have\nseen Krishn\u00f9;\u201d another, \u201cThat he had run off and hid himself. He has\nlaid hold of my arm from behind: Huri is now standing under the shade\nof a fig tree.\u201d One remarked, \u201cI saw him milking:\u201d another, \u201cI beheld\nhim very early.\u201d Some said, \u201cHe is tending herds; others, Listen! he\nis playing the flute. We will not go this road, as Krishn\u00f9 will ask\nfor presents. He will break our water pots, and untie the knots, on\nwhich we carry them; and will steal away our senses by his many\nglances. He is hid somewhere, and will come running towards us; and\nthen where shall we escape.\u201d The women of Bruj went along, conversing\nthus with each other; their minds being much agitated in consequence\nof their separation from Krishn\u00f9.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XLVIII.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--O lord of the earth! when Oodho Jee\nhad finished counting his beads, he came forth from the river, and\nputting on his clothes and ornaments sat down in his ruth. As he came\nnear Nund\u2019s village on his way from the banks of the river, the\ncowherdesses, who had come for water, saw his ruth from afar coming\nalong the road. On seeing it, they began to say to each other, \u201cWhose\nruth is this? that is coming towards us, let us see, and afterwards\nproceed on our journey?\u201d One of them said, \u201cFriend, I hope that\ndeceitful creature, Akroor, has not come, who took off Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund to live at Muttra, and caused him to kill Kuns.\u201d Another said,\n\u201cWhy has this treacherous wretch come again, he has already taken away\nthe root of our lives, and what more will he take away?\u201d\n\nO great king! carrying on various conversations of this kind, the\nwomen of Bruj stood still, having taken the water-pots from their\nheads, and placed them on the ground. In the mean while as the ruth\ncame near some of the cowherdesses having seen Oodho a short way off,\nsaid to each other, \u201cFriend! why this is some one of a black colour\nwith lotus-like eyes, and a crown on his head; wearing a garland that\nreaches to his feet, dressed in yellow silk, and with a scarf of the\nsame colour. He is sitting on a ruth like that of Shree Krishn\u00f9, and\nis looking at and coming towards us.\u201d One of them remarked, \u201cThis\nperson has been at Nund\u2019s house since yesterday; his name is Oodho,\nand Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund has sent some message by him.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, the cowherdesses, observing a retired spot,\nand laying aside all propriety and reserve, rushed towards Oodho\nJee--and regarding him as the friend of Krishn\u00f9, they made obeisance,\nand enquired after Krishn\u00f9, standing on all sides of the ruth, with\njoined hands. Seeing their affection Oodho Jee left his ruth; and the\ncowherdesses having seated him under the shade of a tree, sat\nthemselves down on all sides of him, and began to say in a most\naffectionate manner: \u201cYou have done well, Oodho, in coming, and\nbringing us news of Krishn\u00f9. You associate constantly with him;\nplease inform us what message he has sent. You have been sent here\nonly for the sake of his father and mother; he thinks of no one else.\nWe have sacrificed every thing for him; our souls are entangled in his\nfeet. He is occupied with his own affairs exclusively; and has given\npain to all by his departure. And as birds leave trees without fruit,\nHuri in like manner has abandoned us; and although we have given up\nevery thing to him, he has not become ours.\u201d\n\nO great king! when the cowherdesses, filled with delight in their love\nfor Krishn\u00f9, had talked thus for some time, Oodho, perceiving the\ngreat sincerity of their love, was about to rise to make a salutation,\nwhen a cowherdess, who saw a bee on a flower, addressed Oodho, under\npretence of addressing the bee--\u201cO bee! thou hast imbibed the\nsweetness of Krishn\u00f9\u2019s lotus-like feet; and, therefore, thou hast\nobtained the name of the honey maker. Thou art the friend of one who\nis deceitful; and, therefore, he has sent you as his messenger, do not\ntouch our feet, because we know that all of a black colour are\ntreacherous, such as you are, such is Krishn\u00f9; therefore, do not make\nsalutations to us. In the same way that you roam from flower to\nflower, tasting its sweets, and belong not to any particular one, Huri\ndoes not love any one, or belong to any one.\u201d Whilst the cowherdess\nwas thus speaking another bee came; on seeing it, a cowherdess, named\nSeelta, said, \u201cO bee, remain apart, and go and tell this in Muttra,\nwhere there is a hump-backed queen, and where Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\ndwells. Why need I speak of one birth; in each succeeding birth your\nbehaviour is the same? The Raja Buli gave up every thing, and you sent\nhim to the infernal regions; and drove from her home one so virtuous\nas Seeta without fault on her part. Since they were thus treated, what\nhad we to expect?\u201d After this, all the cowherdesses in a body, joining\ntheir hands, said to Oodho, \u201cOodho Jee! we have lost our lord by the\nabsence of Krishn\u00f9, take us away with you.\u201d\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! when the cowherdesses had thus\nspoken, Oodho Jee said, \u201cI will explain the contents of the letter\nKrishn\u00f9 has sent by me, to which listen attentively. He has written,\nthat you must give up all hope of sexual pleasure, and offer devotion\nto him; and that he will never be separated from you; and he has\nadded, that from the day you began to meditate on him, none have been\nso much loved by him as you.\u201d Oodho added, \u201cYou have established a\nnever-ending love for the first male, the immortal Huri; and regarded\nhim as your lord, whom all else celebrate as the invisible,\nimperceptible, inscrutable being, and as earth, wind, water, fire and\nair dwell in the body, so Krishn\u00f9 dwells in you; but through the\ninfluence of his delusive powers seems to be apart. Bear him in mind\nand meditate upon him. He always promoted the advantage of his\nworshippers; and by his remaining near meditation and religious\nknowledge are utterly destroyed. For this reason Huri has gone to live\nat a distance. And Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund gave me also to understand,\nthat playing on the flute he invited you into the jungle, and when he\nsaw the strength of your love and passion for him, he took part in\nyour festivities; when you forgot his divinity, the lord of Judoos\ndisappeared. When having recovered understanding, you again meditated\nupon Huri, he, knowing the piety of your minds, presented himself to\nyou.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Oodho had thus spoken, the cowherdesses said\nangrily, \u201cWe have heard all your speeches; stand apart from us now.\nYou tell us to cultivate knowledge and understanding, and perform\npenance, and tell us to abandon meditation and look up at the sky. You\ncall him Narayun, in whose sports our minds have been deeply engaged.\nWhy has he become an invisible and imperceptible being, who has\nconferred happiness on us from his childhood? And how has he, who was\nendowed with all good qualities and great personal beauty, become a\nbeing without qualities and form? Who will pay any attention to what\nyou have said, considering that our souls are wrapped up in his\nbeloved body?\u201d One of them rose up and said, \u201cLet us endeavour to\nconciliate Oodho: say nothing to him, but listen to what he says, and\nwatch his looks.\u201d Another said, \u201cIt is not his fault, the hump-backed\nwoman (Koobja) has sent him here. He is now merely repeating what\nKoobja has taught him to say. Krishn\u00f9 would never speak as Oodho has\nspoken since his arrival at Bruj. We are pierced with thorns at\nhearing such speeches, and cannot endure listening to them. He tells\nus to abandon all thought of sexual pleasure, and engage in devotion;\nwhen would Krishn\u00f9 speak thus? Prayers, penance, fasting, vows and\nprescribed rules of conduct are all acts becoming widows. May Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 live in every age, having conferred happiness on us all. Who\nmakes use of ashes, and of cow-dung while her husband is alive? Say,\nwhere does this custom prevail? Our vows, penance and fasts consist in\nshowing our love for Nund and Nundun constantly. Who can possibly\nblame you, Oodho? this is a dance of Koobja\u2019s getting up.\u201d\n\nHaving recited thus much, Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said, O great\nking! when Oodho had heard these affectionate words of the\ncowherdesses, he regretted and was ashamed that he had mentioned the\nsubject of penance to them, and remained silent, with downcast looks.\nOne of the cowherdesses enquired after Bulram, and said, \u201cDoes he ever\nthink of and call to mind our childish love?\u201d Another replied,\n\u201cFriend! you are all cowherdesses and common village women, and the\nwomen of Muttra are beautiful, by whom Huri has been captivated, and\nis engaged in sports with them, why should he now think of us? Since\nhe went to reside there, he has become the beloved of other women; had\nwe known beforehand this would happen, we would not have let him go\naway. Regrets are now of no avail, it is better to lay aside grief,\nand hope for his return. Because, as during eight months the earth,\nforests and hills, endure heat in expectation of rain, which comes in\ndue course and cools them; in like manner Krishn\u00f9 will also come to\nus.\u201d One said, \u201cHuri has accomplished all his business, and has\ndestroyed his enemies, and taken possession of their government, why\nshould he come to Brindabun, and leave his kingly power to tend herds?\nO companions! give up all expectations of his coming. The case is\nquite hopeless; and we ought not to think any more about it.\u201d One of\nthem said, in great distraction of mind, \u201cWhy should we give up all\nhope of Krishn\u00f9? On seeing the forests, hills and the banks of the\nJumna, where Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulbeer engaged in sports, our\nrecollection of Huri, the lord of our hearts, returns forcibly.\u201d She\nthen said, \u201cThis village of Bruj has become a sea of grief: his name\nis a boat in the midst of the stream. Krishn\u00f9 will take across all\nwho are immerged in the waters of absence and separation. Why has he\nforgotten, that he is lord of the cowherdesses? Is he not ashamed on\naccount of his name?\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, Oodho, reflecting, began to say, \u201cHappy are\nthese cowherdesses! and blessed be their firmness, in having given up\nall else, and become absorbed in meditation upon Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund.\u201d\n\nO great king! Oodho Jee saw and praised their love, when at the same\ntime all the cowherdesses rose up, and brought him to their homes with\ngreat respect and dignity. Perceiving their affection, he dined with\nthem; and after resting he made them all very happy by telling them\nstories of Shree Krishn\u00f9. All the cowherdesses, having then performed\npoojah to Oodho Jee, and placed many presents before him, said with\njoined hands and the greatest humility, \u201cOodho Jee! go and say to\nHuri, lord! formerly you were very kind to us, and used to take us by\nthe hand about with you; but since you have obtained power, you have\nwritten to us about penance at the suggestion of that strumpet,\nKoobja. We, poor, impure creatures, have never been initiated by a\nspiritual preceptor in any mystical prayer: what knowledge can we\npossibly possess; from our childhood we have loved him, and what do we\nknow of the customs of penance? Why has Huri not come himself to tell\nus what penance to perform? This is not a subject to send a message\nabout. Oodho! go and explain to him, that our lives are ebbing out,\nlet him come and preserve them.\u201d\n\nO great king! when they had thus spoken, the cowherdesses were\ndelighted in fixing their thoughts on Huri; and Oodho, having made the\nusual salutation, took leave and returned thence in his ruth to\nBrindabun. He remained there for some days; and on his way back he\nvisited and stayed a few days at each of the places, where Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund had been engaged in sports. At length after some days\nhe returned to Brindabun, and having gone to Nund and Jusodha, said\nwith joined hands, \u201cOwing to your friendship, I have stayed for some\ntime at Bruj, and now, with your permission, will go to Muttra.\u201d On\nhearing these words, the Ranee Jusodha went into the house, and\nbrought forth milk, curds, butter and sweetmeats in large quantities;\nand presenting them to Oodho, said, \u201cGive these to our beloved Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 and Bulram, and tell our sister, Dewukee, to send them both\nto us without any delay.\u201d Having communicated this message, the wife\nof Nund began to weep. Then Nund Jee said to Oodho, \u201cWhat more need we\nsay to you? You are yourself possessed of great sense, understanding\nand knowledge, and many excellent qualities; intercede for us with\nKrishn\u00f9 in such a way that he, taking into consideration the\nsufferings of the inhabitants of Bruj, may come to us quickly, and not\nforget us altogether.\u201d\n\nAfter having thus spoken, when Nund Rae shed tears, and all the\ninhabitants of Bruj, male and female, standing round, began also to\nweep, Oodho Jee consoled them, and restored them to composure of mind\nby his explanations; and, accompanied by Rohnee, took his departure\nfor Muttra; and after journeying some time, arrived at the abode of\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund. On seeing him, Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo rose\nand embraced him, and enquired in the most affectionate manner\nregarding his health, and the news of Brindabun, \u201cSay Oodho Jee! are\nNund and Jusodha, and the inhabitants of Bruj all well, and do they\never think of us?\u201d Oodho Jee replied, \u201cO great king! I am quite unable\nto describe the greatness of Bruj, and the love of its inhabitants;\nyou are their life; night and day do they think of you, and their love\nfor you is as complete as a perfect worship, performed with all\nprescribed ceremonies. I mentioned to them your advice regarding the\nperformance of penance; but I have learnt from them the manner, in\nwhich adoration should be offered.\u201d Oodho Jee, having communicated\nthis intelligence, added, \u201cO merciful to the poor! what more need I\nsay? you are acquainted with the secret thoughts of each mind; and\nunderstand me without any lengthened explanation on my part, that all\nthings in Bruj, animate and inanimate, are greatly distressed at not\nbeing able to see and touch you; and the only hope they have is, that\nyou may return.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, the two brothers were greatly dispirited; and\nOodho Jee, taking leaving of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, conveyed the\nmessage of Nund and Jusodha to Basoodeo and Dewukee, and went home.\nRohnee Jee was filled with joy at meeting with Shree Krishn\u00f9 and\nBulram, and abode in her own house.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XLIX.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--O great king! one day the sportive\nKrishn\u00f9, the benefactor of his worshippers, thinking of the affection\nof Koobja, went to her house, with the view of performing the promise\nhe had made her. When Koobja knew that Huri had come, she had cloths\nof silk spread for him to walk on. She advanced to meet him with the\ngreatest joy; and all the good acts she had done in former births then\nreceived their reward. Having given Oodho a seat outside, Krishn\u00f9\nentered the house of Koobja; he there saw a splendid carpet spread in\na picture gallery, on which was arranged a beautiful couch of flowers.\nHuri repaired to the couch, and Koobja, having withdrawn to another\nroom, bathed and perfumed herself, and having combed her braided hair,\nwearing a most elegant dress and handsome jewels, adorned from head to\nfoot, having eaten pawn, and being sweetly scented, approached Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund with the gaiety and endearment, with which Ruttee, (the\nwife of Ramudev\u00f9,) approaches her husband. Having veiled herself from\na feeling of modesty, she remained apart and silent, having a great\ndread of the first interview. On seeing her, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the\nroot of joy, took her by the hand; and placing her near him, satisfied\nher desires. He then arose, and came to Oodho; blushing and smiling,\nand with downcast looks. O great king! having thus made Koobja happy,\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund returned home with Oodho Jee, and said to Bulram,\n\u201cI promised Akroor that I would pay him a visit, so let us go to his\nhouse first and afterwards send him to Hustinapoor, to bring us the\nnews of that quarter.\u201d Upon this both brothers went to Akroor\u2019s house;\nhe was much pleased at seeing Krishn\u00f9; and making a salutation, and\nputting the dust of his feet on his head, said with joined hands, and\nwith great humility of manner, \u201cO lord of compassion! you have shown\nme great favour by coming here, and making my house pure.\u201d Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 replied, \u201cUncle! why do you exalt me so highly? I am your\nson;\u201d and added, \u201cthrough your kindness, uncle! all the demons have\nbeen destroyed, but there is one subject, which occasions me anxiety,\nas I have heard that Pandoo has gone to heaven, and that Doorjodhun\ntyrannizes over my five brothers. My aunt, Koontee, is greatly\ndistressed; unless you go, who can afford her relief by explanations?\u201d\nAkroor Jee, on hearing these words, said in reply to Huri, \u201cBe not\nanxious on that subject, I will go to Hustinapoor and explain matters,\nand bring back all the news.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER L.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--O lord of the earth! when Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Jee heard these words of Akroor, he sent him off to bring\nintelligence of Pandoo. After travelling from Muttra some days in his\nruth, he reached Hustinapoor; and, on arrival there, went to the court\nof the Raja Doorjodhun, who was sitting on his throne, and, having\nmade a salutation, stood before him. On seeing him, Doorjodhun arose\nwith all his court, and embraced him; and seating him with great\ndignity and respect near him, made various enquiries, saying, \u201cHappy\nare Soorsen and Basoodeo! happy Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo! Oogursen has been\nmade a Raja by them, and on their account does not think of any one;\nsince his son\u2019s death he has reigned and is independent of every one.\u201d\n\nWhen Doorjodhun had thus spoken, Akroor was silent, and began to\nreflect, \u201cThat this was a court of wicked men, where it was not right\nfor him to remain: because if he staid there, they would make many\nmore such speeches, to which he could not with propriety listen; and,\ntherefore, he ought not to remain there.\u201d\n\nWith these thoughts in his mind, Akroor Jee arose, and went thence to\nthe house of Pandoo, accompanied by Bidoor. On arrival there he beheld\nKoontee in great affliction at the loss of her husband, and shedding\ntears. He went and sat by her side, and said to her, \u201cMother! no one\nhas power over Bruhm\u00f9; and no one is immortal, and lives for ever.\nWhilst in the body, the soul suffers pain and pleasure; for which\nreason it is not becoming in man to grieve and be anxious, because\nnothing is gained by indulging in grief; the mind only is afflicted by\nit.\u201d\n\nWhen, O great king! Akroor Jee had thus reasoned with Koontee, she\nreflected upon what he had said, and remained silent; and then\nenquired from Akroor, \u201cWhether her mother, father, her brother,\nBasoodeo, and his relations were all well; and whether Shree Krishn\u00f9\nand Bulram ever thought of their five brothers, Bheem, Joodisthur,\nUrjoon, Nukool and Suhdeo. They are here fallen into a sea of trouble;\nand when will they come to their assistance and rescue? We cannot\nendure the tyranny of the blind Dritrasht; because he acts by the\nadvice of Doorjodhun, and is day and night planning to destroy the\nfive brothers. He has frequently mixed poison for them, which my\nBheemsen once drank.\u201d Koontee afterwards added, \u201cO Akroor Jee! since\nall the members of the family of Kooroo are such great enemies, to\nwhom are my children to look with affection, and how shall they grow\nup, and escape death? How shall I explain to you the great afflictions\nI endure? And as a doe, separated from the herd, is greatly alarmed,\nin like manner I am constantly disquieted and sad. They are my\nprotectors, who have destroyed Kuns and all evil spirits. Go and tell\nthem of the griefs of their brothers, Judisthur, Urjoon and Bheem.\u201d\n\nAkroor\u2019s eyes filled with tears at hearing these words of Koontee,\nspoken with great humility; and he reasoned with her and said,\n\u201cMother! banish all anxiety, these five sons of yours will be very\npowerful and celebrated. They will utterly destroy their enemies, and\nall wicked persons as Shree Gobind is their ally.\u201d Again Akroor Jee\nsaid, \u201cShree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram sent me here with this message, \u2018Tell\nour aunt not to vex or fret herself, as we will soon come to her.\u2019\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus delivered Shree Krishn\u00f9\u2019s message, Akroor\nJee entered into explanations with Koontee, and restored her to\nconfidence and composure; and, taking leave went to Dritrasht,\naccompanied by Bidoor, and said to him, \u201cWhy do you, who are an old\nman, exercise such tyranny; and being under the influence of your son,\nmake your nephews (brothers\u2019 children) unhappy, after having forcibly\nseized upon the government of your brother? According to what code are\nyou guilty of such injustice. You have lost your sight, but can you\nnot see with the eyes of your mind, your family is being destroyed by\nyour crimes. Why did you, when you were enjoying great ease and\nhappiness, seize upon the government of your brother, and bring\ndistress upon Bheem and Joodisthur?\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, Dritrasht laid hold of Akroor\u2019s hand, said,\n\u201cWhat can I do, no one will obey my orders? All follow their own\ncounsel, and I am looked upon as a fool by them. For this reason I\nnever take part in their affairs; but remain apart, and worship my\nlord in silence.\u201d\n\nWhen Dritrasht had thus spoken, Akroor Jee made a salutation, and\nrising went thence in his ruth; and departing from Hustinapoor came to\nthe city of Muttra. He mentioned to Oogursen and Basoodeo the affairs\nof the Panduries, the sons of Koontee are greatly afflicted, and their\nbodies much emaciated with grief. Having told Oogursen and Basoodeo\nJee all the news of Hustinapoor, Akroor went to Shree Krishn\u00f9 and\nBulram; and, making a salutation, said with joined hands, \u201cO great\nking! I have been to Hustinapoor, and seen that your aunt and five\nbrothers suffer great calamities at the hands of the Kooruvus. What\nmore need I say, you know the secrets of the heart, and the state of\naffairs there; and the ruin which has befallen your family, are not\nhidden from you.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, and delivered Koontee\u2019s message, Akroor Jee took\nleave, and returned home. And having heard all the intelligence which\nAkroor brought from Hustinapoor, Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo, the gods\nof all the gods, sat down after the fashion of men, and engaged in\nthought, revolved in their minds, how they might remove the burthens\nof the world.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, having recited thus much of the history to\nthe Raja Pureechit, said,--O lord of the earth! I have related the\nfirst half of history, comprising what took place in the forest of\nBruj and at Muttra, I will now relate the last half, if I obtain the\npower of the lord of Dwarka.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LI.\n\nWe now write the last half of the history. Shree Shookdeo, the sage,\nsaid,--O great king! I will relate, how Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund conquered\nJoorasindhoo and his army, destroyed the right of the dead, released\nMoochkoond, and, having left Bruj, took up his abode in Dwarka: listen\nwith the greatest attention.\n\nThe Raja Oogursen ruled over Muttra with great skill and policy; and\nShree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram, like servants, were obedient to his orders.\nUnder his government all his subjects were happy; except the widows of\nKuns, who were greatly grieved at the loss of their husband. They\ncould not sleep, and had no sensation of hunger or thirst. During the\nwhole eight puhurs, they were in a state of sorrow.\n\nOne day the two sisters, being deeply engaged in thought, said to each\nother, \u201cA woman has no excellence without her husband, as the subject\nhas no excellence without his lord, or night without the moon. As we\nhave lost our husbands, we ought not to stay here now; and it is\nbetter for us to go and live in the house of our father.\u201d\n\nO great king! the two queens, having thus determined, sent for a ruth,\nand travelled in it from Muttra to their father\u2019s house, in the Behar\ncountry; and with tears related to him, how Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram\nhad destroyed Kuns and all evil spirits.\n\nOn hearing their account, Joorasindhoo entered his court in great\nwrath, and said, \u201cWhat powerful men are these, who have been born in\nthe family of Judoo, and have made my daughters widows, after\ndestroying the very powerful Kuns and all evil spirits? I will attack\nthem with my whole army; and destroying with fire the city of Muttra,\nand all the family and descendants of Judoo, will carry off Bulram and\nKrishn\u00f9 bound and alive: otherwise my name is not Joorasindh.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, he wrote letters to all the neighbouring Rajas,\nasking them to come to him with their armies; as he was about to\nrevenge himself for the death of Kuns, by destroying all the\ndescendants of Judoo, and making their race extinct. On receiving\nJoorasindhoo\u2019s letters, all the Rajas of the different countries came\nquickly with their forces; and Joorasindhoo also arranged and prepared\nhis army.\n\nAt length when Joorasindhoo took his departure from the Behar country\nto Muttra with all his army of demons, he had twenty-three complete\narmies with him; each army consisting of 21,817 charioteers and as\nmany men mounted on elephants: 109,350 foot soldiers and 66,000\nhorsemen. Such were the twenty-three complete armies he had with him,\neach demon of which was powerful beyond description. O great king!\nwhen Joorasindhoo, accompanied with all his army of evil spirits,\nadvanced, sounding the kettle-drum, the guardians of the ten quarters\nbegan to shake and tremble, and the gods to fly through fear. The\nearth apart began to be agitated, like the roof of a house, from the\nload. At length, after some days\u2019 progress he arrived, and surrounded\nthe city of Muttra on all sides. Upon this, the inhabitants of the\ncity went in the greatest alarm to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, and\nexclaimed, \u201cO great king! Joorasindhoo has encompassed our city on all\nsides; what shall we do, and where shall we go?\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, Huri reflected for a short time; and Bulram\nhaving, in the mean while, come to him, said, \u201cO great king, you have\ndescended upon the earth to remove the miseries of your worshippers,\nbe pleased now to assume a body of fire, and destroy the forest in the\nform of an evil spirit.\u201d At these words Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund went with\nhim to Oogursen, and said, \u201cO great king! give us an order to fight,\nand do you, having taken all the descendants of Judoo with you,\nprotect the fort.\u201d After these words, when they came to their father\nand mother, all the inhabitants of the city came round them and being\ngreatly agitated began to say, \u201cO Krishn\u00f9! how shall we escape from\nthe hands of these demons?\u201d Huri, perceiving that his mother and\nfather and all the other people were alarmed, explained to them and\nsaid, \u201cSuffer not any anxiety; this army of demons, which you now see,\nshall in a moment be dispersed in every direction, in the same manner\nthat bubbles disappear in the water.\u201d\n\nHaving thus explained, and restored their confidence, he took leave;\nand as Krishn\u00f9 advanced, the gods sent two ruths, filled with arms\nfor him. The chariots stood before them, and the two brothers entered\nthem.\n\nThe two chiefs of the family of Judoo went forth and reached\nJoorasindhoo\u2019s army safely, they came to the place where Joorasindhoo\nwas standing. On seeing them Joorasindhoo said with great haughtiness\nto Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, \u201cFly from before me, why should I kill you,\nyou are not my equal that I should attack you? I will see what Bulram\nis made of.\u201d\n\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund replied, \u201cO proud fool! what silly talk is this\nof yours. The brave never make high sounding speeches to any one; but\nbehave with moderation to all; when occasion requires they exhibit\ntheir power; can they be called brave, who extol their own greatness?\nThere is a saying, that when it thunders, it does not rain; so,\nwherefore, do you talk boastingly?\u201d\n\nAt these words, Joorasindhoo was enraged; and Shree Krishn\u00f9 and\nBuldeo retired a short distance, and stood in a state of preparation.\nHe pursued and attacked them with his whole army, and called out, \u201cO\nwicked wretches! where will you fly from my presence? You have long\nescaped alive; I know not what may be your thoughts, but you shall\nlive no longer, I will send you and all the descendants of Judoo to\nthe same place, where Kuns and all his demons have gone.\u201d\n\nO great king! when that devil had made this wicked speech the two\nbrothers retired some distance further, and stood. Shree Krishn\u00f9 was\narmed with weapons of all kinds, and Bulram Jee with a plough and\nwooden pestle. As the army of demons approached them, the two heroes\nshouted and rushed upon them like lions on a herd of elephants, and\nencountered them sword in hand. Then the kettle-drums sounded like\nthunder, and the assembled army of the demons was spread in every\ndirection like clouds; the din of arms was as continued rain; in the\nmidst of which Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram, whilst fighting, appeared as\nbrilliant and beautiful, as lightning amidst thick clusters of clouds.\nAll the gods were sitting in their chariots, and viewing the battle\nfrom the sky, they celebrated the praises of Krishn\u00f9, and earnestly\nwished that he might be victorious; and Oogursen and all the\ndescendants of Judoo were extremely anxious, and regretted that they\nhad allowed Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram to go forth to the army of\ndemons.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, having proceeded thus far in his narrative,\nsaid, O lord of the earth! when in the course of the battle a great\nportion of the army of demons had been destroyed, Buldeo Jee descended\nfrom his chariot, and bound Joorasindhoo. Upon this, Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund said to him, \u201cBrother! let him live, do not kill him, because he\nwill return and again bring more demons with him; whom we will\ndestroy, and remove the burthens of the world, and if we do not spare\nhis life, we shall lose the evil spirits, who have fled.\u201d In\nconsequence of this expostulation of Krishn\u00f9, Buldeo Jee released\nJoorasindhoo, who went off and joined those who had fled from the\nfield. Looking around he said with regret, \u201cMy whole army has\nvanished, the greatest calamity has befallen me. Why should I live? I\nwill abandon my home, and turn devotee.\u201d A councillor said to him,\nexpostulating, \u201cWhy should a wise man like you regret, sometimes there\nis defeat, and sometimes victory? No one should abandon his government\nand home. What matters it that you have been defeated in this battle,\nwe will collect our forces again, and send Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo, and\nall the descendants of Judoo to heaven; banish all anxious thought.\u201d\n\nO great king! the councillor having thus expostulated, returned home\nwith Joorasindhoo, and all the demons, who had fled from the battle;\nand there began to assemble another army. Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram\nsaw blood flowing in a stream on the battle-field, in which chariots\nwithout their charioteers were carried along like boats; in different\nplaces the dead elephants appeared like hills, from whose wounds blood\nspouted forth like springs. There Muhadeo, accompanied by goblins and\nspirits, and wearing a necklace of human heads, was dancing and\nsinging in the greatest glee; and female spirits and goblins, and the\nattendants of Devee were drinking blood out of skulls; vultures,\njackalls and crows were devouring the bodies, and contending with each\nother for the flesh.\n\nHaving recited thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! the\nregent of the winds collected all the chariots, elephants, horses and\ndemons together, and fire burnt them to ashes in a second. The five\nelements were re-united with each other, all saw them come but no one\nsaw where they departed. Having thus put the demons to death, and\nremoved the burthens of the earth, Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram, the\nbenefactors of their worshippers, came to Oogursen, and, making a\nsalutation, said with joined hands, \u201cO great king! through your\nexcellence and majesty, we have destroyed and routed the army of the\ndemons, rule now without fear, and promote the happiness of your\nsubjects.\u201d The Raja Oogursen was very much pleased at these words, and\nmade great rejoicings, and began to rule with justice.\n\nAfter some time, Joorasindhoo came forth to attack with another army\nas large as the former one, which Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo destroyed\nand dispersed as before. In this manner, Joorasindhoo attacked\nseventeen times with his twenty-three armies, which Krishn\u00f9 drove\nback, after having inflicted great slaughter on them.\n\nAfter reciting thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo, the sage,\nsaid to the Raja Pureechit,--O great king! at this time upon a sudden\nthought Narud Jee rose, and went off to the abode of Kaljumun. On\nseeing him, he stood up with all his court, and making a salutation,\nenquired in a respectful manner, and with joined hands, the reason of\nhis coming. At these words Narud, after a little thought, said,\n\u201cBulbhuddr\u00f9 and Krishn\u00f9 are at Muttra, no one, except you, can drive\nthem away, Joorasindhoo has not met with any success. You are immortal\nand very powerful, Buldeo and Huri are children.\u201d Narud Jee added, \u201cDo\nnot cease to follow him, whom you observe of the colour of the clouds,\nwith lotus eyes, a very elegant person dressed in yellow silk, and\nwith a yellow scarf.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, Narud, the sage, departed; and Kaljumun began to\nprepare his army. After some days, he collected three crores of very\nunclean men of terrifying aspect, with stout arms and thick necks,\nlarge teeth, dirty appearance, brown hair, red eyes, like small red\nand black seeds; with whom, sounding the kettle-drum, he advanced\nagainst the city of Muttra, and surrounded it on all sides. Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund, having seen what he had done, thought to himself, \u201cIt\nis not right to remain here, because to-day he has come to attack, and\nto-morrow Joorasindhoo will come; the inhabitants will be distressed;\nwherefore, it is most advisable, that all should leave this place, and\ngo and dwell elsewhere.\u201d\n\nO great king! Huri, having thus reflected, sent for Bishookurma, and,\nexplaining to him, said, \u201cGo and build a city in the midst of the sea,\nin which all the descendants of Judoo may live comfortably, without\nknowing that they are not living in their own houses; and convey them\nall there in a second.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words Bishookurma departed, and, according to the\ninjunction of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee, built, during the night, in the sea,\non the quoit of Vishn\u00f9, a city, forty-eight coss in extent; and\nhaving named it Dwarka, returned and informed Huri, who ordered him to\nconvey all the descendants of Judoo there in such a manner, that no\none might know, whence they had come, and who had brought them.\n\nWhen Krishn\u00f9 had thus spoken, Bishookurma conveyed all the\ndescendants of Judoo, together with Oogursen and Basoodeo to the city\nin the course of the night, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram also went\nthere. In the mean while, on hearing the sound of the waves of the\nsea, the descendants of Judoo awoke; and being greatly astonished\nbegan to say to each other, \u201cWhence has the sea come to Muttra? We\ncannot understand this mystery at all.\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in his narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O lord of the earth! having thus had the\ndescendants of Judoo brought to Dwarka, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund said to\nBuldeo Jee, \u201cBrother! let us go now, and afford protection to our\nsubjects, and kill Kaljumun.\u201d Upon these words, the two brothers went\nthence to Brujmundul.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LII.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--O great king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\ncame to Brujmundul alone, having left Bulram Jee at Muttra: and went\nforth and stood in front of the army of Kaljumun, a sea of beauty, the\nlight of the world, dressed in yellow silk, wearing a scarf of the\nsame colour, and ornamented from head to foot. On seeing him, Kaljumun\nbegan to say, \u201cThis must be Krishn\u00f9, he has all the marks mentioned\nby Narud, the sage, it is he who has destroyed Kuns and all evil\nspirits, and slaughtered the armies of Joorasindhoo.\u201d With these\nthoughts in his mind, Kaljumun called out, and said, \u201cWhy are you\nrunning away, Krishn\u00f9? Come here, you have now to deal with me, stand\nand fight. I am not Joorasindhoo nor Kuns. I will extirpate the whole\nrace of Judoo.\u201d\n\nRaja! having thus spoken, Kaljumun advanced alone in pursuit of Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund, leaving his whole army behind him: but that fool did\nnot understand Krishn\u00f9\u2019s nature. Krishn\u00f9 ran on, and Kaljumun\nfollowed him at a hand\u2019s distance, when he had advanced some distance,\nKrishn\u00f9 entered a cave in a hill, where he saw a man lying asleep;\nhaving quickly put his yellow silk scarf upon him, he concealed\nhimself apart on one side. Afterwards, Kaljumun came running and\npanting to the same very dark cave; and seeing a man asleep with a\nyellow scarf thrown over him, thought to himself, that it was\nKrishn\u00f9, pretending to be asleep. O great king! thinking thus, and\nbeing angry, Kaljumun gave the sleeper a kick, and said, \u201cO trickster!\nwhat deceit are you practising, in pretending to be sleeping at your\nease like an honest man? Rise, as I intend to kill you immediately.\u201d\nWith these words he snatched away the yellow cloth from over him. He\nstarted up; and when he cast an angry look at Kaljumun, he was burnt\nto ashes. At this part of the history, the Raja Pureechit said,\n\u201cExplain to me, Basoodeo, who the man was, that had gone into the\ncave, by whose look Kaljumun was reduced to ashes, who conferred a\ngreat boon on him?\u201d Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--O lord of the\nearth! it was Moochkoond, Manghata\u2019s son, a Chutree of the family of\nIchwak, very powerful and renowned; whose fame, for destroying enemies\nand armies was spread over nine divisions of the earth. On one\noccasion, the gods, having been harassed by evil spirits, came in\ngreat alarm to Moochkoond, and said in a tone of great supplication,\n\u201cO great king! evil spirits have increased greatly; we cannot escape\nfrom them, come quickly, and protect us.\u201d It has been an immemorial\ncustom for Chutrees to assist gods, sages and saints, when their own\npower fails them.\n\nOn hearing these words, Moochkoond accompanied them, and began to\nfight with the evil spirits. The battle lasted for many ages, when the\ngods said to Moochkoond, \u201cO great king! you have undergone great\nlabour on our account; rest somewhere now, and give ease to your body.\nYou have fought for many days; your wealth, dwelling and family are\nall gone, not one of your relations is left; do not therefore set foot\nin your own house. Go any where else you please.\u201d Moochkoond said in\nreply to the gods, \u201cO lords of the earth! kindly point out to me some\nretired spot, where I may sleep, free from all care and anxiety, and\nno one awake me.\u201d The gods were delighted at this speech, and said to\nMoochkoond, \u201cO great king! go and sleep in the cave of the great white\nmountain. No one will awake you there: and if any one should go there\nby accident, and do so, he will be burnt to ashes by a single glance\nof your eye.\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee, said\nto the Raja,--O great king! having obtained this boon from the gods,\nMoochkoond went and dwelt in that cave; and therefore, Kaljumun was\nburnt to ashes by a glance from his eye. Shortly afterwards Krishn\u00f9,\nthe abode of compassion, the benefactor of his worshippers, of the\ncolour of the clouds, with a face like the moon, lotus eyes, four\narms, and holding in his hand a shell, quoit, club and lotus, wearing\na crown in the shape of a peacock, and ear-rings formed like the sign\nCapricorn, having a garland reaching to his feet, and dressed in\nyellow silk, appeared to Moochkoond; who, on beholding him, prostrated\nhimself, so as to touch the ground with the eight principal parts of\nhis body, and rising up, said with joined hands, \u201cO lord of mercy! as\nyou have come into this great dark cave, and by your light have\ndispersed the darkness, please take compassion on me; and explaining\nyour name and nature, remove all the doubts of my mind.\u201d Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund replied, \u201cMy births, destinies and attributes are\nmanifold, and cannot be counted by any one, whatever computations he\nmay make. But I will explain to you the secrets of my present birth,\nto which listen. I have been born in the house of Basoodeo, and been\nnamed Basoodeo in consequence. And in the city of Muttra, I have\ndestroyed Kuns and all evil spirits, and removed the burthens of the\nearth. And Joorasindhoo has been defeated by me, who attacked me\nseventeen times with twenty-three armies. And this Kaljumun, who has\nbeen reduced to ashes by your glance had brought a mob of three crores\nof unclean persons to fight with me.\u201d When Krishn\u00f9 had thus spoken,\nMoochkoond became possessed of knowledge, and said, \u201cO great king!\nyour delusive power is exceedingly great; it has enchanted the whole\nworld; and under its influence no one\u2019s understanding and senses\nretain their balance. All engage in schemes for the sake of happiness,\nand suffer calamity; as a dog, who, in gnawing a bone, sucks in his\nown blood, he thinks he sucks it from the bone, and looks upon\ncalamity as a pleasure; and, O great king! whoever comes into the\nworld, cannot, without your favour, escape from this dark well, in the\nform of a dwelling; I am, therefore, anxious to know how I shall be\nreleased from it.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee said, \u201cListen, Moochkoond! the\ncase is as you have stated it: but I will explain to you a plan, by\nadopting which, you will obtain release. Having obtained royal\nauthority, you have, for the sake of land, wealth and women, committed\nmany acts of injustice, which cannot be obliterated without the\nperformance of penance. Wherefore, go to the Northern quarter, and\nthere practise religious austerity. On quitting your present body, you\nshall be born again in the house of a holy man; and afterwards obtain\nsalvation.\u201d\n\nWhen Moochkoond, O great king! heard these words, he thought the black\nage had come; with these thoughts in his mind, he took leave of\nKrishn\u00f9, having made a salutation, and circled to the right by way of\nadoration, and went to Budreenath. Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund having\nreturned to Muttra, said to Bulram Jee, \u201cI have extirpated Kaljumun,\nand sent Moochkoond towards Budreenath. The army, with which Kaljumun\nhas surrounded Muttra, is immense. Come, and let us kill those impure\nwretches, and remove all the burthens of the earth.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, accompanied by Bulram, went\nforth from the city of Muttra, and came to the place where the army of\nKaljumun was standing in battle array; and on their arrival, they both\nbegan to fight with it. At length when, in the course of the battle,\nKrishn\u00f9 had slaughtered all the army of the barbarians, he said to\nBuldeo Jee, \u201cBrother! let us now take all the wealth of Muttra and\nsend it to Dwarka.\u201d Bulram Jee assented; then Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund had\nall the riches of Muttra brought out and laden on buffaloes, carts,\ncamels and elephants, and sent to Dwarka.\n\nIn the mean while, Joorasindhoo made another attack upon Muttra, with\ntwenty-three complete armies. Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram came out in\ngreat alarm, and showing themselves before Joorasindhoo ran off with a\nview of quieting the troubles of his mind. A counsellor then said to\nJoorasindhoo, \u201cO great king! who is so powerful as to make a stand\nbefore your majesty? Behold the two brothers, Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram,\nrunning away from dread of you, leaving their wealth and home, and\nescaping with uncovered feet, with their lives alone.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words from the minister, Joorasindhoo followed them\nwith his army, and called out, \u201cWhy are you flying from fear, stand,\nand do something? Why do you tremble violently, whether lying down or\nsitting up? Your death is at hand.\u201d\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo, the sage, said, O lord of\nthe earth! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo Jee fled after the manner of\nmortals, all Joorasindhoo\u2019s former disasters were banished from his\nmind; and he was rejoiced beyond description. Shree Krishn\u00f9 and\nBulram ran on, and ascended a hill, named Guotum, which was forty-four\ncoss high, and stood upon the summit of it. Joorasindhoo on perceiving\nthis, exclaimed, \u201cBulbhuddr\u00f9 and Moorari have ascended the peak of\nthe hill. How can they escape me now? set fire to the hill.\u201d\n\nWhen Joorasindhoo had thus spoken, all the evil spirits surrounded the\nhill; and bringing wood and doors from the towns and villages spread\nthem on all sides of it: and throwing old clothes upon them, saturated\nwith ghee and oil, set fire to the whole.\n\nWhen the fire rose up in a flame to the top of the hill, the two\nbrothers contrived to take the road to Muttra, so as that no one saw\nthem going; and the hill was burnt to ashes. Joorasindhoo then\nsupposing that Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram had been consumed by fire, together\nwith the hill, was greatly rejoiced, and taking his whole army with\nhim came to Muttra; and seizing the government, issued a proclamation,\nestablishing his own authority. He pulled down all the old houses\nbelonging to Oogursen and Basoodeo, and built new ones of his own.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja,--O great king! having thus deceived Joorasindhoo, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 and Bulram Jee, went and abode at Dwarka; and Joorasindhoo\nalso departed from Muttra with all his army; and returned home\nrejoicing, and without fear.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LIII.\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage, said,--O great king! hear the progress of\nthe history. When Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, came to\nDwarka, after having slain Kaljumun, released Moochkoond, deceived\nJoorasindhoo, accompanied by Buldeo Jee, life was revived in all the\ndescendants of Judoo; and joy was diffused over the whole city: the\ninhabitants began to enjoy ease and happiness.\n\nSometime after this, several of the descendants of Judoo went one day\nto the Raja Oogursen and said, \u201cO great king! it is now necessary to\nmake some arrangements for Bulram Jee\u2019s marriage, because he is of a\nmarriageable age.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, the Raja Oogursen sent for a brahmin, and\nentering into many explanations, and giving very particular\ninstructions, said, \u201cGo and betroth Bulram in some good family.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, and ordered the mixture rolee, rice, a rupee and a\ncocoanut to be brought, Oogursen marked the brahmin\u2019s forehead; and\npresenting him with the rupee and cocoanut allowed him to depart. He\npursued his journey, and arrived at the abode of the Raja Rewut in the\nAnurta country. Having betrothed Bulram Jee to his daughter Rewutee,\nand fixed upon a favourable moment, he brought the marks for the\nforehead by the hands of the Raja\u2019s brahmin, and presented them to\nOogursen at Dwarka; and informed him of all that had occurred, while\nhe was in the Raja\u2019s country. The Raja Oogursen was very much pleased\nwith the account; and, giving a festive entertainment, he sent for the\nbrahmin, who had brought the marks, and received them from him; and\ndismissed him with a large present of money, and afterwards went\nhimself in great splendour and state, accompanied by all the\ndescendants of Judoo, to the country of Anurta, and celebrated Bulram\nJee\u2019s marriage.\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo, the sage,\nsaid to the Raja,--O lord of the earth! in this manner the descendants\nof Judoo celebrated Bulram\u2019s marriage. And Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee,\naccompanied by his brother, went to Koondulpore; and having fought\nwith evil spirits, carried off Rookmunee, the daughter of the Raja\nBheekmuk, who had been betrothed to Sissoopal; and married her at his\nown home.\n\nHaving heard this, the Raja Pureechit enquired from Shree Shookdeo\nJee, \u201cO sea of compassion! how did Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund go to\nKoondulpore, and slay the evil spirits, and carry off Bheekmuk\u2019s\ndaughter, Rookmunee? Please explain these circumstances to me.\u201d Shree\nShookdeo Jee replied, O great king! listen with attention, and I will\ngive you a full account of all the circumstances.\n\nIn the Bidurbh country there was a city, named Koondulpore, the Raja\nof which, Bheekmuk, was renowned, and known to fame in all parts of\nthe world. Shree Seeta Jee descended upon the earth in his house. At\nthe birth of his daughter, the Raja sent for astrologers, who came,\nand having determined upon a fortunate moment, named the child\nRookmunee, and said, \u201cO great king! we are of opinion, that this girl\nwill possess an excellent disposition, be a receptacle of beauty, and\nequal Luchmee in excellent qualities, and be married to the first\nmale, Vishn\u00f9.\u201d\n\nWhen the astrologers had thus spoken, Raja Bheekmuk was highly\npleased, and indulged in great rejoicings and made many presents to\nbrahmins. After this, the girl increased daily in stature, like a\ndigit of the moon; and delighted her parents by her childish play.\nWhen she was a little older, she engaged in all kinds of rare games\nwith her female companions. One day this young creature, with eyes\nlike a deer, a voice like the kokila, complexion like the flower\nchumpa, and a countenance like the moon, went with her companions to\nplay at blind man\u2019s buff. Whilst engaged in the diversion, her\ncompanions said to her, \u201cRookmunee! you have come to spoil our sport;\nbecause wherever you hide with us in the dark, there is a flood of\nlight from the brilliancy of your moon-like countenance, which\nprevents our being concealed.\u201d On hearing this speech, she smiled and\nwas silent.\n\nHaving narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said, O\ngreat king! she constantly played in this manner with her companions,\nand her beauty greatly increased every day. In the mean while Narud\nJee came one day to Koondulpore; and, having seen Rookmunee, went to\nShree Krishn\u00f9 at Dwarka, and said, \u201cO great king! a young virgin has\nbeen born in the house of the Raja Bheekmuk, who is a mine of beauty\nand virtue and excellent qualities, equal to Luchmee, and worthy of\nbeing wedded to you.\u201d From the time he heard this account from Narud\nJee, Huri thought of her night and day. In this manner, O great king!\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund heard of the name and excellent qualities of\nRookmunee; and I will now explain how she heard of the fame and\ncelebrity of Krishn\u00f9. On one occasion several beggars from different\ncountries went to Koondulpore, and sung the celebrated exploits of\nKrishn\u00f9, his birth at Muttra, his joining with the cowherds\u2019 children\nin childish games at Gokool and Brindabun; and how he had made the\ndescendants of Judoo happy by destroying evil spirits, and removing\nthe burthens of the earth. All these circumstances they mentioned. On\nhearing the recital of Huri\u2019s wonderful actions, the inhabitants of\nthe city were greatly astonished, and said to each other, \u201cWhen shall\nwe see him, of whose exploits we have heard.\u201d By some means, the\nbeggars contrived to enter the court of the Raja Bheekmuk, and began\nto sing of the famous deeds, and the attributes of Krishn\u00f9. At that\ntime the beautiful Rookmunee had gone up to a balcony; and the voices\nof the beggars, reciting Krishn\u00f9\u2019s exploits, reached her ears. She\nwondered and was absent in mind; and turning round and peeping, wanted\nto see the beggars. The Raja\u2019s daughter, having heard Krishn\u00f9\u2019s\nhistory, remained absorbed in thought of him; the creeper of love\nsprung up in her breast; she was delighted and agitated by turns. Huri\nstole away her senses, memory and mind. Shree Shookdeo Jee\ncontinued,--O lord of the earth! in this manner Shree Rookmunee Jee\nheard of the fame and celebrity of Krishn\u00f9, and from that day she\ncontinued to think of him day and night, during the eight puhurs, and\nsixty four ghurees; whether asleep or awake, sitting, standing,\nwalking, eating, drinking or engaged in amusement; and celebrated his\ngood qualities with songs. She was in the habit of rising very early,\nand having bathed, and made a mud image of the goddess Parbuttee, she\nput upon it the mixture roolee, rice and flowers; and preparing\nperfumes, lamps and consecrated food, propitiated the goddess with\njoined hands, and downcast looks, and pronounced these words in\npresence of the image, \u201cTake pity on me, O Parbuttee! give me the lord\nof the Judoos as a husband, and remove all my troubles.\u201d In this\nmanner Rookmunee passed her life. One day she was amusing herself with\nher companions, when the Raja Bheekmuk, beholding her, began to think\nand say to himself, \u201cShe is now of an age to be married; if we do not\nmarry her to some one quickly, people will laugh. There is a saying,\nthat it is useless for a man, in whose house there is a grown-up\nunmarried daughter, to offer gifts, or perform good acts, or be\nengaged in prayers, or religious penance; because he obtains no\nbenefit from the performance of such acts, until he shall have\ndischarged the debt due to his daughter.\u201d\n\nHaving thus reflected, the Raja Bheekmuk came into his court; and,\nhaving summoned all his ministers and relations said, \u201cBrothers! my\ndaughter is marriageable, it is necessary to look out for a bridegroom\nfor her, of good family, a mine of good qualities, an abode of beauty\nand of a good disposition.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, they mentioned the families, virtues, personal\nappearance and power of the Rajas of many different countries; but\nRaja Bheekmuk did not approve of any of them. Then his eldest son,\nnamed Rookum, began to say, \u201cFather! Sissoopal, the Raja of the city\nof Chunderee, is very powerful, and in every respect our equal,\nbetroth Rookmunee to him, and gain reputation in the world.\u201d\n\nO great king! when the Raja would not acquiesce in his opinion, his\nyounger son, whose name was Rookumkesh, said, \u201cFather! give Rookmunee\nto Krishn\u00f9, and betroth her through Basoodeo.\u201d Bheekmuk was highly\ndelighted at these words, and commended his son\u2019s speech: \u201cYou,\nalthough only a child, are more intelligent than the rest, I approve\nentirely of what you have said; there is a saying, enquire from\npersons of high and low degree, in order to give confidence to your\nown judgment; seize upon what is valuable in the discourse of each;\nthis is the custom of the world.\u201d After this the Raja again said,\n\u201cRookumkesh has given good counsel; amongst the descendants of Judoo,\nthe Raja Soorsen is very celebrated and of great renown, whose son\nBasoodeo Jee is; and in his house the immortal Vishn\u00f9, the god of\ngods, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee, has been born, and destroyed the\nmighty Kuns, and all evil spirits; and, having removed the burthens of\nthe earth, has shed splendour on the family of Judoo, and conferred\nhappiness on all the descendants of Judoo, and other subjects; we\nshall acquire fame and greatness in the world by bestowing Rookmunee\non such a personage as Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee, the lord of Dwarka.\u201d\nAt these words, all the people of the court were highly delighted, and\nsaid, \u201cO great king! you have determined well, and will not meet with\nsuch a bridegroom, and of so good a family any where else. It is,\ntherefore, most advisable to give Rookmunee in marriage to Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund Jee.\u201d\n\nWhen, O great king! all the courtiers had thus spoken, Raja Bheekmuk\u2019s\neldest son, Rookum, was exceedingly wroth, and said, \u201cThese stupid,\nignorant people speak without thinking, and do not understand\nKrishn\u00f9\u2019s condition; he has lived with Nund sixteen years, and is\nuniversally called a cowherd; he tends herds, and wears a blanket, and\neats his labourer\u2019s food, seated on a fig tree: he is a village\ncowherd, and has no caste or rank. And how do we know whose son he is.\nSeeing that no one knows any thing about his father and mother; some\nlook upon him as the son of the cowherd, Nund, and others as\nBasoodeo\u2019s son; but no one has yet found out, to a certainty, whose\nson Krishn\u00f9 is; and, therefore, each person speaks of him as he\npleases. O great king! all people honour and respect us, and know our\nfamily; but since when have the descendants of Judoo become Rajas?\nWhat matters it, that lately they have acquired greatness, the first\nstain cannot yet be got rid of? He is called the servant of Oogursen;\nhow can we possibly obtain a great name in the world by betrothing\nRookmunee to him. There is a saying, that it is most fitting to\ncontract marriages, enmities and friendships with equals. And if we\ngive her to Krishn\u00f9, the world will call me a cowherd\u2019s\nbrother-in-law; and my good name and reputation will be utterly\nruined.\u201d O great king! Rookum went on to say, \u201cThat Raja Sissoopal of\nthe city of Chunderee was a very mighty and potent prince. From dread\nof him the world trembles, and the throne has descended in his family\nfrom time immemorial. Your best plan, therefore, is to give Rookmunee\nto him; and please never mention Krishn\u00f9\u2019s name again before me.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, the courtiers felt deep regret, and remained\nsilent through fear; and the Raja Bheekmuk did not say any thing. Upon\nthis Rookum sent for an astrologer; and having fixed upon a lucky day\nand fortunate moment, forwarded the nuptial gifts to the Raja\nSissoopal by the hand of a brahmin, who went with them to the city of\nChunderee, to the court of the Raja Sissoopal. On seeing him, the Raja\nmade a salutation, and enquired from the brahmin, \u201cSay, O god! whence\nhave you come, and with what object?\u201d The brahmin gave him his\nblessing and explained the reasons of his arrival. Raja Sissoopal was\ndelighted at hearing them; and having sent for his family priest,\nreceived the nuptial gifts and dismissed the brahmin with many\npresents. He afterwards invited Joorasindhoo and other Rajas, who came\nwith their armies; and he also went forth with his troops to the\nmarriage. The brahmin, who had taken the marks for the forehead, said\non his return to the Raja Bheekmuk, \u201cO great king! I have given the\nmarks to the Raja Sissoopal, and he is coming to the marriage in\nsplendid procession: arrange your plans accordingly.\u201d\n\nRaja Bheekmuk was at first very sad, when he heard these words:\nafterwards, having reflected and thought upon the matter, he went into\nhis palace and mentioned the subject to his wife, who immediately sent\nfor musicians, and invited all her female relations; and gave a great\nfestive entertainment, with a view of celebrating the marriage in due\nform, and with all the prescribed ceremonies. The Raja then came\nforth, and ordered his minister and counsellors \u201cTo collect together\nall things necessary for the marriage;\u201d and they immediately carried\nthe Raja\u2019s order into full effect by procuring every thing. People saw\nand heard what was being done: and a report got abroad in the city,\nthat \u201cRookmunee was to have been married to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, but\nthe wicked Rookum would not permit it; and that now she was to be\nmarried to Sissoopal.\u201d\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O lord of the earth! such was the talk in each\nhouse in the city: and in the palace, the women sang and played, and\nmade the necessary preparations; brahmins read the Vedas, and caused\nall the usual customs of marriage to be duly observed: large\nkettle-drums resounded in many places; pillars formed of sprouting\nplantain were fixed in the earth, and golden water pots, placed in\nfront of each door; strings of flowers and garlands were fastened in\nevery direction, and on one side, the inhabitants of the city apart,\nswept and spread with cloths the markets, roads and cross-roads.\nWhilst there was this bustle and preparation inside and outside the\nhouse, some female friends of Rookmunee came and said to her, \u201cRookum\nhas given thee to Sissoopal; and now, Rookmunee, you have become a\nqueen.\u201d Engaged in thought, and drooping her head she said, \u201cMy\naffections, words and vows are all centred in the lord of the world,\n(Krishn\u00f9.)\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, Rookmunee was much depressed in spirits, and sent\nfor a brahmin, to whom she explained all her wishes, with joined hands\nand with many supplications; and treating him with great\nconsideration, said, \u201cO great king! take my message to Dwarka, and\nhaving mentioned it to Dwarkanath (Krishn\u00f9), bring him here with you,\nI shall be under the greatest obligation to you, and shall think that\nI am indebted to your kindness in obtaining Shree Krishn\u00f9, as my\nbridegroom.\u201d The brahmin replied, \u201cTell me what message I am to take,\nand I will mention it to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund. He is the lord of\ncompassion: and if he should compassionately consent to come, I will\nbring him with me.\u201d When the brahmin had thus spoken, Rookmunee Jee\ngave into his hands a letter, written in the most affectionate terms,\nand said, \u201cDeliver it to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, and\nsay to him for me, that his servant, with joined hands and the\ngreatest supplications, looks upon him, as being acquainted with the\nsecrets of the heart, and knowing the inmost thoughts of every one.\nWhat more need I say? I have sought his protection: my character is in\nhis hands, let him act in such a way, that it may be preserved, and\ncome quickly and see me.\u201d\n\nWhen Rookmunee Jee, O great king! dismissed the brahmin with these\nwords, he meditated upon Krishn\u00f9, and repeating his name started for\nDwarka; and through his love for Huri, arrived immediately. On\narrival, he beheld the city in the midst of the sea, surrounded on all\nsides by extensive forests and hills, and beautiful groves; in which\nwere heard the cries of animals, and notes of birds of all kinds.\nThere were elegant tanks, filled with pure water; in which the lotus\nwas in full bloom, and bees buzzed in swarms around: on the bank,\ngeese and cranes and other birds were disporting; gardens of fruits\nand flowers of every kind extended for many coss, on the borders of\nwhich betel plantations flourished. Gardeners were standing at the\nwells, singing sweet melodies; and, plying the water-wheels and\nbuckets, poured forth water in every direction; and the quays were\nthronged with female water-carriers. As the brahmin progressed, after\nhaving viewed this beautiful scene with delight, he saw very lofty\ncastles on all sides of the city, having four gates, and doors studded\nwith jewels, and inlaid with gold. Inside the city were five and\nseven-storied houses of gold and jewels, glittering with great\nsplendour, and reaching to the sky: the spires of which were as\nresplendent as lightning. Flags and banners of various colours were\nwaving: perfumed odours came forth from the doors, blinds, air-holes\nand trellis-work: at each door were pillars of plantain sprouts, and\ngolden water-pots, filled with water: wreaths of flowers and garlands\nwere fastened in every direction; and there were sounds of musical\nrejoicing in every house. In many places the Pooran\u00f9s were recited,\nand people discoursed of Huri. The eighteen different classes lived\nhappily and at ease, the quoit Soodursun protecting the city.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--Raja! viewing this beautiful and elegant city, the brahmin\narrived at the court of the Raja Oogursen; and, giving him his\nblessing enquired, \u201cWhere does Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee dwell?\u201d Some\none pointed out his house; and when he arrived, and stood before the\ngate, the watchmen made a salutation on seeing him, and enquired,\n\u201cSay, whence do you come, and from what country have you brought a\nletter?\u201d He replied, \u201cI am a brahmin, and an inhabitant of\nKoondulpore, and have come to deliver a letter to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nfrom Rookmunee, the daughter of Raja Bheekmuk.\u201d The door-keepers\nanswered, \u201cBe pleased to go into the house, Shree Krishn\u00fa Chund is\nsitting opposite on a throne.\u201d At these words, when the brahmin\nentered, Huri, on seeing him, immediately descended from his throne,\nand making a salutation, received him with the greatest respect and\ndignity. Having seated him on his throne, and washed his feet, he took\nthe water with which his feet had been washed, and waited upon him\nwith the same assiduity, that a person would observe in attending upon\na deity.\n\nAt length Krishn\u00f9, having rubbed him with perfumed paste, and having\nfinished his ablutions, placed before him all kinds of delicacies; and\nafterwards presented him with pawn, and sprinkling him with saffron\nand sandal, placing a garland of flowers on his neck, took him to a\nchamber, ornamented with precious gems, and placed him on a bed with\ncurtains, and studded with jewels.\n\nO great king! he was weary and fatigued with his journey, and soon\nfell into a most pleasant sleep. Shree Krishn\u00f9 sat for a long time\nnear him from an anxious desire to hear what he had to communicate to\nhim; and kept constantly saying to himself, \u201cThat the brahmin would\nwake soon.\u201d When, at length, he found that he would not rise, he\nbecame uneasy; and sitting at the foot of his bed, began to rub his\nfeet. The brahmin was awakened by this, and sat up. Then Huri made\nkind enquiries, and said, \u201cYour government, country and person are\nauspicious, explain to me your circumstances, for what purpose have\nyou come here, and conferred happiness on me by your arrival?\u201d The\nbrahmin replied, \u201cO abode of mercy! be pleased to listen with\nattention, and I will explain the reasons of my coming: Since, O great\nking! the daughter of Bheekmuk, Raja of Koondulpore, heard of your\ngreat name, and your many excellent qualities, she has her thoughts\nfixed on you constantly, night and day, and desires to attend upon\nyour lotus-like feet. A chance offered of her doing so, but it was\nrendered unsuccessful.\u201d Krishn\u00f9 enquired, \u201cWhat the chance was?\u201d The\nbrahmin said, \u201cO kind to the poor! one day the Raja Bheekmuk having\nassembled all his courtiers and relations, said to them, \u2018Brothers! my\ndaughter is of an age to be married; we must now fix upon a husband\nfor her.\u2019 When the Raja had thus spoken, they mentioned the families,\nvirtues, renown and power of a great many Rajas, of whom, however, he\ndid not approve. Upon this, Rookumkesh mentioned your name, at which\nthe Raja was delighted, and acquiesced in what he proposed, and said\nto them all, \u2018Brothers! his words are engraved in my mind, as though\nthey had been engraved on stone, what is your opinion?\u2019 They replied,\n\u2018If, O great king! you were to search the aggregate of the three\nworlds, you would not meet with such a bridegroom, and such a family\nas his: for which reason, you should, without any delay, quickly give\nRookmunee in marriage to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee.\u2019 O great king! this had\nbeen resolved upon, when Rookum prevented its being carried into\neffect, and betrothed Rookmunee to Sissoopal; and he has gone forth to\nthe marriage, taking all his army of evil spirits with him.\u201d\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O\nlord of the earth! the brahmin, having thus informed Huri, delivered\nRookmunee Jee\u2019s letter to him, who received it with the utmost\naffection, and placed it in his breast; and after reading it said with\ndelight to the brahmin, \u201cO divinity! suffer not any anxiety; I will\naccompany you, and, having slain the evil spirits, will fulfil\nRookmunee\u2019s wishes.\u201d\n\nThe brahmin was restored to confidence by these words; but Huri was\noccupied with anxious thoughts of Rookmunee.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LIV.\n\nShookdeo Jee said,--Raja! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, having thus inspired\nthe brahmin with confidence, said, \u201cAs a burning flame comes forth\nfrom wood by rubbing it, so will I bring away the beauteous Rookmunee,\nhaving destroyed the army of wicked demons.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, and arrayed himself in an elegant and handsome\ndress, covered with jewels, Krishn\u00f9 went to the Raja Oogursen, and\nsaid with joined hands, \u201cO great king! Bheekmuk, the Raja of\nKoondulpore, has written me a letter, offering his daughter, which he\nhas sent by the hand of his family priest, and has invited me to come\nalone; with your permission I will go, and, having married his\ndaughter, bring her here.\u201d Oogursen said in reply, \u201cWhy have you fixed\nyour affections in so distant a country? You are going there alone,\nMoorari; avoid entering into quarrels, or wrangling with any one; who\nwill send us intelligence here of you?\u201d Oogursen afterwards added,\n\u201cWell, if you must go there, take all your army with you, and go\naccompanied by your brother, and return quickly after the marriage; do\nnot fight or quarrel with any one there; because you will live long\nand will be able to obtain many very beautiful women.\u201d On receiving\nhis permission, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund said to Oogursen, \u201cO great king!\nyou have spoken truly, but I will proceed in advance; and please send\nBulram Jee after me with the army.\u201d With these words, Huri took leave\nof Oogursen and Basoodeo; and, having gone to the brahmin, sent for\nhis ruth, and Daruk, his charioteer. On receiving Krishn\u00f9\u2019s order, he\nimmediately harnessed a chariot with four horses, on which Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 ascended; and, having seated the brahmin by his side,\nproceeded from Dwarka to Koondulpore. On emerging from the city, he\nsaw herds of deer running on his right hand; and lions and lionesses,\nrushing roaring from opposite him, with their food.\n\nUpon observing this good omen, the brahmin reflected and said, \u201cO\ngreat king! from beholding this omen, I am of opinion, that you will\nobtain a full accomplishment of your wishes, just as these animals\nhave obtained the object of their desires.\u201d Shree Krishnu Chund\nreplied, \u201cBy your favour it will happen so.\u201d Having then spoken, Huri\nadvanced thence; and beholding new countries, cities and villages\narrived at Koondulpore; and observed, on his arrival, that the beauty\nof the city had been very much increased by the marriage preparations,\nwhich were being everywhere made. The lanes were swept clean, and the\ncross-roads spread over with cloths, and sprinkled with perfumes and\nsandal wood. There were clusters of betelnut and vegetables, in the\nmidst of which, cocoanuts of gold were distributed. There were\ninnumerable garlands in each house, composed of green leaves, fruits\nand flowers; flags, banners and wreaths were waving in the air, and\nelegant golden spires were attached to the tops of domes, and there\nwas rejoicing in each house. O great king! such was the beauty of the\nscene in the city; but it is impossible to give a description of the\nfestivities inside the palace, which required to be seen to be\nproperly appreciated. Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund having, in the course of\nhis progress, seen all the city, encamped in an enclosed ground,\nbelonging to the Raja Bheekmuk, and seated in the refreshing shade,\nhaving cooled himself after his journey, said to the brahmin, \u201cO\ndivinity! go first of all, and inform Rookmunee Jee of my arrival,\nthat she may acquire confidence, and banish her sorrows. Afterwards\nacquaint me with all that has transpired there, that I may arrange my\nplans accordingly.\u201d The brahmin said, \u201cO lord of mercy! to-day is the\nfirst day of the marriage; and there is great confusion and bustle of\npreparation in the palace, I will go and take an opportunity of\nmentioning your arrival to Rookmunee Jee, when I find her alone.\u201d With\nthese words the brahmin went thence. O great king! Huri thus arrived\nquietly and alone; whilst on the other hand, Raja Sissoopal,\naccompanied by Joorasindhoo and armies of demons, arrived with\nboundless show and splendour, and brought such a crowd with him, that\nthe king of the serpent race, the snake Shesh\u00f9, on one of the heads\nof which the world rests, began to totter from the weight, and the\nearth to be upset. Having received information of their arrival, Raja\nBheekmuk advanced with his ministers and relations to receive them:\nand having met the bridegroom with great honour and dignity, robing\nall the party in robes of honour, and presenting them with arms\nstudded with jewels, and ornaments, elephants, and horses, brought\nthem into the city; and having fixed upon a place in the bride\u2019s house\nfor the reception of the bridegroom and his train, entertained them\nwith deferential respect.\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo, the sage,\nsaid,--O lord of the earth! I will now narrate an intermediate story,\nto which be pleased to listen with attention. When Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund left Dwarka, all the descendants of Judoo went to Raja Oogursen,\nand said, \u201cO great king! we have heard, that Raja Sissoopal has gone\nto Koondulpore with Joorasindhoo and all his army of evil spirits to\nthe marriage; and Huri has gone alone. From this we are certain, that\nthere will be fighting between them and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee. With this\nopinion, firmly fixed in our mind, how can we remain here, pretending\nignorance, and abandon Huri? Our own wishes are averse to this, and we\nare ready to act according to your instructions.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, the Raja Oogursen was greatly alarmed and\nfrightened; and having sent for Bulram Jee, explained to him and said,\n\u201cGo quickly with all my army to Koondulpore, so as to reach the city\nbefore Shree Krishn\u00f9\u2019s arrival, and bring him back with you.\u201d On\nreceiving the Raja\u2019s order, Buldeo Jee took with him to Koondulpore\nfifty-six crores of the descendants of Judoo. The elephants of the\narmy of all colours, black, white and purple, appeared like clouds,\nand their white tusks appeared like rows of cranes. The large\nkettle-drums sounded like thunder, and their arms shone like\nlightning. Troops of horsemen, dressed in red and yellow, were seen\nscattered here and there: whole ranges of chariots advanced,\nglittering with splendour; on beholding the beauty of which, the gods\nwere delighted, and with the greatest joy rained down flowers from the\nsky, seated in their cars and expressed wishes for Krishn\u00f9\u2019s success\nand victory. In the mean while, and about the time of Huri\u2019s arrival,\nBulram Jee arrived also at Koondulpore. After this, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nadded, O great king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the sea of beauty and light\nof the world, arrived thus at Koondulpore; but Rookmunee, not having\nbeen informed of his coming, was displeased, and gazed in every\ndirection, like the moon, which is dimmed on the approach of morning.\nHer elegant mind was greatly overwhelmed by excess of anxious thought;\nand she stood gazing and looking in every direction from a lofty\nbalcony. She peeped through the windows and doors, tears streaming\nfrom her eyes. Dissatisfied, and greatly depressed in mind, she sighed\ndeeply, weeping from agitation, and oppressed with sad thoughts she\nsaid, \u201cWhy has Huri not come yet, whose name is \u2018the acquainted with\nthe secrets of the heart?\u2019 What fault have I committed, that he has\nnot yet thought of me? Has the brahmin not gone to him, or does he\nthink me ugly, and not wish to return my affection, or has he been\nprevented by the arrival of Joorasindhoo? To-morrow is the\nmarriage-day, and the demon has come. If he should take my hand\nto-morrow, how can this sinful soul survive without Huri? Prayers,\npenance, vows and acts of charity have been no protection to me. What\nshall I do? Whither shall I go? Sissoopal has come with his marriage\nprocession; why has the merciful Krishn\u00f9 delayed coming so long?\u201d\n\nWhen Rookmunee had thus spoken, one of her companions said, \u201cHow can\nHuri come to such a distant country, without permission from his\nfather and brother?\u201d Another said, \u201cHe, whose titles are \u2018acquainted\nwith the secrets of the heart and merciful to the poor,\u2019 will\ncertainly not fail in coming. Be of good cheer, Rookmunee; be not\nagitated, I have a firm belief, that some one will come presently, and\nannounce Huri\u2019s arrival.\u201d\n\nO great king! whilst these two were thus engaged in discourse, the\nbrahmin arrived; and having pronounced a blessing said, \u201cShree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund Jee has arrived, and is encamped in one of the royal\nenclosures; and Buldeo Jee is following with all the army.\u201d\n\nOn seeing the brahmin, and hearing what he had said, Rookmunee Jee\u2019s\nspirits were revived; and then she was as happy as a devotee, who has\nobtained the fruit of his penance. After a short time, Shree Rookmunee\nJee, with joined hands, and bowing her head, began to say in presence\nof the brahmin, \u201cBy coming to-day, and mentioning the arrival of Huri,\nyou have restored me to life; what return shall I make you for this?\nIf I were to give the wealth of the universe, I should still be in\nyour debt.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, she remained fearful, and abashed. The brahmin\nbeing highly gratified, and pronouncing a benediction, rose and went\nthence to the Raja Bheekmuk, and explained all the circumstances of\nShree Krishn\u00f9\u2019s arrival. On hearing this authentic account, the Raja\nBheekmuk rose up and proceeded to the enclosure where Shree Krishn\u00f9\nand Bulram, the abodes of pleasure, were living; prostrating himself\non his arrival so as to touch the ground with the eight principal\nparts of his body, he appeared before them, and with joined hands\nsaid, \u201cYou are the root of my mind, Huri; how shall I explain to you\nwhat our wicked enemies have done? My desires have been accomplished\nby your coming here.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, and having had Krishn\u00f9 comfortably housed, Raja\nBheekmuk returned to his own palace, and reflecting began to say,\n\u201cEvery one knows the exploits of Huri; who can say, how his arrival\nhere has been brought about?\u201d And all the inhabitants of the city,\nmale and female, came to where Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo were, and\nsung of their renowned actions, and celebrated their praises, saying\nto each other, \u201cRookmunee is a fit bride for Shree Krishn\u00f9. Bruhm\u00f9\ngrant that this match may take place, and last long.\u201d In the mean\nwhile, upon a sudden thought the two brothers went to look at the\ncity; crowds of men and women were collected at every market, road and\ncross-road, to which the two brothers went; who sprinkling perfumes\nand sandal, and rose-water, and raining down flowers on them stretched\nout their hands, and pointed out the two brothers to each other:\n\u201cBulram is dressed in blue, and Krishn\u00f9 in yellow silk, they have\ncrowns on their heads, and tremulous ear-rings; their lotus eyes, wish\nto steal away our hearts.\u201d The two brothers went on viewing the city;\nat length, having seen all the city and the forces of Raja Sissoopal,\nthey returned to their own army.\n\nOn hearing of their arrival, Raja Bheekmuk\u2019s eldest son was\nexceedingly wroth, and going to his father began to say, \u201cSay, truly,\nat whose invitation has Shree Krishn\u00f9 come here? I cannot understand\nhow he can have come, without being invited. A marriage is an occasion\nand affair of pleasure, what business has he here? Wherever these two\ndeceitful, perverse creatures go, they occasion injury. If you value\nyour own welfare, tell me, truly, by whom were they invited?\u201d\n\nO great king! Rookum having thus endeavoured to terrify his father,\nrose and went thence, uneasy and disturbed in mind, to the court of\nSissoopal and Joorasindhoo, and said to them, \u201cBulram and Krishn\u00f9\nhave come here; inform all your people of this, that they may be on\ntheir guard.\u201d\n\nOn hearing the names of the two brothers, Raja Sissoopal looking back\nupon the exploits and history of Huri became low-spirited, and began\nto be very thoughtful, and Joorasindhoo said, \u201cWherever these two come\nthey commit some violence or other, they are very powerful, and\ntreacherous. In Bruj they have slain with ease Kuns and other mighty\ndemons; do not look upon them as children, they have never been\ndefeated in any encounter. Shree Krishn\u00f9 destroyed my army seventeen\ntimes; when I attacked the eighteenth time, he ran away, and climbed\nup a mountain, which I set on fire, and he, by some trick, escaped to\nDwarka. No one understands Krishn\u00f9\u2019s nature, he has come here to\ncommit violence. He is very deceitful, and will practise great deceit,\nand no one will be able to understand him. Arrange, therefore, your\nplans, so that our characters may be preserved.\u201d When Joorasindhoo had\nthus spoken Rookum replied, \u201cWhat things are they, that you are so\napprehensive about them? I know them well; they wander about the\njungles, singing and dancing, and playing the flute, and tending\nherds. What do those village children know of the science of war?\nBanish all anxiety from your mind, I will in a second repel and slay\nShree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram, and all the descendants of Judoo.\u201d\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said, O great king! Rookum returned home that day\nafter having entered into explanations with Joorasindhoo and\nSissoopal, and inspired them with confidence, and they spent the night\nin uneasiness.\n\nIn the morning Rajas Sissoopal and Joorasindhoo, considering it the\nmarriage-day, were engaged in all the bustle and preparation of\nbringing forth the marriage procession: and there were festive\nrejoicings also at the palace of the Raja Bheekmuk. In the mean while\nRookmunee Jee sent a message to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund by a brahmin,\nsaying, \u201cO abode of kindness! this is the marriage-day; when two\nghurees of the day are left, I will go to perform poojah at a temple\nof Dewee, eastward of the city. My modesty and good name have been\nentrusted to you; act, so that they may be preserved.\u201d\n\nAfterwards, when the day was somewhat advanced, her female friends and\ncompanions, and relatives arrived; on coming there, having first\nfilled up a square place in the court-yard with large pearls, and\narranging upon it a golden chair, studded with ornaments, they seated\nRookmunee upon it, and had her rubbed with oil by the hands of seven\nmarried women. Afterwards, having applied perfumes and scented paste,\nand bathed and washed her, they decked her out completely with jewels\nand ornaments; and arraying her in a red boddice, they placed her in\nher full bridal dress on the chair. When about four ghurees of the day\nremained, the youthful Rookmunee, accompanied by her female friends\nand companions, went forth in musical procession to perform poojah to\nDewee; and Raja Bheekmuk sent some of his people to protect her. On\nhearing that the Raja\u2019s daughter had gone outside the city to worship\nDewee, Raja Sissoopal, through dread of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, summoned\nsome of his mighty heroes, and powerful warlike attendants; and,\nhaving given them most minute instructions, sent them to guard\nRookmunee Jee. They came, bringing with them their arms and weapons of\nall kinds, and accompanied the Raja\u2019s daughter. At that time\nRookmunee, accompanied by crowds of her female companions, proceeding\nveiled under the guard and protection of black demons, appeared as\nbeautiful as the moon surrounded by stars, in the midst of a black\ncloud. At length, after proceeding some distance, she reached the\ntemple of Dewee. Having gone to the temple, she washed her feet and\nhands, and sipping water from the palm of her hand, became purified.\nThe Raja\u2019s daughter having made an offering of sandal, rice, flowers,\nperfumes, lamps and consecrated food, went through the ceremony of\nworshipping Dewee with great faith, and according to the injunctions\nof the Vedas. Having afterwards prepared food agreeable to female\nbrahmins, she arrayed them in elegant dresses, and making sectarial\nmarks on their foreheads, and fastening thereon the unbroken rice used\nin the oblation, made them presents, and received their blessing.\nHaving afterwards offered adoration to Dewee by going round to the\nright, that lovely creature, with a face like the moon, of the colour\nof the flower chumpa, with deer-like eyes, a voice like the kokila,\nand the gait of an elephant, taking her companions with her, was\noccupied with the thought of meeting Huri. And as she was on the point\nof returning, after having finished all the necessary rites and\nceremonies, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, seated on his ruth, arrived alone at\nthe spot where the warlike attendants of Rookmunee were standing fully\narmed.\n\nHaving recited thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--When she was\nreturning, after having worshipped Dewee one of her companions said,\nin a state of agitation, \u201cO beautiful Rookmunee! Huri has arrived:\nbehold his waving banner.\u201d Having heard this speech of her companions,\nand beholding the flag attached to Krishn\u00f9\u2019s ruth, the Raja\u2019s\ndaughter was so overjoyed, that her body could not contain her.\nPlacing her hand in that of her companion, she advanced amongst them\nall in the hope of meeting Huri, with such a fascinating look,\nsmiling, and at such an easy, composed pace, that all description is\nimpossible of the beauty of her appearance. The guards on seeing Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund all seemed to be deprived of sense, and stood still;\nand the screen of cloth, behind which Rookmunee was concealed, dropped\nfrom their hands. And on beholding the beautiful and fascinating face\nof Rookmunee, they were more distracted, and were so upset, that they\nlost all thought and recollection. She raised her eye-brow, in the\nform of a bow, and having shot forth the arrows of her eyes from the\nbowstring of her darkened eye-lashes, in the act of killing them,\nrestored them to life.\n\nO great king! at that time all the demons stood gazing like painted\npictures; and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, having advanced his chariot\namongst them, stopped near Rookmunee, who, on beholding her soul\u2019s\nlord, was suffused with blushes; and, as she stretched out her hand to\nmeet Krishn\u00f9, he raised her up with his left hand, and seated her on\nhis ruth; she trembled and was greatly abashed; and, having abandoned\nall others, went off with Huri. Like a religious ascetic who abandons\nhis home, and fixes his affections on the feet of Krishn\u00f9.\n\nO great king! Rookmunee Jee obtained the fruit of all the prayers,\npenance, fasts and acts of charity she had performed, and forgot all\nher former sorrows. Her enemies seized their arms, and stood gazing at\nher. Krishn\u00f9 carried off Rookmunee from the midst of them, just as a\nlion would spring amongst large troops of jackals, and seizing its\nprey, go off fearless and roaring. After Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\u2019s\ndeparture, Bulram Jee, sounding the kettle-drum, joined him with all\nhis army.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LV.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! having gone some distance,\nand looking on the thoughtful and blushing Rookmunee Jee, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund said, \u201cO lovely creature! banish all anxiety, I will\nsound my shell, and dissipate your fears; and, on arrival at Dwarka,\nmarry you according to the prescribed rites and ceremonies of the\nVedas.\u201d With these words Krishn\u00f9 put his own necklace on her neck;\nand, seating her on his left, sounded his shell, when the attendants\nof Sissoopal and Joorasindhoo all started from their sleep; and it was\nspread abroad, throughout the whole city, that Huri had carried off\nRookmunee. Rajas Sissoopal and Joorasindhoo, having heard of\nRookmunee\u2019s abduction from the guards they sent with her, were\nexceedingly enraged; and putting on their coats of mail and helmets,\nand fastening their waist-bands, and arming themselves completely,\nfollowed in quick pursuit of Krishn\u00f9 with all their forces, with a\nview of engaging him. When they came near, poising their weapons, they\nexclaimed, \u201cWhy are you running away, stand and take your arms and\nfight? Chutrees and heroical brave men do not show their backs in the\nfield.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, O great king! the descendants of Judoo faced\nabout, and the engagement began on both sides. The youthful Rookmunee\nwas at that time greatly alarmed; and, covering herself with a veil,\nshed tears, and heaved deep sighs, looking intently on the face of her\nbeloved, she thought to herself, \u201cThat he endured all these troubles\nfor her sake.\u201d Krishn\u00f9, who is acquainted with the secrets of the\nheart, knowing the thoughts of her mind, said, \u201cO lovely Rookmunee!\nwhy art thou afraid? In thy very sight I will slay the army of demons,\nand remove the burthens of the earth, do not be at all anxious.\u201d\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--Raja! the gods, seated at that time in their chariots in the\nsky, beheld the descendants of Judoo fighting with the demons, and a\nmighty battle raging, Krishn\u00f9 stood looking on, whilst Bulram fought.\nKettle-drums sounded, bards sang war-songs, panegyrists celebrated the\npraises of the combatants, horsemen encountered horsemen, elephant\nriders elephant riders, charioteers charioteers, and foot soldiers\nfoot soldiers. In every direction heroes and brave men attacked and\nengaged each other; and cowards, leaving the field, ran off with their\nlives. The wounded stood writhing with pain, headless trunks, with\nswords in their hands, wandered about in every direction, and bodies\nwere heaped upon bodies, from which a river of blood flowed; the\nelephants, which were lying dead here and there, appeared like\nislands, and their trunks like alligators. Muhadeo, accompanied by\nghosts, goblins and spirits, wore a garland of heads, which he had\nselected; and vultures, jackals and dogs tore and fought with each\nother for the corpses of the slain, and, rending them in pieces,\ndevoured them. Crows plucked out eyes from their sockets, and carried\nthem off. At length, in sight of the gods, Bulram destroyed the army\nof demons, in the manner that a husbandman would reap a field.\nJoorasindhoo and Sissoopal, when their whole army was destroyed, took\na few wounded men with them, and flying arrived and made a stand at\nthe same place. Sissoopal, expressing great regret and shaking his\nhead, said to Joorasindhoo, \u201cIt is not right I should live, having\nlost my honour, and brought disgrace on my family; with your\npermission, therefore, I will return to the battle, and die fighting;\nif not, I will take up my abode in the forest; I will become a\ndevotee, and abandon all worldly hopes; my good name and character are\nlost, why should I live, and preserve life by submitting to disgrace?\u201d\nJoorasindhoo replied, \u201cO great king! you are a man of understanding\nand great experience; how shall I advise you? The wise do not allow\nthemselves to be troubled by the events that occur, because another\nbeing is the disposer of good and evil; man has no power, but is under\nthe authority of, and subservient to, another; as the juggler makes\nthe wooden puppet dance as he pleases, so is man in the power of his\nMaker, who acts according to his own will, for which reason you should\nnot be elated in prosperity, nor depressed in adversity; but look upon\nevery thing as a dream. I advanced seventeen times to attack the city\nof Muttra with twenty-three complete armies, and my whole army was\nseventeen times slain by this Krishn\u00f9; I did not give myself any\nuneasiness, nor was I at all elated when on the eighteenth occasion I\ndestroyed his forces, he ran away and climbed up a hill, which I set\non fire; it is impossible to know how he escaped with life, his nature\nis not to be understood.\u201d Joorasindhoo after this again said, \u201cO great\nking! it is advisable for you to submit to this present crisis of your\naffairs. There is a saying, that if life is spared, all will go well:\nas it happened to me to be defeated seventeen times, and again a\nvictory on the eighteenth occasion. Consult, therefore, your own\nwelfare and interest, and act accordingly, and abandon obstinacy.\u201d\n\nWhen Joorasindhoo, O great king! had given this advice, Sissoopal\nrecovered confidence, and, taking with him all his armed followers,\nwho had escaped wounded, he accompanied Joorasindhoo in a state of\ngreat sorrow and regret, and they went thence after their defeat. And\nnow listen to the account of what happened in the family of Sissoopal.\nAs his mother began to prepare festive entertainments in expectation\nof the arrival of her son, some one sneezed in front of her, and her\nright eye began to palpitate; when she beheld this unfavourable omen,\nher forehead throbbed; and in the mean while, some one came and said\nto her, \u201cYour son\u2019s army has all been destroyed, and he has not\nobtained the bride, and he is running away thence to save his life.\u201d\nOn hearing these words, Sissoopal\u2019s mother was greatly troubled, and\nbecame speechless.\n\nRookum having heard of the flight of Sissoopal and Joorasindhoo, came\nand sat in his court in a state of great rage and excitement; and\nbegan to say in the presence of all, \u201cHow can Krishn\u00f9 escape from me?\nI will now go and slay him, as sure as my name is Rookum: otherwise, I\nwill not return to Koondulpore.\u201d O great king! having made this vow,\nRookum took with him a complete army, consisting of 109,350 foot,\n65,610 horse, 21,870 chariots and 21,870 elephants; and advanced to\nfight with Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, and surrounded the army of the\ndescendants of Judoo. He then said to his followers, \u201cDo you destroy\nall the descendants of Judoo, and I will go on in advance, and bring\nKrishn\u00f9 here alive and bound.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, his followers began to fight with the\ndescendants of Judoo; and he went forward in his chariot, and, on\napproaching Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, called out, \u201cO deceitful villager!\nwhat do you know of the nature and duties of government? In the same\nway, that in your childhood you stole milk and curds, you have come\nand carried off a beautiful woman; I am not a herdsman, inhabitant of\nBruj.\u201d With these words, he seized some arrows, and discharged three\npoisoned ones from his bow at Krishn\u00f9. Perceiving the arrows coming\ntowards him, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund warded them off, (or stopped them\nmidway). Rookum discharged more arrows, with the same result on the\npart of Krishn\u00f9; who, having prepared and arranged his bow, let fly\nseveral arrows with such force, that the charioteers and all the\nhorses of the chariot were destroyed; and Rookum\u2019s bow was pierced,\nand fell from his hand. Huri after this cut in pieces and cast on the\nground all the weapons Rookum used against him. He was exceedingly\nenraged, and seizing a shield and sword, leaped from his chariot, and\nrushed towards Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, as a mad jackal would rush upon\nan elephant, or as a moth would fly into a lamp. On coming up, he\nattacked the chariot of Huri with a club, who immediately laid hold of\nand bound him, and was on the point of killing him, when Rookmunee Jee\ninterposed, and said, \u201cDo not kill him, he is my brother, release,\nlord, your servant; what can such a blind fool know, who looks upon\nthe husband of Luchmee as a mortal. You are the first and eternal god\nof devotion; and have became manifest, O divine being! for the sake of\nyour worshippers. How could this silly creature recognize you, who are\ncelebrated as the compassionate benefactor of the poor?\u201d Having thus\nspoken she added, \u201cGood men take no thought of the faults of fools and\nchildren, as the lion pays no regard to the barking of a dog. If you\nkill him, my father will be afflicted; you ought not, therefore, to\nput him to death. Wherever your feet fall, all men live happily; it\nwould be strange indeed, if having such a relation as you, Raja\nBheekmuk should suffer grief on account of his son.\u201d\n\nO great king! after this speech, Rookmunee Jee once again thus said,\n\u201cYou have shown great affection towards my relation, in having laid\nhold of and bound him, and in being prepared with a sword in your hand\nto kill him.\u201d Afterwards, she was very much agitated, and trembling,\nwith downcast eyes and sobbing, she fell at his feet, and throwing\nopen her breast, began to say, \u201cO Krishn\u00f9! give my brother to me as\nan act of charity; and acquire renown for yourself in the world by\nthis deed.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee\u2019s anger was entirely cooled by\nhearing these words, and looking towards Rookmunee, he did not deprive\nRookum of life; but made a sign to his charioteer, who immediately\npulled off his turban, and tying his hands behind his back shaved his\nmoustachios, beard and head, leaving seven locks of hair, by which he\nfastened him to the chariot.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said, O\ngreat king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee thus treated Rookum; and Buldeo, having\nslain and put to flight all the armies of the demons, hastened to meet\nhis brother with the same celerity as a white elephant runs about a\nplace, abounding with water lilies, destroying devouring, and\nscattering about the flowers in great fury. At length he reached the\npresence of Krishn\u00f9; and perceiving that Rookum was bound, addressed\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Jee with great warmth and anger, \u201cWhat is this you have\ndone in binding your brother-in-law? You cannot leave off your bad\nhabits; you have shown little sense in binding him; and by this act,\nKrishn\u00f9, you have severed the relationship, and brought a stain upon\nthe family of Judoo; who will now connect himself with us? When he\ncame before you to fight, why did you not expostulate with him, and\nsend him back?\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, Bulram Jee released Rookum; and,\nhaving entered into explanations with him, dismissed him with the\ngreatest politeness; and then joining his hands, Bulram, the abode of\ndelight, said to Rookmunee Jee with great humility of manner, \u201cO\nbeauteous Rookmunee! it has not been our fault, that your brother has\nbeen subjected to this treatment; it is the recompense of his deeds in\na former birth; and it is honourable for Chutrees, and their usual\npractice to arrange armies, and fight for land, wealth and women with\neach other; be not displeased at what has happened, but believe what I\nsay, defeat and victory happen to him according to his fate, and this\nworld is a sea of troubles; who from his entrance into it tastes of\nhappiness? but men, being under the influence of delusion, estimate\naccording to their different judgments, and form opinions of good and\nevil, pain and pleasure, victory and defeat, good and bad fortune. The\nsoul, however, has no sensation of delight or misery, from these\nthings do not vex yourself with the thought of your brother having\nbeen disfigured. The wise consider the soul as immortal, and the body\nas mortal. For this reason, the soul is not affected by any disgrace\nthat happens to the body.\u201d\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja\nPureechit,--O incarnation of justice! when Bulram Jee had thus advised\nRookmunee, she having heard and reflected upon what he had said, was\nashamed in presence of her husband\u2019s elder brother. In the midst of\nthe army, she said to her husband, \u201cO lord of Bruj! drive on the\nchariot;\u201d she covered herself with a veil, and spoke sweetly to Huri,\n\u201cBuldeo is standing before us; O husband! drive on the chariot\nquickly.\u201d\n\nWhen Shree Rookmunee Jee had thus spoken, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee\ndirected the chariot towards Dwarka; and Rookum having returned to his\nown people, and suffering great anxiety, said to them, \u201cI started from\nKoondulpore with this vow, that I would go and destroy Krishn\u00f9 and\nBulram and all the descendants of Judoo, and bring Rookmunee here, my\nvow has not been accomplished; and I have instead of performing it,\nlost my honour; I will not survive this disgrace, but abandoning my\ncountry and home, and family and all worldly affairs, will become a\nreligious ascetic, and seek death somewhere.\u201d When Rookum had thus\nspoken, one of his household said, \u201cO great king! you are a great\nhero, and very renowned, it was their good fortune to have escaped\nalive from your hands, they are indebted to the strength of their fate\nfor this escape, otherwise, what enemy could encounter you, and escape\nalive? You are possessed of great understanding; why, therefore, do\nyou think of pursuing such a course as you have mentioned? Sometimes\ndefeat occurs, and sometimes victory, but it is the attribute of the\nbrave and resolute not to lose confidence. Suppose your enemy has\nescaped to-day, we will destroy him some other time.\u201d When he had thus\nadvised him, Rookum replied, \u201cI have been defeated by them, and my\ngood name is gone, and I am most heartily ashamed; may I die, if I\nreturn to Koondulpore, but I will establish some other village.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, he peopled a city with inhabitants, to which he\nconveyed his children, wife and wealth. He named it Bhojkutoo; in this\nmanner Rookum established a village.\n\nO great king! Rookum dwelt there, being at enmity with the Raja\nBheekmuk; and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and Buldeo Jee proceeded on their\njourney and arrived near Dwarka. The inhabitants of the city received\nintimation of their approach by the dust, caused by their chariots,\nwhich reached the sky. When they knew that Huri was coming, they\ncompletely arranged and prepared the city for his reception. Its\nbeauty equalled that of the three worlds, who can attempt to describe\nit; at that time there were rejoicings in every house. Pillars of\nplantain were fixed at each entrance, golden water-pots filled with\nwater and sprouts, were placed in every direction; flags and banners\nwaved; garlands and wreaths of flowers were fastened in different\nplaces, and crowds of women were standing in every market, road and\ncross-road, holding lamps with four wicks; and the Raja Oogursen,\naccompanied by all the descendants of Judoo, advancing in musical\nprocession to meet them according to the prescribed forms and\nceremonies, escorted Bulram, the abode of pleasure, and Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund, the root of joy, to the city. The beauty of the scene baffles\ndescription; all the inhabitants, both men and women, were delighted.\nThey came into the presence of Krishn\u00f9 and presented their offerings.\nAnd the women sang songs of rejoicing at the gates and doors of their\nhouses, and from sheds and house-tops, and performing the ceremony\n\u201c_Arta_,\u201d showered down flowers. Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and Buldeo Jee\ndisplayed towards all great fascination of manner, and delighted them\ngreatly; and progressing in this manner, they arrived at the palace\nand took up their abode there. Some days afterwards, Shree Krishn\u00f9\nJee went one day to the royal court, where Rajas Oogursen, Soorsen,\nBasoodeo and all the grandees of the family of Judoo were sitting;\nand, having made a salutation, said, in their presence, \u201cO great\nkings! it is called a devil\u2019s marriage, if a man carry off a woman,\nafter having gained a victory in battle.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, Soorsen Jee sent for a family priest; and\nexplaining to him said, \u201cFix a day for Shree Krishn\u00f9\u2019s marriage.\u201d He\nimmediately drew forth an almanac, and having decided upon a\nfavourable month, day, time, constellation and an auspicious period\nwith respect to the sun and moon, fixed upon a day for the marriage.\nRaja Oogursen then gave the order to his ministers to collect all\nnecessary materials, and make preparations for the marriage; and\nsitting down wrote letters of invitation to the members of the family\nof Koroo and Judoo, and all Rajas, far and near; and despatched them\nby the hands of brahmins. O great king! all the Rajas were highly\ngratified at receiving the letters of invitation; and started off,\naccompanied by brahmins, pundits, bards and beggars.\n\nWhen Raja Bheekmuk received intelligence of these events, he delivered\nover to a brahmin many dresses, arms, ornaments, studded with gems,\nchariots, elephants, horses and male and female servants, sedan\nchairs; and, having made a vow in his mind respecting the giving his\ndaughter in marriage, with very great humility, sent off all the\ndifferent presents to Dwarka. The Rajas of the different countries\ncame, and the brahmin also arrived, whom the Raja Bheekmuk had\ndespatched with presents. The beautiful appearance of Dwarka at that\ntime cannot be described. When at length the marriage-day came, after\nhaving gone through all the prescribed forms and ceremonies, they\nconducted the bride to a building, erected for the occasion, and\nadorned with flowers, and placed her upon a seat; and all the great\nchiefs and members of the family of Judoo came, and sat there also, at\nthat time, pundits recited the Vedas; Huri circled round with\nRookmunee. Drums and other musical instruments resounded; the\ndelighted gods rained down flowers. Demi-gods, saints, bards and\ncelestial musicians were all spectators from the sky. The wives of the\ngods, ascending their chariots; and collecting together, and stooping\ndown, all sang songs of rejoicing. Taking hold of Rookmunee by the\nhand, Krishn\u00f9 circled her round, and seated her on his left. They\nuntied the knot, and re-turned the board used for sitting on at meals,\nand then performed pooja to the family Devee. Huri, unloosing\nRookmunee\u2019s bracelet, joined with her in the sport of eating milk,\nboiled rice and sugar together. The lord of the universe was highly\ndelighted; all the spectators were filled with joy, and pronounced\nbenedictions: \u201cMay the marriage of Huri and Rookmunee last long, whose\nnatures have imbibed the spirit of nectar.\u201d They gave presents to all\nthe brahmins, who came; and robes of honour to the bards and\npanegyrists; and, having allowed them to take leave, had all the Rajas\nof the different countries escorted back.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O\ngreat king! whoever shall read or hear of the actions of Huri and\nRookmunee; and, having heard and read, shall remember them, will\nobtain religion, absolution from sin and celebrity. Moreover, whatever\nbenefits are to be gained by the sacrifice of a horse and other\nsacrifices; by the gift of a cow and other gifts; by bathing in the\nGanges and other holy bathing places; by going on a pilgrimage to Prag\nand other holy spots; will be bestowed on hearing and reciting this\nhistory.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LVI.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said, O great king! one day Shree Muhadeo Jee was\nsitting in his house in a state of religious meditation, when Ramdeo\ncame suddenly, and annoyed him; and his thoughts wandered from Huri;\nand, being without knowledge, he began to indulge in amorous dalliance\nwith Parbutee Jee. When, after having sported some time, his intellect\nreturned to Shiv\u00f9, he was filled with anger, and burnt Ramdeo to\nashes. When Shiv\u00f9 had burnt the powerful Ramdeo, Ruti lost all\nfirmness. Without her husband, she was in a state of great agitation;\nand became weak and restless. The wife of Ramdeo wandered about,\nrolling on the ground: and calling on her husband, embraced the\nground. Observing that she was much distressed at the loss of her\nhusband, Parbutee thus addressed her, \u201cO Ruti! be not sad, but listen\nwhile I mention how your husband will be restored again to you. He\nwill first be born in the house of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, and his name\nwill be Purdiyomun. Afterwards, a demon, named Sunbur, will carry him\noff, and set him adrift in the sea; having after this come into the\nbelly of a fish, he will appear in the food of Sunbur: go, and take up\nyour abode there, and when your husband arrives, take him and bring\nhim up; eventually he shall slay Sunbur, and, having taken you to\nDwarka, shall live there happily with you.\u201d O great king! the wife of\nShiv\u00f9 thus advised Ruti, who, having recovered her spirits, came to\nthe house of Sunbur, and took up her abode in his cook-room, and night\nand day, was in anxious expectation of the arrival of her husband.\n\nHaving narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--Raja! Ruti, in expectation of meeting with her husband, began\nthus to take up her abode in the kitchen of Sunbur; and Rookmunee\nbecame pregnant; and after the full period of ten months, was\ndelivered of a son. Having obtained intelligence of this event, the\nastrologers came; and having determined upon the proper moment, said\nto Basoodeo Jee, \u201cO great king! on beholding the favourable planet of\nthis child, we are of opinion, that he will be equal to Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund Jee in beauty, qualities of mind and strength: but during his\nchildhood, he will dwell in water; and hereafter, having slain his\nenemy, will return.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, the astrologers named him Purdiyomun, and\nreceiving presents took leave; and in the house of Basoodeo, the usual\nforms and ceremonies were observed, and there were festive rejoicings.\nNarud Jee, the sage, after this went to Sunbur, and, having entered\ninto an explanation with him, said, \u201cWhy are you asleep at this time;\nare you without all thought?\u201d He enquired the reason of the question,\nand Narud replied, \u201cThy enemy, named Purdiyomun, one of the descents\nupon earth of Ramdeo, has been born in the house of Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund Jee.\u201d\n\nRaja! Narud Jee having thus informed and put Sunbur on his guard,\ndeparted, and Sunbur having reflected, and thought over the subject in\nhis mind, determined upon this plan,--\u201cIn the form of air I will go,\nand will bring him away with me thence, and will launch him into the\nsea, in order that the troubles of my mind may be quieted; and that I\nmay live, free from alarm.\u201d Having formed this resolution, Sunbur went\nthence in an invisible shape, and arrived at the abode of Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund, where Rookmunee Jee was nursing and suckling the\ninfant in her chamber; and having silently made all his secret\narrangements, stood there. When Rookmunee\u2019s hand was withdrawn from\nthe child, the demon spread his delusive power, and carried off the\ninfant, so as that not one of all the women sitting there knew or saw\nwhether any one had come, and how the child had been carried off.\nRookmunee was very much frightened, when she did not see her child,\nand began to weep. On hearing her lamentations, all the descendants of\nJudoo, male and female, gathered together, and discoursing variously\namongst themselves, were in a state of great anxiety. In the meanwhile\nNarud Jee came and explained to them, \u201cBe not apprehensive on account\nof the disappearance of the child; there is not the slightest cause\nfor fear. The child will go to some other place, but death will not\naffect it; and when his childhood is passed, he will return to you\nwith a very beautiful wife.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Narud, the sage, had thus explained the course of\nevents, the descendants of Judoo reflected on what he had said; and on\nhis taking leave, became satisfied, and tranquil in mind. Be pleased\nnow to listen to the progress of the history, how Sunbur, having\ncarried off Purdiyomun, cast him into the sea. A fish swallowed him,\nand was swallowed by another large fish. A fisherman came and throwing\na net into the sea, caught the fish. On drawing the net, and seeing\nthe fish, the fisherman was much pleased, and brought it home and\nsubsequently made a present of it to Raja Sunbur, who sent it to his\nkitchen. When the cook cut open the fish another fish came forth; and\non ripping open its belly, a very beautiful child of a black colour\nmade its appearance. The cook was greatly astonished, and took away\nthe child, and gave it to Ruti, who was highly delighted at receiving\nit. When Sunbur heard of it, he sent for Ruti, and said to her, \u201cBring\nup this child with the greatest care.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, Ruti brought the child to her own house. Narud\nJee then came and said to Ruti, \u201cBring up this child with the greatest\ncare, as it is your husband, who has appeared in the form of\nPurdiyomun. He will destroy Sunbur, and take you hence, passing his\nchildhood here.\u201d Having divulged thus much of the future, Narud, the\nsage, departed; and Ruti began to bring up the infant with the\ngreatest care and affection. As the child grew up, Ruti became\ndesirous of meeting with her husband. Sometimes, whilst looking at\nhim, she clasped him with affection to her bosom; and sometimes\nkissing his eyes, mouth and cheeks, she smilingly clung to his neck,\nand thus said, \u201cKrishn\u00f9 has contrived this lucky circumstance, and I\nhave found my husband in a fish;\u201d and O great king! she brought milk\nfor him, and gave it to him in a fond, affectionate manner; and\ndandled him in her arms, singing his praises, and lovingly calling him\n\u201chusband.\u201d When Purdiyomun was five years old, Ruti dressed him in all\nkinds of dresses and ornaments to satisfy the longings of her mind,\nand gratify her eyes. When the child laid hold of the hem of her\ngarment, and began to call her \u201cmother,\u201d she replied laughingly, \u201cO\nhusband! what are you saying? I am your wife, think and reflect upon\nthis. Parbutee Jee told me to dwell in the house of Sunbur; and that\nmy husband should be born in the house of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee,\nand should come to me in the belly of a fish. And Narud Jee told me\nnot to be sad, and that I should recover my husband. From that time I\nhave been in expectation of meeting with you, and have abode here, my\nhopes have been realized by your coming.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, Ruti instructed her husband in the science of\narchery. When he had acquired a perfect knowledge, she one day said to\nhim, \u201cHusband! we ought not to stay here any longer, because your\nmother, Shree Rookmunee Jee, is as uneasy without you as a cow without\nits calf, you ought, therefore, to slay the demon Sunbur; and, taking\nme with you, return to Dwarka to your parents, and make them happy;\nfor they have a most ardent desire to see you.\u201d\n\nHaving narrated these circumstances, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the\nRaja,--O great king! listening in this manner to the discourses of\nRuti, when Purdiyomun had grown up, he went one day playing to the\nRaja Sunbur. On beholding him, and regarding him as his own son he\nsaid, fondling him, \u201cI have brought this child up as my own son.\u201d On\nhearing these words, Purdiyomun Jee replied with very great anger, \u201cI,\nthough a child, am your enemy; fight with me now, and see my\nstrength.\u201d Having thus spoken, he came forward, striking his arms in\npreparation for the encounter; upon this Sunbur laughed, and began to\nsay, \u201cBrother! whence has this other Purdiyomun come here on my\naccount? What, have I fed with milk, and nourished a snake, that he\nshould thus speak to me?\u201d After this, he again said, \u201cSon! why do you\ntalk thus? Has the messenger of death come to take you away.\u201d\n\nO great king, on hearing these words from Sunbur, he replied,\n\u201cPurdiyomun is my name: fight with me to-day. You it was, who set me\nadrift in the sea; but I have now returned to take my revenge. You\nhave brought up the instrument of your death in your own house; and I\nam neither your son, nor are you my father.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this, Sunbur seized his weapons, the passions of his mind\nbeing greatly inflamed with rage, like a person, who has trodden on a\nsnake\u2019s tail in the dark. Sunbur sent for all his army, and taking\nPurdiyomun outside, he, in great fury, raised a club, and said in a\nvoice of thunder, \u201cLet us see, who will now save you from death.\u201d When\nhe rushed towards him, and brandished the club, Purdiyomun Jee easily\nevaded and parried his attacks. Being furious with rage he then\ndischarged arrows of fire, which he quenched with arrows of water.\nSunbur in great wrath then expended all the weapons he had and\nPurdiyomun warded them off. When he had not a single weapon left, he\nrushed forward furiously and grappled with Purdiyomun Jee, and they\nboth began to wrestle. After some time, Purdiyomun flew off with him\nto the sky, and there cut off his head with a sword; and on his\nreturn, slew the army of demons. Sunbur being slain, Ruti was made\nhappy. And at that time, a chariot descended from the sky, on which\nRuti and her husband ascended, and went to Dwarka with the same\ncelerity, as a beautiful cloud with lightning flies; and on arriving\nthere, they observed houses of gold, glittering like lofty hills. On\ndescending from the chariot, they both retired at once to the female\napartments. All the women were startled at seeing them; and were\nashamed, thinking that Shree Krishn\u00f9 had brought a beautiful woman\nwith him. But no one knew, that it was Purdiyomun; all of them called\nhim Krishn\u00f9. When Purdiyomun asked where his father and mother were,\nRookmunee Jee began to say to her companions, \u201cFriends! who is this in\nthe likeness of Huri?\u201d They replied, \u201cWe think, that this must be a\nson of Shree Krishn\u00f9\u2019s.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, a stream of milk came forth from the breast of\nRookmunee Jee, and her left arm began to shake; and her mind was in a\nstate of fear and agitation for the meeting; but without her husband\u2019s\npermission, she could not meet him. At that time, Narud Jee came\nthere, and related all the preceding history, and tranquillized the\nminds of them all; then Rookmunee Jee ran forward, and kissing her\nson\u2019s head, clasped him to her bosom; and having his marriage\ncelebrated with all due forms and ceremonies, received her son and\ndaughter-in-law into her house. At that time, all the descendants of\nJudoo, men and women, came and joined in festive rejoicings, and were\nhighly delighted. Songs of congratulation resounded in every house,\nand happiness was diffused throughout the city of Dwarka.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! Purdiyomun having thus been born,\nhaving spent his childhood in another place, killed his enemy, and\ncame with Ruti to the city of Dwarka, there was joy and festivity in\nevery house.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LVII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! Suttrajeet charged Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund first with the theft of a jewel; and afterwards,\nfinding his accusation to be false, he was ashamed, and gave his\ndaughter Sutbhama in marriage to Huri. Raja Pureechit enquired from\nShree Shookdeo Jee, \u201cO abode of compassion! who was Suttrajeet, where\ndid he obtain the jewel, and how did he accuse Huri of theft, and\nafterwards finding the charge false, in what manner did he give his\ndaughter in marriage; explain these circumstances to me?\u201d Shree\nShookdeo Jee replied,--O great king! be pleased to listen, and I will\nexplain all the circumstances. Suttrajeet belonged to the family of\nJudoo, who for a long time was engaged in an act of very difficult\nreligious penance in honour of the sun. The sun-god was highly\ngratified, called him and having given him a jewel, said, \u201cThis\njewel\u2019s name is Soomuntka, it contains an unbounded power of\nconferring happiness and wealth; worship it continually, and look upon\nit as equal to me in power and splendour; if you meditate upon it,\nhaving offered up prayers, and performed acts of penance, abstinence\nand fasting, you shall obtain whatever you ask for; into whatever\ncountry, city and house this jewel shall enter, there misery, poverty\nand death shall not have access. There shall be constant plenty and\nincrease, and prosperity.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken the sun-god allowed Suttrajeet to\ntake leave; who went home with the jewel. After this, rising, early\nand performing his morning ablutions, and finishing his religious\nmeditations and libations, he was in the habit of offering adoration\nto the jewel, with unbroken rice, flowers, sandal, perfumes, lamps and\nconsecrated food; and taking away the eight loads of gold, which came\nfrom the jewel, he was delighted.\n\nOne day whilst engaged in worship, beholding the beauty and brilliancy\nof the jewel, he thought to himself,--\u201cIt will be a good act to take\nthis jewel and show it to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund.\u201d Having come to this\nresolution, and fastening the jewel on his arm, Suttrajeet went to the\ncourt of the descendants of Judoo. On seeing the brilliancy of the\njewel from a distance, the descendants of Judoo stood still with\nadmiration, and began to say to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee, \u201cO great king! the\nsun is coming here from a longing desire to see you. Bruhm\u00f9, Roodr\u00f9,\nIndr\u00f9 and all the gods worship you; and meditating upon you during\nthe eight puhurs, sing of your celebrity. You are the immortal first\nmale, Vishn\u00f9, Luchmee has become your servant, and constantly waits\nupon you. You are the god of all the gods. No one knows your nature.\nYour attributes and qualities of mind are limitless; now, O lord! will\nyou be concealed, having come into the world?\u201d\n\nO great king! when the descendants of Judoo began to discourse thus,\non seeing Suttrajeet approach, Huri said, \u201cThis is not the sun; it is\nSuttrajeet, one of the family of Judoo, who has obtained a jewel for\nhaving performed an act of penance in honour of the sun. Its splendour\nis equal to that of the sun. He is coming with that jewel, fastened on\nhis arm.\u201d\n\nO great king! whilst Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee was thus speaking, Suttrajeet\ncame and sat down in the court, where the descendants of Judoo were\nplaying at \u201c_choupur_\u201d and dice. The minds of all were fascinated by\nbeholding the brilliant lustre of the jewels, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nremained also looking at it. Suttrajeet, then, upon something\noccurring to his mind, took leave, and returned home; and afterwards\nused constantly to come to the court with the jewel fastened about his\nneck. One day, the descendants of Judoo said to Huri, \u201cO great king!\ntake the jewel from Suttrajeet, and give it to Raja Oogursen and\nobtain celebrity in the world. This jewel does not suit him, but is\nfit for a Raja.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee smilingly said to Suttrajeet,\n\u201cGive this jewel to the Raja, and acquire for yourself a great name\nand reputation in the world.\u201d On hearing this proposal to give the\njewel away, he made an obeisance, and rose up; and, engaged in\nthought, went to his brother, and said, \u201cShree Krishn\u00f9 Jee asked me\nfor the jewel to-day, and I did not give it him.\u201d When Suttrajeet had\nthus spoken, his brother, Pursen, was angry, and took the jewel, and\nthrew it on his own neck; and arming himself, and mounting a horse,\nwent out hunting. Having gone into an extensive forest, he began to\nkill various kinds of deer and antelopes with his bow and arrows. A\ndeer having rushed out before him, he was enraged, and pursued it on\nhorseback; and in the course of the pursuit came alone to a large deep\ncave, which had existed for ages. On hearing the sound of the deer and\nhorse\u2019s feet, a lion came forth from the cave; and killing all three,\nand carrying off the jewel, went into his cave again. The light was so\ngreat in consequence of the jewel coming into the cave, that its rays\nextended to the infernal regions. A bear, named Jamwunt, that had been\nwith Shree Ramchund in the descent of Ram upon the earth, and had\nsince the Treta age dwelt in the regions below with all his family,\nseeing that shining light in the cave, rose up; and pursuing his\njourney came to the lion. Having killed the lion, he carried off the\njewel, and went with it to his wife who fastened it in her daughter\u2019s\ncradle. The child constantly played and amused herself with the jewel,\nwhich filled their abode with a perpetual stream of light.\n\nHaving recited thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! the\njewel was thus lost, and such was the fate of Pursen. The people, who\nhad accompanied Pursen, came and said to Suttrajeet, \u201cO great king! he\nleft us, and went off alone, and we have found no trace of where he\nwent. They searched again in consequence of their statements not being\nbelieved, but could not find Pursen any where in the forest.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this statement, Suttrajeet abstained from all food and\ndrink; and being greatly depressed and troubled in mind began to say\nto himself, \u201cThis is Shree Krishn\u00f9\u2019s doing, he has killed my brother\nfor the sake of the jewel, and has carried off the jewel to his own\nhome. First of all he asked me for it; but I did not give it, and he\nhas thus carried it off.\u201d With these thoughts, he passed his time in\ngreat anxiety. One night, he was sitting on his wife\u2019s bed, emaciated,\nlow-spirited, silent and deeply engaged in thought, when his wife said\nto him, \u201cWhy are you so thoughtful, husband! tell me your secret\nanxieties?\u201d Suttrajeet replied, \u201cIt is not right to reveal important\nsecrets to a wife, as she cannot keep them; what she hears at home,\nshe publishes abroad; she is ignorant, and without knowledge of any\nthing, good or bad.\u201d\n\nSuttrajeet\u2019s wife was angry at this speech, and said, \u201cWhen did I ever\npublish abroad any thing I heard at home, as you state? Are all women\nalike?\u201d She added, \u201cUntil you mention to me, what is preying upon your\nmind I will abstain from all sustenance.\u201d Suttrajeet replied, \u201cTruth\nand falsehood are known to Bhugwan; but I will inform you of what I am\nthinking, provided you will not tell any one.\u201d His wife assented.\nSuttrajeet began to say, \u201cOne day Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee asked me for the\njewel, and I did not give it, I, therefore, think that he has killed\nmy brother in the forest, and taken away the jewel; this must have\nbeen done by him, as no one else has the power to perform such an\nact.\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--O great king! his wife did not sleep after hearing this\naccount, and passed the night in great perplexity of mind. Early in\nthe morning, she said to her female companions and servants, \u201cShree\nKrishn\u00f9 Jee has killed Pursen, and taken away the jewel, I heard this\nfrom my husband last night, but do not mention it to any one.\u201d They\nwent away silently agreeing not to speak of the matter; but in\nprivate, began to talk to each other, in astonishment, upon the\nsubject. At length one of the servants went and mentioned the subject\nin the female apartments of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund. On hearing it, all\nthe women thought, that if Suttrajeet\u2019s wife had said so, the\nstatement could not be false; and having formed this opinion, they\nbegan to blame, and speak ill of, Shree Krishn\u00f9. In the mean while,\nsome one came, and said to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee, \u201cYou are under a\nsuspicion, O great king! of having killed Pursen, and taken away the\njewel; why are you sitting idle? You should adopt some measures to\ncounteract these statements.\u201d On hearing this statement, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Jee was at first frightened; afterwards, reflecting on the\nsubject, he came to the court, where Oogursen and Basoodeo and Bulram\nwere sitting, and said, \u201cO great king! I am accused of having killed\nPursen, and carried off the jewel; I will, therefore, with your\npermission, go and search for them both, in order that this disgrace\nmay be wiped away.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee went thence to the forest,\ntaking with him several of the descendants of Judoo, and the\ncompanions of Pursen. When they had gone some distance, they saw marks\nof horse\u2019s feet, on tracing which, they reached the spot where a lion\nhad devoured Pursen and his horse. On seeing the remains of their\nbodies, and the marks of a lion\u2019s feet, they were all of opinion, that\nthe lion must have killed them. Thinking thus, and not having obtained\nthe jewel, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund went, accompanied by them all, to that\ndeep, dark and terrible cave. At the entrance, he saw a lion lying\ndead, but did not find the jewel there. On beholding this strange\nsight, they all said to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee, \u201cO great king! whence has\nsuch a powerful animal come into this forest, as to be able to kill a\nlion, and carry off the jewel into the cave? Adopt measures\nimmediately against him. You have made all necessary search, and have\nobliterated all the suspicions, that were raised against you, the\ndisgrace is now upon the lion\u2019s head.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee said, \u201cCome\nlet us go into the cave, and see who has killed the lion, and taken\naway the jewel.\u201d They all replied, \u201cO great king! we are terrified at\nbeholding the mouth of the cave; how shall we be able to enter it?\nMoreover, we beseech you also, not to go into this frightful cavern,\nlet us return home; we will all say in the city, that a lion killed\nPursen, and carried off the jewel; and that some animal killed the\nlion, and went into a deep and very terrible cave with the jewel. We\nall saw this with our own eyes.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund replied, \u201cMy\nmind is intent upon the jewel, and I will go into the cave alone; in\nten days, I will return, stay here that time; and if I delay beyond\nthat time, return home, and give information of the matter.\u201d O great\nking! having thus spoken, Huri entered that dark, frightful cave, and\npursuing his journey arrived at the place, where Jamwunt was sleeping,\nand his wife rocking her daughter in a cradle of chalk. On beholding\nKrishn\u00f9, she called out through fear, and Jamwunt awoke, and making a\nrush, grappled Krishn\u00f9, and they both began to wrestle. When neither\nhis stratagems nor strength succeeded against Huri, he began to\nreflect and say, \u201cLuchmun Ram is my equal in strength, who else in the\nworld is so powerful as to be able to fight with me?\u201d O great king!\nJamwunt having thus reflected, and meditating upon Krishn\u00f9, shrunk\nback with joined hands, and said, \u201cO Rugoonath! appear to me, I know\nyou to be acquainted with the secrets of the heart, and recognize you\nby beholding your exploits. You have done well in descending upon the\nearth; remove the burthens of the world. I have dwelt here since the\nTreta age. Narud has told me your history; that Krishn\u00f9 would come\nhere for the jewel, and then he will appear to you.\u201d\n\nHaving narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--Raja! When Jamwunt, having recognised Krishn\u00f9,\nspoke thus, Shree Moorari, the friend of his worshippers, beholding\nthe attachment of Jamwunt, was delighted; and assuming the appearance\nof Ram, appeared to him with a bow and arrows, and Jamwunt, having\nprostrated himself so as to touch the ground with the eight principal\nparts of his body, stood up; and joining his hands said, with the\ngreatest humility, \u201cO sea of compassion and brother of the poor! with\nyour permission, I will explain my wishes.\u201d Krishn\u00f9 granted\npermission. Then Jamwunt said, \u201cO purifier of the guilty and lord of\nthe poor! it is the wish of my mind to give you this damsel, Jamwutee,\nin marriage, and obtain celebrity and greatness in the world by so\ndoing.\u201d Bhugwan replied, \u201cIf such is your desire, it is acceptable to\nme.\u201d When Krishn\u00f9 had thus spoken, Jamwunt took sandal, unbroken\nrice, flowers, perfumes, lamps and consecrated food, and worshipped\nhim; and afterwards married his daughter to him in the manner, and\nwith the ceremonies prescribed by the Vedas, giving her the jewel as a\npart of her dowry.\n\nHaving related thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo, the sage,\nsaid,--Raja! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, taking with him\nJamwutee and the jewel, came forth from the cave. And now be pleased\nto listen to what befel the descendants of Judoo, and companions of\nPursen and Shree Krishn\u00f9, who were standing at the mouth of the cave.\nWhen twenty-eight days had elapsed and Huri did not return, they went\nthence, devoid of all hope; and came to Dwarka, troubled with all\nkinds of perplexing thoughts, and shedding tears. The descendants of\nJudoo were very much alarmed at the intelligence they brought; and\ncalling on the name of Shree Krishn\u00f9, and suffering great affliction,\nthey began to weep and lament; and there was mourning in all the\nfemale apartments. At length, all the women being much agitated,\nemaciated and in low spirits, went forth from the palace, and weeping\nviolently came to a temple of Devee, distant about a coss outside the\ncity. Having worshipped and propitiated Devee, joining their hands and\nbowing their heads, they began to say, \u201cO Devee! gods, men and sages,\nall meditate upon thee, and receive from thee whatever boon they ask,\ntell us, when will Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, come?\u201d\n\nO great king! all the women sat down at the entrance of the temple,\nand continued imploring Devee; Oogursen, Basoodeo, Buldeo and the\nother descendants of Judoo were sitting in a state of great anxiety,\nwhen Shree Krishn\u00f9, the immortal, the dweller in Dwarka, smiling and\nbringing Jamwutee with him, came and stood in the royal court; all\nwere delighted at beholding the moon-like face of Krishn\u00f9. And on\nhearing the good news of his arrival, all the women having worshipped\nDevee, returned home; and began to engage in festive rejoicings.\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king!\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Jee, sitting in the court, sent for Suttrajeet, and,\nhaving given him the jewel, said, \u201cI did not take away this jewel, and\nyou suspected me falsely. Jamwunt took away this jewel, and has given\nit to me, together with his daughter.\u201d Taking the jewel, Suttrajeet\nwent away, bowing his head, and thoughtful:--\u201cI have committed a great\ncrime against Huri, and ignorantly abused his family; I have cast a\nslur and suspicion on the lord of the Judoos, and have shown great\nenmity to him for the sake of the jewel. I must now endeavour to atone\nfor my fault, and give the jewel, Sutbhama, to Krishn\u00f9.\u201d With these\nthoughts in his mind, Suttrajeet went home with the jewel, depressed\nin spirits, and explained all his anxieties to his wife. His wife\nsaid, \u201cO husband! this is a good thought of yours. Give Sutbhama to\nShree Krishn\u00f9, and obtain celebrity in the world.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, Suttrajeet sent for a brahmin; and having\nfixed upon a favourable rising of a sign of the zodiack, and a\ndivision of time equal to forty-eight minutes, and placing on a dish a\ncoloured mixture for the forehead, unbroken rice, a rupee and a\ncocoanut, sent the nuptial gifts to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund by the hands\nof the family priest. Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee came to the marriage with\ngreat pomp and splendour, wearing a high crowned hat. Then Suttrajeet,\nhaving observed all the usual forms and ceremonies, gave his daughter\nin marriage according to the injunctions of the Vedas, and having\nbestowed great wealth upon her, added the jewel also to her dowry. On\nbeholding the jewel, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee drew it forth, and said, \u201cThis\njewel is of no use to me, because you have obtained it for having\nperformed a penance in honour of the sun. Keep this in your own house,\nas my family do not accept the things bestowed by other gods, with\nexception of Bhugwan.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund had thus spoken, Suttrajeet\ntook the jewel, and was ashamed, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee returned home\nin musical procession with Sutbhama, and lived happily with her in the\nroyal palace. The Raja Pureechit interrupted Shree Shookdeo Jee in\nthis part of the story, and enquired, \u201cO abode of compassion! kindly\nexplain, why the suspicion and calumny of the theft were fastened upon\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Jee?\u201d Shookdeo Jee replied, Raja! Mohun had seen the\nmoon, when it was four days old in the month of Bhadon; and hear me,\nwhoever, having heard this history, shall see the moon when four days\nold in the month of Bhadon, shall escape unblemished.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LVIII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! I will now describe how\nSutdhunwa killed Suttrajeet, and, taking away the jewel, and giving it\nto Akroor, fled from Dwarka, listen with attention. The son of the\nblind Dritrasht (Doorjodhun) invited the Pandoos, and gave them beds\nin his house; at midnight, he surrounded the house with flames.\n\nOn hearing of this circumstance, the two brothers were greatly grieved\nand perplexed; and ordered the charioteer, Daruk, to bring their\nchariot, mounting which, they went to Hustinapoor, and descending\nentered the court of the Roroos, and there beheld them all sitting,\nemaciated and low-spirited; Doorjodhun was thoughtful; Bheekmuk was\nshedding tears; Dritrasht was in great affliction, and tears were even\nfalling from the eyes of Dronacharuj; Bidooruth Jee was greatly\ndispirited, and Gundharee was sitting near him. And the other wives of\nthe Roroos, thinking of the Pandoos, continued to weep and the whole\ncourt was sad.\n\nO great king! seeing this state of affairs, Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram\nJee went and sat near them, and made enquiries regarding the Pandoos:\nbut all remained silent, and would not divulge any thing.\n\nHaving narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram Jee,\nhaving heard of the burning of the Pandoos went to Hustinapoor; and\nthere was in Dwarka a member of the family of Judoo, named Sutdhunwa,\nto whom Sutbhama had been first betrothed. Akroor and Krutbruma went\ntogether to him and both said to him, \u201cShree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram have\ngone to Hustinapoor; now is your opportunity, take your revenge upon\nSuttrajeet; because he has acted very wrongly towards you, in having\ngiven a girl, who was betrothed to you, to Shree Krishn\u00f9; and, in\nhaving abused you; there is no one here now to assist him.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, Sutdhunwa rose in great wrath; and, having\ngone in the night to the house of Suttrajeet, called out; and at\nlength, having by stratagem and force, put him to death, carried away\nthe jewel. After this Sutdhunwa, sitting alone in his house, began to\nreflect, and to say to himself with regret, \u201cBy listening to Akroor\u2019s\ncounsel, I have made an enemy of Krishn\u00f9; Krutbruma and Akroor both\ncame here, and advised me. If a good man speaks deceitfully, what\ncontrol can any one have over him?\u201d\n\nO great king! whilst Sutdhunwa, thus regretting, repeatedly exclaimed,\n\u201cNo one has power over the future; the events of fate are not known by\nany one;\u201d the wife of Suttrajeet, on beholding her husband lying dead,\nembraced his corpse, and wept and poured forth lamentations.\n\nOn hearing her cries, all her relations, male and female, speaking in\na very confused, disjointed manner, began to shed tears and strike\ntheir bodies; and there was mourning in the whole house. Having heard\nof the death of her father Sutbhama came to where her father was\nlying; and having offered them all advice and consolation, and washed\nher father\u2019s corpse in oil, sent for her chariot, and ascending it,\nwent off to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, and arrived after a\njourney of a day and night. Huri rose on seeing her, and enquired,\nwhether all was well at home. Sutbhama replied, joining her hands,\n\u201cHow can things go on well without you, O lord of the Judoos!\nSutdhunwa has brought calamity on me, by killing my father, and\ncarrying off the jewel; your father-in-law\u2019s corpse is preserved in\noil. Remove all my griefs.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, Sutbhama Jee stood before Shree Krishn\u00f9 and\nBuldeo Jee, and exclaiming \u201cAlas, father! alas, father!\u201d began to\nweep, and groan bitterly. On hearing her cries, Shree Krishn\u00f9 and\nBulram were at first very sad; and began, after the manner of the\nworld, to shed tears. Afterwards, having consoled and comforted\nSutbhama, they brought her thence with them to Dwarka.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said, O great king! on coming to Dwarka, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund, perceiving that Sutbhama was very much grieved, made\nher a promise, and said, \u201cO beautiful Sutbhama! be of good cheer, and\nbanish all anxiety, what was to happen, has happened; but I will now\ndestroy Sutdhunwa, and revenge your father\u2019s death, and afterwards\nperform other acts.\u201d\n\nOn the arrival of Shree Krishn\u00f9, Sutdhunwa was greatly terrified;\nand, abandoning his home, said to himself, \u201cAt the suggestion of\nothers, I have made Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee my enemy, whose protection\nshall I now seek?\u201d He went to Krutbruma; and, joining his hands, said\nwith many supplications, \u201cO great king! I have acted by your advice,\nand Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram are now enraged against me, I have,\ntherefore, fled and come to seek an asylum with you, appoint me some\nplace to reside in.\u201d Krutbruma replied, \u201cI can do nothing for you;\nwhoever is at enmity with Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, is cut off from the\nrest of mankind. Did you not know, that Krishn\u00f9 is very powerful; and\nthat you would be a loser by being at enmity with him? What does it\nsignify, who advised you; why did you not act, with reference to your\nown strength? It is customary in the world to contract enmities,\nmarriages and friendships with equals. Banish all hope of my being\nable to do any thing for you, as I am a servant of Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund, the root of joy, it does not become me to show enmity to him;\ngo somewhere else for protection.\u201d\n\nSudhunwa, O great king! was very sad at these words, and went thence\nto Akroor, joining his hands, bowing his head, supplicating, and\nexpressing great sorrow and regret, he began to say, \u201cLord! you are\nthe greatest chief among the Judoos; all of them respect and bow their\nheads to you; you are holy, merciful and resolute; and submitting to\nafflictions yourself, remove the griefs of others. The shame of having\nadvised me rests with you; grant me your protection, I have done this\ndeed at your suggestion, save me now from the hands of Shree\nKrishn\u00f9.\u201d\n\nAkroor Jee replied, \u201cYou are a great fool, in talking thus to me; do\nyou not know that Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund is the creator of all men and\nthe dispeller of griefs? How can any one remain in the world, who is\nat enmity with him? What evil can befal the adviser? The whole affair\nis now upon your head. There is a saying, \u2018That it is the custom of\ngods, men and sages to form friendships for the furtherance of their\nown selfish objects.\u2019 And there are many kinds of men in the world,\nwho for the sake of their own interests, advise after various\nfashions; it is, therefore, advisable for a man not to act according\nto the opinions of others; but in every affair of life to consider\nfirst, what may benefit, and what may do him harm, and then enter upon\nit. You have premeditatedly done this act; and now there is not any\nrefuge for you in the world. Whoever has shown enmity to Krishn\u00f9\ncannot live; to whatever quarter he may fly, he will be destroyed, I\ndo not wish to die, that I should render you assistance. Life is dear\nto all men.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Akroor Jee had made this unpalatable speech to\nSutdhunwa, he, being devoid of all hope, and giving up all thoughts of\nlife, left the jewel with Akroor; and mounting a chariot, fled from\nthe city. Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram pursued him in a chariot; and\novertook him after a pursuit of four hundred coss. On hearing the\nsound of their chariot Sutdhunwa was in great alarm; and descending\nfrom his chariot, entered the city of Mithila. On seeing him, Krishn\u00f9\nwas enraged, and ordered the quoit, Soodursun, to cut off his head,\nwhich he did forthwith: and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund went up to him and\nsearched for the jewel; but without success. He then said to Buldeo\nJee, \u201cBrother! I have killed Sutdhunwa, and not obtained the jewel.\u201d\nBulram replied, \u201cBrother! some great man must have obtained possession\nof it, who has not brought it and shown it to us. That jewel cannot\npossibly be concealed; wait a little, and it will turn up somewhere.\u201d\nBuldeo Jee proceeded to say, \u201cBrother! set out now for Dwarka, and I\nwill go and search for the jewel; which I will bring with me, wherever\nI may find it.\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of\njoy, having killed Sutdhunwa, started for Dwarka; and Bulram, the\nabode of happiness, set out to search for the jewel. After having\nsearched in various countries, cities and villages, Buldeo Jee went to\nthe city of Ajoodiya. On receiving intelligence of his arrival,\nDoorjodhun, the Raja of Ajoodiya rose up, and having advanced with\npresents to meet him, escorted Bulram with music playing, and in\nsilken clothes to his own palace. Having seated him on a throne, and\ngone through various forms of adoration, he entertained him: and\nstanding in his presence, said, with joined hands and bended head and\ngreat humility of manner, \u201cO sea of compassion! please inform me, how\nyou came here?\u201d\n\nO great king! Buldeo Jee, observing his affection, was delighted, and\nexplained all the particulars of his journey. After hearing the\naccount, Raja Doorjodhun said, \u201cLord! no one will be able to keep that\njewel concealed: it will be manifested of itself at some time or\nother.\u201d He again said, with joined hands, \u201cO kind to the poor! great\nis my good fortune in having obtained a sight of you at my own home,\nand having thereby obliterated the sins of every preceding birth. Do\nme the kindness now to gratify your servant\u2019s desire; and, remaining\nhere some days, make me your pupil, and obtain celebrity in the world\nby instructing me in the art of fighting with clubs.\u201d\n\nO great king! having heard this speech, Bulram Jee made Doorjodhun his\npupil; and, staying a few days, instructed him in the science of\nfighting with the club; but although he made search throughout the\ncity, he did not find the jewel. Some days after the arrival of Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund at Dwarka, Bulram arrived also; when having taken all\nthe Judoos with him, and brought forth Suttrajeet\u2019s corpse from the\noil, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee made a purification of fire and lighted\nthe funeral pile with his own hands. When Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee had\nperformed the funeral obsequies, Akroor and Krutbruma, consulting with\neach other, went to Shree Krishn\u00f9; and, having taken him aside and\nshown him the jewel, said, \u201cO great king! the Judoos have become\nimpious, and fascinated by riches, they have become blinded by wealth,\nand given up all thought and meditation and memory of you. If they\nwere now to suffer some affliction, they would return to your service.\nWe will, therefore, take away the jewel and fly from the city; and\nwhen we have revived in them the adoration and memory of you, we will\nreturn to Dwarka.\u201d Akroor and Krutbruma, with all their relations,\nfled from Dwarka at midnight, with the knowledge of Shree Krishn\u00f9,\nand no one knew in what direction they had gone. Early in the morning,\nthere was a report throughout the city, that they had gone off\nsomewhere during the night; but no one knew where and what was the\ncause of their going.\n\nHaving recited thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! this\nwas a constant and general topic of conversation in the city; whilst\non the other hand, Akroor Jee first went to Prag, and, having caused\nhimself to be shaved, bathed at the confluence of the three sacred\nrivers, and presented many gifts; and having performed many acts of\ncharity, built a ghaut in honour of Huri, and went to Gyah; there,\nsitting on the bank of the river Phulgoo, they performed funeral\nobsequies in the manner prescribed by the Shastr\u00f9s; and, having\nfeasted the brahmins of Gyah, gave many gifts. Having afterwards\nvisited a temple of Vishn\u00f9, they went thence to the city of Kasi.\nHearing of their arrival, all the neighbouring Rajas came with\npresents to meet them; and they remained there offering sacrifices and\npresents, and performing acts of penance and fasting.\n\nSome days having elapsed, Shree Moorari, the friend of his\nworshippers, determined to send for Akroor Jee; and coming to Bulram,\nsaid, \u201cBrother! bring some calamity on the inhabitants of the city,\nand send for Akroor.\u201d Buldeo replied, \u201cO great king! do whatever is\nmost agreeable to yourself, and confer happiness on virtuous men.\u201d\nWhen Bulram had thus spoken, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund caused fevers and\ndiseases of all kinds to rage in the city of Dwarka.\n\nDuring four months, there was no rain; in consequence of which, all\nthe rivers, nullahs and tanks of the city were dried up: grass and\ngrain were not produced; birds, fishes, beasts and all animals with\nlife and cattle were greatly distressed, and died of drought. The\ninhabitants of the city, through hunger, began to raise cries to\nheaven for deliverance. At length, all the male and female population\nwere in a state of the greatest consternation; and came to Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund, the extirpator of grief; and imploring him earnestly\nand beseeching him with the utmost humility, began to say, with joined\nhands, and bowing their heads, \u201cWe have come to you to seek an asylum;\nhow shall we be able to endure our great calamities? We are sorely\nafflicted from the want of rain; why has Bruhm\u00f9 brought this disaster\nupon us?\u201d They proceeded to say, \u201cO compassionate lord of Dwarka! you\nare our creator and dispeller of our griefs; to whom else shall we go\nand address our petitions? Whence has this misery fallen upon us,\nwhilst we were living quietly at our homes, and why has it happened,\nkindly explain to us?\u201d\n\nShree Shookdeo, the sage said,--O great king! on hearing these words,\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund replied, \u201cFamine, misery and distress make their\nentrance into every city, which holy men have abandoned. Since Akroor\nJee has departed hence, you have endured this state of calamity. Where\nholy men, lovers of truth and servants of Huri dwell, there evil and\nwant, and misfortune cannot exist. Indr\u00f9 has a friendship for the\nworshippers of Huri; and, therefore, rain falls plentifully in the\ncities where they dwell.\u201d\n\nAll the Judoos exclaimed, \u201cO great king! you have spoken truly: this\nthought had occurred to us also, because Akroor\u2019s father\u2019s name is\nSoophulluk, and he too is a very holy, truth-loving and just man.\nWhere he dwells, there distress, poverty and famine have no existence;\nbut rain falls frequently, in consequence of which, the seasons are\nprosperous and abundant. At one time, there was a terrible famine in\nthe city of Kasi, when the Raja thereof sent for Soophulluk. O great\nking! on the arrival of Soophulluk, rain fell copiously, and as much\nas was desired; and there was a plenteous season, and an end to all\ntheir misery. After this, the Raja of Kasi gave his daughter in\nmarriage to Soophulluk, who dwelt there happily. This Raja\u2019s\ndaughter\u2019s name was Gadinka, whose son Akroor is.\u201d They went on to\nsay, \u201cO great king! we were aware of this before, and will now do\nwhatever you order.\u201d\n\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund replied, \u201cBehave with the greatest respect to\nAkroor Jee, and bring him back here, wherever you may find him.\u201d\n\nOn receiving this injunction, the Judoos went forth in a body to\nsearch for Akroor; and pursuing their search, arrived at the city of\nBaransee, (Benares). Having had a meeting with Akroor Jee, and\npresented gifts, they stood before him with joined hands, and bending\ntheir heads forward said, \u201cReturn home, O lord! Bulram and Krishn\u00f9\nhave sent for you: the inhabitants of the city have been troubled\nduring your absence. Where you are, there happiness dwells, and where\nyou are not, calamity and distress take up their abode. A grievous\nfamine has fallen upon the city, although Shree Gopal (Krishn\u00f9) dwelt\nthere. The husband of Luchmee (Vishn\u00f9) is subservient to holy men;\nfrom them, all mortals derive wealth and happiness.\u201d\n\nO great king! on hearing these words, Akroor Jee rose up to depart in\ngreat agitation; and arrived, after some days, at Dwarka, accompanied\nby his relations, Krutbruma, and the members of the family of Judoo,\nwith music playing during the journey.\n\nHaving received news of his arrival, and going out to meet him, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 and Bulram escorted him to the city with the greatest dignity\nand honour. O Raja! rain fell on the entrance of Akroor Jee into the\ncity, and there was abundance. All the distress and want that had been\nraging, disappeared. Akroor was greatly exalted; and the inhabitants\nof Dwarka began to rejoice and indulge in festivities.\n\nOn a subsequent day, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, sent for\nAkroor Jee, and taking him aside said, \u201cWhat have you done with\nSuttrajeet\u2019s jewel?\u201d He replied, \u201cI still have it.\u201d Krishn\u00f9 said,\n\u201cRestore it to its owner; and if he should not be alive, make it over\nto his son. If there should not be a son, give it to his wife: and if\nthere should not be a wife, give it to his brother: and if there\nshould not be a brother, give it to a relation: in default of\nrelations, give it to his spiritual preceptor\u2019s son: and if there\nshould not be a son of the spiritual preceptor, give it to a brahmin.\nBut do not receive yourself any man\u2019s wealth. This is equity;\nwherefore, it is right that you give the jewel to Suttrajeet\u2019s\ngrandson, and obtain a great name in the world by doing so.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund had thus spoken, Akroor Jee\ntook the jewel, and placing it before Krishn\u00f9, joining his hands said\nin a very supplicating manner, \u201cO lord of the poor! be pleased to\naccept this jewel yourself, and forgive my fault; because I have\nexpended in the course of my pilgrimage the gold which the jewel\nyielded.\u201d Krishn\u00f9 assented, and went and presented the jewel to\nSutbhama, and removed all the anxieties of her mind.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LIX.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! one day Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund, the brother of the world, the root of joy, determined to go and\nsee whether the Pandoos had escaped alive from the conflagration. Huri\nstarted from Dwarka with several of the descendants of Judoo, and went\nto Hustinapoor. On hearing the news of his arrival, Joodisthur,\nUrjoon, Bheem, Nukool and Suhdeo, five brothers, rose up with the\ngreatest delight; and, having gone outside the city, and met Krishn\u00f9\nwith a most cordial reception, escorted him to their house. As they\nwere entering the house, Koontee and Dropudee summoned seven married\nwomen: and having filled up a square with pearls, placed a chair of\ngold upon it, upon which they seated Shree Krishn\u00f9. Having caused all\nkinds of festive rejoicings to be made, they performed the ceremony of\n\u201c_Arta_\u201d with their own hands; and washing his feet, they conducted\nhim to the banquetting room, and feasted him with all sorts of\ndelicacies.\n\nO great king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund had finished his repast, and\nbegan to eat betel, Koontee sat next him, and entering into\nconversation enquired after her father and brother: \u201cAre Soorsen and\nBasoodeo, my brother, and my nephew, Buldeo, well? in whom my soul is\nbound up; who, except you, can drive away affliction and grief? You\nafforded me protection, when great calamity befel me. O Krishn\u00f9! you\nare the dispeller of the sorrows of others: your five brothers fly to\nyou for refuge; as the doe dreads a herd of wolves, so do Doorjodhun\u2019s\nsubjects dread him.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Koontee had thus spoken, Joodisthur joined his\nhands and said, \u201cYou, O Krishn\u00f9! are chief and lord of the Judoos.\nDevotees meditate constantly upon you, and not upon Shiv\u00f9 and\nBruhm\u00f9. What meritorious act have I performed, that you have visited\nme in my own house. Gratify me by remaining four months, and return\nhome after the rainy season.\u201d\n\nHaving recited thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! on\nhearing these words, Shree Beharee, the friend of his worshippers,\nhaving inspired them all with hope and confidence, remained there; and\nadded daily to their joy and delight. One day, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\ntaking a bow and arrows in his hand, went in a chariot to hunt in the\nforest, accompanied by the five brothers; and on arrival there,\ndismounting from his chariot, and fastening his belt, prepared to\nshoot his arrows; and, beating the jungle, began to kill lions,\ntigers, rhinoceroses, wild buffaloes, and deer and antelopes of\ndifferent kinds; and brought all his game to the Raja Joodisthur, who\ndistributed some of it, and sent some for the supply of his own table.\nWhilst Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and Urjoon were engaged in sport, they\nadvanced some distance beyond the rest of the party, and stood under a\ntree. They then both went to the banks of a river, and drank some\nwater. At this time Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee saw on the river-bank a very\nbeautiful young virgin, with a face like the moon, of the colour of\nthe flower chumpa, with eyes like those of a deer, a voice like the\nkokila, the gait of an elephant and a waist like a lion\u2019s; ornamented\nfrom head to foot, having imbibed the spirit of Kam\u00f9 (Cupid,) of a\nmost brilliant appearance, wandering about alone. Huri was amazed and\nstruck with astonishment at beholding her, and said, \u201cWho is that\nbeautiful creature, with such a charming figure, wandering about\nwithout a companion?\u201d\n\nO great king! when Krishn\u00f9 had thus spoken, Urjoon, who saw her also,\nran hurriedly to the spot, where the lovely girl was wandering about,\nexulting on the river-bank, and began to address her, \u201cSay, beauteous\ndamsel, who art thou, and whence hast thou come, and why art thou\nwandering here alone? Explain this strange mystery to me.\u201d On hearing\nthese words, the beautiful girl explained her history, \u201cI am a virgin\ndaughter of the sun, my name is Kalindee; my father appointed me an\nabode in water. He came and having built for me a house in the river,\nthus instructed me, \u2018Continue wandering, O daughter! near the river,\nwhere you will meet with a husband. Krishn\u00f9 will descend upon the\nearth in the family of Judoo, and will come after you to the place of\nyour wandering, the first male, the immortal Huri, for whom you have\nbeen born.\u2019 From the time my father, the sun, thus spoke to me, I have\nlonged for the approach of Huri.\u201d\n\nUrjoon, O great king! was very much pleased to hear these words, and\nsaid, \u201cO beauteous creature! the immortal lord, the inhabitant of\nDwarka, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, for whose sake thou art\nwandering here, has arrived.\u201d When Urjoon, O great king! had thus\nspoken, Shree Beharee, the friend of his worshippers, came up in his\nchariot. When, on beholding Krishn\u00f9, Urjoon explained her history to\nhim, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee smiled, and quickly placing her upon his\nchariot, returned towards the city. And Bishookurma, consulting\nprivately the taste and wishes of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, built a most\nbeautiful palace, whilst Krishn\u00f9 was coming from the forest to the\ncity: and brought Kalindee there, and abode there himself. Sometime\nafter this, on one occasion Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and Urjoon were\nsitting together at night, when the element fire having come, said to\nHuri, joining his hands and bowing his head, \u201cO great king! I have\nwandered about the whole world for a long time in a state of hunger,\nand have not obtained any thing to eat. My only hope is in you: with\nyour permission, I will go and devour the forests and jungles.\u201d\nKrishn\u00f9 granted him permission. Fire then said, \u201cO lord of\ncompassion! I cannot go into the jungle alone: if I do, Indr\u00f9 will\ncome and extinguish me.\u201d On hearing this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee said to\nUrjoon, \u201cBrother! go and allow Fire to eat some food: he is dying from\nexcessive hunger.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee had thus spoken, Urjoon\naccompanied Fire with his bow and arrows; who having reached the\njungle blazed forth, and began to burn up mango, tamarind and every\nkind of tree, and the grass and bamboos crackled with a loud noise;\nand the animals in the forest wandered about, losing their road. On\nall sides fire raged and spread in the forest; and smoke ascended in\nwreaths to the sky. On perceiving the smoke, Indr\u00f9 summoned the lord\nof the clouds and said, \u201cGo and shower down rain most copiously, and\nput out the fire, and save the lives of the beasts and birds, and\nanimals of the forest.\u201d Having received this order, the lord of the\nclouds, taking masses of clouds with him, came there, and began to\nthunder: and as he was on the point of pouring down rain, Urjoon\ndischarged such arrows of wind, that the clouds were dispersed, and\nblown in every direction; like flocks of cotton, driven about by gusts\nof air. No one saw them come, or depart, they vanished as they came;\nand fire, burning up the forest and jungle, came to the abode of a\ndemon, named Mye. Beholding Fire approach, full of rage, Mye was\nterrified: and coming out of his house, with naked feet, and a cloth\nthrown about his neck, came and stood in Fire\u2019s presence with joined\nhands; and prostrating himself so as to touch the ground with the\neight principal parts of his body, said, most beseechingly, \u201cO lord! O\nlord! save me quickly from this fire, and protect me, O deity of fire!\nyou have obtained a satiety of food, do not now meditate any crime,\nlisten to my supplications, and save me from Fire.\u201d\n\nO great king! when the demon Mye had thus spoken, the deity of fire\nlaid hold of his fiery arrows; and even Urjoon started with amazement.\nAt length, they both took Mye with them to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the\nroot of joy, and said, \u201cO great king! this demon Mye will be of use,\nand will build a place of abode for you. Take thought now of Mye; and,\nhaving extinguished the fire, banish all his fears.\u201d Having thus\nspoken, Urjoon placed his bow, Gandeeb, and arrows upon the ground;\nand Krishn\u00f9, looking towards the deity of fire, made a sign by\nwinking his eye, and the fire was put out immediately; and the whole\nforest became cool. Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund then went on with Urjoon and\nMye. There Mye erected, in a second, a most beautiful, elegant and\nfascinating house of gold, studded with gems; a description of the\nbeauty of which is impossible; whoever came to see it, stood gazing\nlike a picture with astonishment. Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee remained there\nfour months, and came thence to the royal court of Joodisthur; and, on\narrival, he solicited the Raja\u2019s permission to go to Dwarka; when they\nheard this request, Raja Joodisthur and his whole court were very sad,\nand there was great anxiety amongst the women in the female\napartments. At length Krishn\u00f9 having entered into suitable\nexplanations with them all, and inspired them with confidence, took\nleave of Joodisthur, accompanied by Urjoon. Having left Hustinapoor,\nhe arrived in a few days, after a very pleasant trip, at Dwarka. Joy\nwas spread through the city on the news of his arrival; and the pangs\nof separation, which they had all endured, were felt no longer. His\nmother and father, on seeing their son\u2019s face were delighted; and\nforgot all their sorrows. Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee went, on a subsequent\nday, to the Raja Oogursen, and explained the history of Kalindee, \u201cO\ngreat king! I have brought Kalindee, the daughter of the sun, marry\nher to me in the manner prescribed by the Vedas.\u201d On hearing this,\nOogursen gave an order to one of his ministers \u201cTo go immediately and\nprepare all things necessary for the marriage.\u201d On receipt of the\norder, the minister immediately procured all that was required.\nOogursen and Basoodeo then sent for an astrologer, and having fixed\nupon a lucky day, united Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee in marriage to Kalindee,\naccording to the forms and ceremonies prescribed by the Vedas.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--Raja! in this manner Kalindee was married; I will now mention,\nhow Huri brought away and married Mittrabinda; listen with attention.\nMittrabinda was the daughter of Rajdhewee, the aunt of Krishn\u00f9 and\nSoorsen\u2019s daughter. When she was marriageable, she selected a husband\nfor herself. Rajas from all countries were collected together on the\noccasion, possessed of many eminent mental qualities, very handsome,\nintelligent, powerful, courageous, brave and resolute, and dressed and\ndecked out, so as each to rival the other. Having received\nintelligence of this event, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee went, accompanied\nby Urjoon, and stood amongst the rest of the party, assembled on the\noccasion. The girl was delighted at seeing Krishn\u00f9; throwing a\ngarland on his neck, she remained gazing on his countenance.\n\nO great king! all the Rajas were ashamed, and displeased on observing\nthis proceeding; and Doorjodhun went to her brother, Mittrasen, and\nsaid \u201cBrother! Huri is your uncle\u2019s son, with whom your sister has\nfallen in love. This is contrary to the custom of the world, and the\nworld will laugh at such behaviour; go and advise your sister not to\nmarry Krishn\u00f9, otherwise the whole crowd of Rajas will laugh.\u201d Upon\nthis Mittrasen went and advised his sister against the marriage.\n\nO great king! when Mittrabinda, listening to the advice of her\nbrother, withdrew and stood apart at some distance from Krishn\u00f9,\nUrjoon leaning forward whispered in his ear, \u201cO great king! what are\nyou hesitating about? the business is a failure; carry into execution\nimmediately, and without delay, any plan you may have formed.\u201d When\nUrjoon had thus spoken, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee instantly seized\nMittrabinda\u2019s hand in the midst of the assembled party; and, carrying\nher off, placed her on his chariot, and drove off in sight of them\nall. The Rajas seized their arms, and mounting their horses, and\ncircling round to the front of Krishn\u00f9, stood in battle order. And\nthe people in the city laughing, and clapping their hands together,\nplayed upon musical instruments; and pouring forth abuse, began to\nsay, \u201cKrishn\u00f9 has come to marry his father\u2019s sister\u2019s daughter; a\nnotable act no doubt, which will make him very famous.\u201d\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee, having narrated thus much of the history, said,--O\ngreat king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund saw that he was surrounded on\nall sides by the army of demons, and could not avoid fighting, he drew\nforth several arrows from his quiver; and bending his bow, discharged\nthem in such a manner, that the whole army of demons was scattered and\ndispersed in every direction, and Krishn\u00f9 arrived safely at Dwarka,\nand free from all alarm.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! in this manner Shree Krishn\u00f9\nJee took Mittrabinda to Dwarka, and married her there. Listen with\nattention, and I will now mention, how he brought away Sutya. In the\nKuosul country, there was a Raja, named Nugnujjit, who had a daughter,\nnamed Sutya. When she was of a marriageable age, the Raja procured\nseven huge, terrible bulls without strings in their noses: and let\nthem loose in the country, making a vow, \u201cThat he would marry his\ndaughter to any person who should fasten strings in the noses of the\nseven at once.\u201d\n\nO great king! those seven bulls ranged about the country, bellowing\nand pawing the ground with their heads down and tails raised, and\nkilled whomsoever they met. Hearing of this circumstance, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund went, accompanied by Urjoon, and stood in the presence\nof the Raja Nugnujjit. On seeing him, the Raja descended from his\nthrone, and prostrating himself so as to touch the ground with the\neight principal parts of his body, seated Krishn\u00f9 upon his throne;\nand placing sandal, unbroken rice and flowers on his head, offering\nperfumes, lamps and consecrated food, said, in a most supplicating\nmanner, with joined hands and bended head, \u201cMy good fortune to-day is\nvery great, that Krishn\u00f9, the lord of Shiv\u00f9 and Bruhm\u00f9, has come to\nmy house.\u201d He went on to say, \u201cO great king! I have made a certain\ncompact, which is difficult of accomplishment; but I am now certain,\nthat, through your favour, it will be speedily accomplished.\u201d Krishn\u00f9\nsaid, \u201cTell me, what vow you have made so difficult of fulfilment?\u201d\nThe Raja replied, \u201cO lord of compassion! I have let loose seven bulls\nwithout strings in their noses: and made this compact, that I will\nmarry my daughter to any person who shall put strings in the noses of\nthe seven at once.\u201d\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! Huri, having heard this,\nfastened his girdle; and, having assumed seven different forms, went\nand stood where the bulls were; no one saw what was done invisibly,\nand Krishn\u00f9 put strings in the noses of the seven at once. The bulls\nstood as quietly as wooden bulls, whilst the strings were being\nfastened in their noses; and when this was done, Krishn\u00f9 led them\nall, with one rope, to the court of the Raja. When the inhabitants of\nthe city beheld this exploit, they were all, both male and female,\nastonished, and began to pour forth loud exclamations of praise. The\nRaja Nugnujjit then sent for the family priest, and gave his daughter\nin marriage according to the prescribed injunctions of the Vedas. Her\ndowry consisted of ten thousand cows, nine lakhs of elephants, ten\nlakhs of horses, seventy-three lakhs of chariots, and male and female\nservants without number. When Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund departed thence,\ntaking the dowry with him, the Rajas of the country were greatly\nenraged; and came and surrounded him on his way back. Urjoon destroyed\nand put them to flight, with arrows; and Huri returned with them all\nto Dwarka, happy and rejoicing. The inhabitants of the city, coming\nout to meet him, and spreading silken cloths, brought Krishn\u00f9, in\nmusical procession, to the royal palace, and were amazed at seeing the\ndowry. The people extolled Nugnujjit, and said, \u201cThis is a great\nalliance. The Raja of Kuosul has done well in marrying his daughter to\nKrishn\u00f9, and giving such a large dowry.\u201d\n\nO great king! the inhabitants of the city discoursed thus amongst\nthemselves, when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and Bulram arrived there; and\ngave all Raja Nugnujjit\u2019s dowry to Urjoon, and acquired a great\nreputation in the world by the act.\n\nI will now mention the circumstances, attending the marriage of Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Jee with Bhudra: listen attentively, and at your ease.\nBhudra, the daughter of the Raja of Kykye, chose a husband for\nherself, and wrote letters to all the neighbouring Rajas, who all\ncame, and were assembled together. Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund went also,\naccompanied by Urjoon, and stood in the court amongst the rest of the\nparty. When the Raja\u2019s daughter, looking at and observing the\ndifferent chiefs with a garland in her hand, came to the sea of\nbeauty, the light of the world, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, she was\nfascinated, and threw the garland upon his neck. When her mother and\nfather saw this, they were delighted, and married their daughter to\nHuri according to the Vedas; bestowing upon her an unbounded marriage\nportion.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O\ngreat king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund having thus married Bhudra, I will\nnow mention how he married Luchmuna. When Luchmuna, the daughter of\nthe very powerful and renowned Raja of Bhudrades, was marriageable,\nshe chose a husband for herself, and sent letters of invitation to the\nRajas of all countries; who came with great pomp and splendour, with\ntheir armies arrayed and fully equipped; and sat down in the assembly\nin well arranged rows. Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee went there also,\naccompanied by Urjoon; and as he stood amongst the rest of the party,\nLuchmuna, having observed all who were present, came and threw a\ngarland on the neck of Krishn\u00f9. Her father married Luchmuna to him\naccording to the Vedas. All the Rajas who had come there, were greatly\nabashed; and said to one another, \u201cLet us see whether Krishn\u00f9 will\ntake away Luchmuna while we are here.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, they all arranged their forces, and blocking up\nthe road, stood ready for battle. As Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and Urjoon\nadvanced in the chariot with Luchmuna, they came and stopped them, and\nbegan to fight. At length, after some time, Urjoon and Shree Krishn\u00f9\ndestroyed, and put them all to flight with arrows; and reached the\ncity of Dwarka, happy and rejoicing. On their arrival, there were\nsongs of congratulation and rejoicing in every house throughout the\ncity, according to the injunctions of the Vedas.\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--O great king! in this manner Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund contracted\nfive marriages, and lived happily at Dwarka with his eight queens, who\nwere in constant attendance upon him. The queens\u2019 names were Rohnee,\nJamwutee, Sutbhama, Kalindee, Mittrabinda, Sutya, Bhudra and Luchmuna.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LX.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja! on one occasion the earth, having\nassumed mortal shape, began to perform a very difficult penance. Upon\nthis, the three gods, Bruhm\u00f9, Vishn\u00f9 and Roodr\u00f9, came and enquired,\n\u201cWhy do you perform such excessively severe penance?\u201d The earth\nreplied, \u201cO seas of compassion! I am very desirous of having a son;\nand am therefore performing this great penance; have compassion on me\nand grant that I may have a very powerful, renowned and glorious son,\nwho shall not have an equal in the world, and who shall never die.\u201d\nThe three gods were delighted at hearing these words; and, having\ngranted the boon she solicited, said, \u201cThy son, by name Nurkasoor,\nshall be very potent, and of great reputation, and no one shall obtain\na victory over him in battle. He shall conquer, and bring under\nsubjection, all the kings of the world; having gone to the sky, he\nshall destroy and put to flight the gods, and carrying off the\near-rings of Aditee, the mother of the gods, shall wear them himself,\nand carry off and place the canopy of Indr\u00f9 over his own head. He\nshall collect together, without marrying them, sixteen thousand one\nhundred virgin daughters of different Rajas. Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nshall then attack him with all his army, and you shall tell him to\nkill your son, which he will do, and take away with him to Dwarka all\nthe Rajas\u2019 daughters.\u201d\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! when the three gods, having granted\nthe boon, had thus spoken, the earth said, \u201cWhy should I ever tell any\none to kill my son?\u201d and was silent. After the lapse of some days, the\nearth\u2019s son, Bhomasoor, was born, who is also called Nurkasoor; and\ndwelt in Pragojotikpore. The city was protected on all sides by hills;\nand, having built forts of water, fire and air, he carried off by\nviolence the young daughters of all the Rajas in the world, and\nbrought them, and kept them there with their nurses. He was\nincessantly occupied with arrangements for their food and clothes, and\nbrought them up with the greatest care. One day, Bhomasoor was in a\ngreat passion, and sitting in a chariot of flowers he had brought from\nLunka (Ceylon,) went to the regions above, and began to vex the gods.\nFrom the troubles he brought upon them, the gods fled for their lives\nin every direction, abandoning their celestial abodes. He then carried\noff the ear-rings of the mother of the gods and the canopy of Indr\u00f9,\nand began to inflict great griefs on all the gods, mortals and sages\nof the world.\n\nHaving heard of all his practices, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the brother\nof the world, said to himself, \u201cI will destroy him, and carry off all\nthe women, and will convey Indr\u00f9\u2019s canopy to the celestial regions, I\nwill restore Aditee\u2019s ear-rings, and will arrange that Indr\u00f9 shall\ngovern, free from all fear.\u201d\n\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund then said to Sutbhama, \u201cO wife! if you come with\nme, Bhomasoor shall be put to death; because you are a portion of the\nearth, and in this manner are his mother. When the gods granted the\nearth the boon of a son, they said to her, \u2018Thy son shall die, when\nthou givest the order: otherwise, no one will be able to put him to\ndeath.\u2019\u201d Sutbhama, hearing and reflecting upon these words, remained\nthoughtful. \u201cO great king! my son is also your son; why will you kill\nhim?\u201d Krishn\u00f9 evaded this question, and said, \u201cI am not very anxious\nto destroy him; but on one occasion, I made you a promise, which I\nwish to fulfil.\u201d Sutbhama enquired, \u201cWhat promise?\u201d Krishn\u00f9 said,\n\u201cNarud Jee once came, and gave me a flower of the tree Kulp\u00f9, which I\nsent to Rookmunee. You were angry, when you heard of this. I then made\nan agreement, that if you would not be uneasy, I would bring the\nKulp\u00f9 tree to you. I, therefore, take you with me, in order that I\nmay fulfil my promise, and show you the paradise of Vishn\u00f9.\u201d\n\nSutbhama was much pleased at hearing these words, and prepared to\naccompany Huri; who seated her behind him on the sovereign of the\nfeathered race, the vehicle of Vishn\u00f9, and set off on his journey.\nAfter they had gone some distance, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund said to\nSutbhama, \u201cSay, truly, why were you displeased, when I first mentioned\nthis subject to you; explain the reason of this, that the doubts of my\nmind may be removed?\u201d Sutbhama replied, \u201cO great king! after killing\nBhomasoor, you will bring away his sixteen thousand one hundred\ndamsels, and will consider me as one of them. This is the reason of my\nhaving been displeased.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund said, \u201cDo not allow\nyourself to suffer anxiety on any account. I will bring the tree\nKulp\u00f9, and place it in your house. And do you make a present of it,\nand also of me to Narud, the sage. Having afterwards purchased me\nagain, keep me near you, I will always be subservient to you. In this\nmanner, Indranee made a present of Indr\u00f9, together with the tree; and\nAditee also made a present of Kusyp. If you bestow this gift, no wife\nof mine will be equal to you.\u201d\n\nDiscoursing, O great king! in this manner, Shree Krishn\u00f9 arrived at\nPragojotikpore; there beholding a hill fort, protected by fire, water\nand air, Krishn\u00f9 gave the order to the sovereign of the feathered\nrace, and to the quoit, Soodursun, who, by levelling, making smooth,\nlopping away and fixing, made a good road in a second. When Huri,\nadvancing, was about to enter the city, the demons, who were guarding\nthe fort, came out to fight; Krishn\u00f9 easily killed and overthrew them\nwith a club. On hearing the news of their death, a devil, named Moor,\nwith five heads, who was sentinel over the city and fort, was greatly\nenraged, and made an attack upon Shree Krishn\u00f9 with a trident in his\nhand, and his eyes red with fury, and gnashing his teeth, began to\nsay, \u201cWho, in the world, is more powerful than me? I should like to\nsee him here.\u201d With these words, O great king! the devil, Moor, rushed\nat Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, as the king of the feathered race would rush\nupon a snake. He then aimed blows with the trident, which Krishn\u00f9\nparried with a quoit. As many weapons as Moor, in his rage, made use\nof, and discharged against, Huri, he, with the greatest ease, warded\noff. He then ran and threw himself upon Krishn\u00f9, in a state of great\nconfusion, and began to wrestle; when the fight had lasted some time,\nShree Krishn\u00f9, perceiving that Sutbhama was alarmed, cut off his five\nheads with the quoit, Soodursun. Bhomasoor, having heard the sound of\nthe heads falling from the body, enquired, \u201cWhat very loud noise was\nthat?\u201d Some one came and informed him that Shree Krishn\u00f9 had killed\nthe devil, Moor. Bhomasoor was very sorrowful on first hearing this\naccount; but afterwards gave the order to his commander-in-chief to\nfight. He arranged his forces, and stood ready for battle at the gate\nof the fort. After this, the seven sons of Moor, who were very potent\nand mighty warriors, hearing of their father\u2019s death, came to fight\nwith, and encounter, Krishn\u00f9, armed with weapons of all kinds.\nBhomasoor, after a while, sent a message to his commander-in-chief,\nand the sons of Moor to fight cautiously, as he was also coming. On\nreceiving the order to fight, the commander-in-chief of Bhomasoor and\nthe sons of Moor, accompanied by their armies of evil spirits, came\nforth to fight with Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee; and all at once, their troops\nspread like clouds in every direction round Krishn\u00f9. The warriors of\nBhomasoor began to shower from all sides missiles of every\ndescription, and to make use of all kinds of arms against Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund; which he, parrying with ease, collected in heaps. At\nlength Huri perceiving that Sutbhama was greatly disquieted, cut in\npieces, in a second, with the quoit, Soodursun, the whole army of\ndemons, together with the seven sons of Moor; just as a husbandman\nwould cut a field of \u201c_jowar_.\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! on hearing of the destruction of\nall his army, and of the sons of Moor, Bhomasoor was at first very\nthoughtful, and perplexed. On subsequent reflection, he recovered his\nconfidence; and taking several very powerful demons with him, his eyes\ninflamed with rage, tightening his waist belt, preparing his arrows,\ntalking foolishly, he got ready to fight with Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee.\nBhomasoor was exceedingly wroth when he saw Shree Krishn\u00f9; and,\nseizing arrows by the handful, began to discharge them. Huri cut them\ninto three pieces. Then Bhomasoor drew a sword, and howled angrily at\nKrishn\u00f9; he sent forth a sound like thunder, exclaiming, \u201cYou shall\nnot escape from me now, you villager.\u201d Having spoken these harsh\nwords, Bhomasoor engaged in a fierce encounter.\n\nHe, O great king! attacked violently with a club; and his blows made\nas much impression on the body of Shree Krishn\u00f9, as a stick of\nflowers would make on the body of an elephant. He fought with Krishn\u00f9\nwith weapons of all kinds, which Huri cut in pieces. Bhomasoor then\nreturned to his house, and brought forth a trident; and prepared for\nan encounter. Then Sutbhama called out, \u201cWhen will the lord of the\nJudoos kill him?\u201d On hearing these words, Krishn\u00f9 poised his quoit,\nand killed Bhomasoor by cutting off his head. His head fell, together\nwith the ear-rings and crown. The snake, on which the world rests,\ntrembled when the body fell. There was joy in the three worlds; and\nthe cares and miseries of all were removed. His splendour went into\nthe body of Huri. Gods and wise men raised shouts of victory. They\nrained down flowers from their chariots, which were assembled\ntogether. The gods singing praises to the Vedas, celebrated the\nexploits of Krishn\u00f9.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo, the sage,\nsaid,--O great king! on hearing of Bhomasoor\u2019s death, the earth and\nBhomasoor\u2019s wife with her son came to Krishn\u00f9; and standing in his\npresence, with joined hands and bended heads, began to say, in a most\nsupplicating manner, \u201cO luminous form of Bruhm\u00f9! Beharee, thou friend\nof thy worshippers, for the sake of holy and virtuous men, thou\nassumest numberless shapes; your greatness, exploits and delusive\npower are boundless, who can understand them, and who has power to\nexplain them without your favour? You are the god of all the gods; no\none understands your nature.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, and placed the canopy and ear-rings\nbefore Krishn\u00f9, the earth again said, \u201cO lord of the poor and sea of\ncompassion! this son of Bhomasoor, Soobhugdunt, has come to you for\nprotection. Take compassion on him, and be pleased to place your soft,\nlotus-like hand on his head, and grant that he may be free from all\ndread of you.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, the abode of mercy, Shree Krishn\u00f9,\ncompassionately placed his hand on Soobhugdunt\u2019s head, and caused him\nto be free from all fear of him. Then Bhogawuttee, the wife of\nBhomasoor, having brought many gifts to Huri, standing before him with\njoined hands, and bowing her head, said with the greatest humility, \u201cO\nkind to the poor compassionate being, as you have fulfilled all our\ndesires by showing yourself to us, be pleased now to make our houses\npure by going to them.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this request, Shree Moorari, acquainted with the secrets of\nthe heart, the friend of his worshippers, went to the house of\nBhomasoor. The mother and sons, having spread silken cloths for\nKrishn\u00f9 to walk upon; and having accompanied him into the house,\nseated him upon a throne; and having given him an oblation with eight\ningredients, and taken the water with which his feet had been washed,\nsaid, with the greatest submissiveness, \u201cO lord of the three worlds!\nyou have done well, in having destroyed this great demon; who that has\ndone acts of enmity towards Krishn\u00f9, has ever obtained happiness in\nthe world? Rawun, Kanbhkurun, Kuns and others, who were your enemies,\nhave lost their lives; and whatsoever persons have borne malice toward\nyou, have none in the world to perform the commonest offices for\nthem.\u201d Bhomawutee proceeded to say, \u201cO lord! listen to my\nsupplication; and, looking upon Soobhugdunt as your servant, be\npleased to marry the sixteen thousand one hundred young unmarried\ndaughters of Rajas, whom his father kept confined.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, she, O great king! brought out all the young\ndaughters of Rajas into the presence of Krishn\u00f9, and arranged them in\nrows. On seeing the light of the world, the sea of beauty, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, they were fascinated; and imploring\nhim earnestly, and with expressions of deep grief, they said, joining\ntheir hands, \u201cO lord! as you have come and released us, poor, weak\ncreatures, from the bonds of this great affliction, be pleased now to\nshow us favour, and take us with you, and permit us, your servants, to\nattend upon you.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this petition, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund said to them, \u201cI will\nprocure ruths and palkees to convey you hence;\u201d and looked at\nSoobhugdunt. Soobhugdunt, understanding the thoughts of Krishn\u00f9\u2019s\nmind, went to the seat of his empire, and brought back with him\nelephants and horses fully equipped, carriages with four wheels, and\nshining, glittering ruths, and all sorts of splendid palkees. On\nseeing them, Huri gave orders to all the Rajas\u2019 daughters to get into\nthem. He took Soobhugdunt with him to the royal palace; and having\nseated him on the throne, made the royal marks on his forehead with\nhis own hand, and took leave. The splendour of the scene, in the\ncourse of his journey with the Rajas\u2019 daughters thence to Dwarka\ncannot be described. The splendour of the elephants and horses the\nglitter of the white and black trappings, and the brilliancy of the\niron armour of the horses, the beauty of the coverings of the\nchariots, wheeled carriages and palkees and the lustre of their\nfringes of pearls, shone forth, equalling the sun in brightness.\n\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund arrived, after a few days\u2019 journey, with the\nRajas\u2019 daughters, at Dwarka. On arrival there, he placed them in the\nroyal palace, and having gone to the Raja Oogursen, and made a\nsalutation, Shree Krishn\u00f9 related all the circumstances of his\nslaying Bhomasoor, and releasing and bringing away the Rajas\u2019\ndaughters. Then taking leave of the Raja, Krishn\u00f9, accompanied by\nSutbhama, and taking the canopy and ear-rings with him, seated on the\nsovereign of the feathered race, went to the paradise of Vishn\u00f9. On\narrival there, he gave the ear-rings to the husband of Aditee, and\nplaced the canopy over the head of the lord of the gods.\n\nHaving received intelligence of this event, Narud came there, to whom\nHuri said, \u201cGo and tell Indr\u00f9, that Sutbhama asks for the tree Kulp\u00f9\nfrom him, let us see what he will say, and bring his answer back to\nme, I will form my plans after receipt of his reply.\u201d\n\nNarud Jee, O great king! having heard this request of Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund, went to the lord of the gods, and said, \u201cSutbhama, your\nbrother\u2019s wife, solicits from you the tree Kulp\u00f9. Tell me what answer\nI am to take back from you to this request.\u201d When Indr\u00f9 had heard\nwhat Narud said, he was at first confused and thoughtful; and\nafterwards went and mentioned to Indranee all that Narud, the sage,\nhad said. Indranee, on hearing the account, was angry, and said, \u201cYour\ndulness of intellect, O lord of the gods! will never leave you. You\nare a great fool, O blind husband! Who is Krishn\u00f9, and whose brother\nis he? Do you remember or not, that in Bruj he abolished the adoration\nof you, and caused the inhabitants to worship a hill, and deceitfully\nate the sweetmeats, which had been prepared for your poojah? Again,\nhaving caused you to pour down rain on the hill, for seven days, he\nlowered your pride, and dishonoured you throughout the world. Are you\nnot ashamed of this? He respects what his wife says. Why do you not\nlisten to my suggestions?\u201d\n\nWhen Indranee, O great king! had thus addressed Indr\u00f9, he was\nannoyed; and returned to Narud Jee and said, \u201cO chief of the sages! go\nand say to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund from me, that the tree Kulp\u00f9 shall\nnever leave the forest of Nundun to go elsewhere; nor shall it remain\nany where else. Explain also to him, that there will be a great battle\nbetween us if he should injure me as he did formerly; when having\nmisled the inhabitants of Bruj, and pretending to worship a hill, he\nate up all the sweetmeats and other confections, which had been\ncollected for my worship.\u201d\n\nNarud Jee, on hearing these words, returned to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund,\nand having repeated Indr\u00f9\u2019s speech, said, \u201cO great king! Indr\u00f9 would\nhave given the tree Kulp\u00f9; but his wife would not let him.\u201d On\nhearing these words, Shree Moorari, the destroyer of pride, went into\nthe forest of Nundun; and having slain, and put to flight the keepers,\ncarried off the tree Kulp\u00f9, and brought it away with him on the bird,\nwhich is the vehicle of Vishn\u00f9. The keepers who had been wounded by\nKrishn\u00f9 and fled, went to Indr\u00f9 and called out, mentioning what had\nhappened.\n\nO great king! Raja Indr\u00f9 was greatly enraged, when he received\nintelligence of the tree Kulp\u00f9 having been carried off; and taking\nthunderbolts in his hand, and summoning all the gods, he mounted the\nelephant Yerawut, and prepared for battle with Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund.\nNarud, the sage, having come again to Indr\u00f9, said, \u201cRaja! you are\nvery foolish in preparing to contend with Bhugwan at the instigation\nof your wife. Are you not ashamed of having said what you did? If you\nintended fighting, why did you not do so, when Bhomasoor carried off\nyour canopy and the ear-rings of Aditee? Now that Krishn\u00f9 has slain\nBhomasoor, and restored the canopy and ear-rings, you are preparing to\nfight with him. Why did you not fight with Bhomasoor, if you are so\npowerful? Have you forgotten that day, on which you went to Krishn\u00f9\nat Bruj, and asked forgiveness of your fault with the greatest\nhumility, and obtained it? And do you now proceed to fight with him\nagain?\u201d\n\nO great king! on hearing this speech of Narud Jee\u2019s, Indr\u00f9 regretted\nand was ashamed, and repented having made preparations for battle.\nWhen Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund reached Dwarka, all the Judoos were highly\ndelighted at seeing him. Krishn\u00f9 took the tree Kulp\u00f9 and placed it\nin Sutbhama\u2019s palace; and the Raja Oogursen gave the sixteen thousand\none hundred unmarried daughters of Rajas in marriage to Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund, in the manner prescribed by the Vedas, There were festive\nrejoicings according to the prescribed injunctions of the Vedas; thus\ndid Krishn\u00f9 enjoy himself in the world. Huri showed great affection\nfor the sixteen thousand one hundred daughters of Rajas; and had an\nunceasing love for his eight queens.\n\nHaving narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,\nRaja! thus did Huri slay Bhomasoor, and restore the ear-rings of\nAditee and the canopy of Indr\u00f9. Then having contracted sixteen\nthousand one hundred and eight marriages, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund brought\nall his wives to Dwarka and began joyfully to indulge in sports and\ndiversions.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXI.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! on one occasion, a jewelled\nbedstead of pure gold with curtains was laid out in a golden palace,\nstudded with gems. On the bedstead a bedding, white as foam, and\ndecorated with flowers was spread. Pillows for the cheek, and the head\nof the bed exhaled perfumes. Vessels filled with camphor, rosewater,\nsandal and other perfumes were arranged on all sides of the bed.\nPictures of all kinds were drawn on the walls; flowers, fruits,\nsweetmeats and confectionary were placed here and there in the\nrecesses: and every thing, that could contribute to pleasure, was\nprovided. Wearing a petticoat, and full loose robe of great splendour,\non which were sewn real pearls; and a shining boddice, glittering\ncloth for the body, and a brilliant cloak, ornamented from head to\nfoot; with red horizontal lines drawn across the forehead, a ring for\nthe nose of large pearls, ornaments for the head, ear-rings, lines on\nthe top of the head, where the hair is parted, marks between the\neyebrows, ornaments for the ears, and forehead, a necklace composed of\ncircular pieces of gold, a string of gold beads and coral, an ornament\nfor the breast and decked out with numerous other jewels and\nornaments,--bright as the moon,--of the colour of chumpa, with eyes\nlike those of a deer, a voice like the kokila\u2019s (the Indian cuckoo)\nthe gait of an elephant and waist of a lion, Shree Rookmunee Jee was\nreclining; and also Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, of the\ncolour of the clouds, a countenance like the moon, lotus eyes, wearing\na peacock crown, a garland of various flowers reaching to the feet,\ndressed in yellow silk, with a scarf of the same colour, the sea of\nbeauty, the light of the three worlds. They were enjoying the\npleasures of mutual love, when suddenly Shree Krishn\u00f9 said to\nRookmunee, \u201cO beautiful Rookmunee! I wish to say something to you, to\nwhich you must give me an answer; you are possessed of great beauty,\nand many excellent qualities of mind, and the daughter of Raja\nBheekmuk; why did you reject Raja Sissoopal of Chunderee who was very\nmighty and renowned; in whose family kingly power has descended for\nseven generations, and from dread of whom I fled, and abandoning\nMuttra took up my abode in the sea, and to whom your mother, father\nand brother wished you to be married, and he himself came with a\nmarriage procession; and having refused to marry him sent for me\nthrough a brahmin, thereby sacrificing all respect for the honour of\nyour family, disregarding the opinion of the world and laying aside\nall fear of your parents and your brother? I am not worthy of you, nor\nequal to you in accomplishments, I am not a Raja, nor have I beauty,\nor mental superiority. Some beggars talked of my renown, whose praises\nof me you heard, and treasured up in your mind. A Raja came to marry\nyou, accompanied by his army; you then sent an invitation to me. On my\narrival, there was a fierce battle: and how was my honour saved? I\ntook you away in sight of them all; and Bulram dispersed all their\narmy. You wrote to me, requesting that I would deliver you out of the\nhands of Sissoopal; which wish of yours has been accomplished; and I\nhave no desire, believe me, O lovely Rookmunee, you have not hitherto\nsuffered any loss or injury; go and live with some powerful Raja, of\nhigh family, and excellent qualities of mind, who may be worthy of\nyou.\u201d\n\nO great king! on hearing these words, Shree Rookmunee Jee was in a\nstate of consternation, and fell staggering and reeling upon the\nearth; and struggling like a fish deprived of water, became senseless\nand heaved deep, long-drawn sighs, then her curls fell in the greatest\ndisorder over her beautiful face, and became entangled with each\nother; like the moon wandering from her path, as a snake that has\nimbibed the water of immortality. On observing her condition, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund rose up in a state of great agitation and alarm,\nthinking that she was about to die; and assuming a form with four\narms, went up to her, and raising her from the ground with two hands\nplaced her on his bosom; and began to fan her with the third hand, and\narrange her hair with the fourth.\n\nO great king! Nundlall (Krishn\u00f9) exerted himself greatly in\nconsequence of his affection. He sometimes wiped his beloved\u2019s face\nwith a silken cloth, and sometimes placed his soft, lotus-like hand on\nher breast: at length Shree Rookmunee revived. Huri then said, \u201cThou\nhast a very deep love for me, O beloved Rookmunee! and didst not\nretain a particle of firmness in thy mind. You thought that I really\nmeant to abandon you; when I was only jesting and trifling with your\naffection. Be now of good cheer; and, recovering your spirits and\nanimation, open your eyes.\u201d On seeing that Krishn\u00f9 had taken her in\nhis lap, she blushed, and was very much ashamed. She rose and stood up\nin great confusion; and, joining her hands, fell at his feet. Krishn\u00f9\nsaid, patting her on the back, \u201cBeautiful creature! who becamest\ninsensible from love, what I said in jest, you thought serious. It is\nnot right to be angry, at what is said in joke; rise and banish all\nanger and affliction.\u201d\n\nO great king! Shree Rookmunee Jee rose on hearing these words; and,\njoining her hands and bending her head, began to say to Krishn\u00f9, \u201cYou\nhave spoken truly in saying that you are not worthy of me, because you\nare the husband of Luchmee, and the lord of Shiv\u00f9 and Bruhm\u00f9, who is\nequal to you in the three worlds? O lord of the world! whoever\nabandons you, and goes to (worships) any other, is like a man, who\nshould give up singing the praises of Huri, and sing the praises of a\nvulture. And, O great king! with respect to what you said regarding\nsome mighty and potent Raja, say where in the three worlds shall I\nfind a Raja more powerful and greater than you? Bruhm\u00f9, Roodr\u00f9,\nIndr\u00f9 and all the gods who bestow boons, are obedient to your\ncommands. Through your favour, they make whomsoever they please great\nand powerful, renowned, celebrated and glorious, by conferring boons.\nAnd whatsoever persons perform a very difficult penance in honour of\nyou, for a hundred years, attain to the dignity of Raja. And whoever\nforgetting and abandoning your worship, meditation, prayers, penance\nand guidance, do wicked acts, are of themselves utterly ruined and\ndisgraced. O lord of compassion! it is your constant custom to descend\nin various forms and frequently upon the earth for the sake of your\nworshippers; and, having destroyed wicked demons, and removed the\nburthens of the world, you confer happiness on your own, and grant all\ntheir supplications. And, O lord! on whomsoever your great compassion\nis shed, and he thereby obtains wealth, royal power, youth, beauty and\neminence; and subsequently being blinded by pride, forgets religion,\npenance, truth, mercy, worship and adoration, you reduce him to\npoverty; because the poor constantly meditate upon you, and keep you\nin remembrance, for this reason the poor man is acceptable to you. He,\nto whom your great mercy is shown, will always be without riches.\u201d\n\nO great king! Rookmunee proceeded to say, \u201cO lord of life, I will not\ndo as Unba, the daughter of Indrudown, Raja of Benares, did,\nabandoning her husband, and going to the Raja Bheekmuk; and when he\nwould not receive her, she returned to her own husband, who, after\nthis, turned her out of doors; then having gone, and sat on the bank\nof the Ganges, she performed a great penance in honour of Muhadeo, who\ncame there, and granted the boon she solicited. By means of that boon,\nshe took her revenge upon Raja Bheekmuk. I certainly will not imitate\nsuch conduct. You have explained, O lord! that some beggars came, and\nextolled your greatness; and that I believed what they said, and sent\na brahmin to you: the beggars who came, where Shiv\u00f9, Bruhm\u00f9 and\nDoorga. Narud, the sage, constantly praises your excellent qualities.\nKnowing you to be compassionate, I sent a brahmin; you came and\nbrought destruction upon wicked men. Knowing her humility, you brought\nme, your servant, with you, and have raised me, lord! to greatness.\u201d\nKrishn\u00f9 said in reply, \u201cO beloved! you have had experience of my\nmind, thoughts and nature. You have attended upon me, and worshipped\nme, and known my love; for this reason the affections of my mind are\nfixed upon you.\u201d\n\nO great king! Rookmunee was gratified by this speech of Huri\u2019s, and\nattended upon him.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! having taken his sixteen\nthousand one hundred wives to Dwarka, Krishn\u00f9 began to engage in\njoyful sports and diversions with them; and his eight queens attended\nconstantly upon him day and night: rising continually early in the\nmorning, some washed his face, some applied perfumed paste, and bathed\nhis body; others served up, and fed him with all sorts of delicacies,\nsome having made an image of their husband with cloves, mace, nutmegs\nand other spices gave it to Krishn\u00f9 to eat, others arrayed him in\nelegant garments, and ornaments studded with jewels, which they\nselected and prepared; several of them gave him a garland of flowers\nto wear; and sprinkling rose-water, smeared his body with saffron, and\nsandal; some fanned him, and others rubbed his feet. O great king! all\nhis queens thus constantly performed various acts of attendance on\nKrishn\u00f9, who made them completely happy.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said, O\ngreat king! after some years, each of the wives of the lord of the\nJudoos brought forth children; each having a daughter, equalling\nLuchmee, and ten dutiful sons. Thus the number of children amounted to\na lakh and sixty-one thousand, all alike, and possessed of unbounded\nexcellence of mind, strength and beauty, all of them of the colour of\nclouds, with countenances like the moon, lotus eyes, dressed in blue\nand yellow frocks, and wearing knotted strings, necklaces and amulets\non their necks, pleased and gratified their parents by their childish\nsports and pastimes in each house: and their mothers brought them up\nwith the most tender and affectionate care. O great king! on hearing\nof the birth of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\u2019s sons, Rookum said to his wife,\n\u201cI will not now give my daughter Charoomutee to Kritbruma\u2019s son, to\nwhom she has been betrothed, but will allow her to choose a husband\nfor herself; send some one to invite my sister Rookmunee with her\nsons.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, Rookum\u2019s wife wrote a most pressing letter of\ninvitation to her brother\u2019s sister and her sons, which she sent by the\nhand of a brahmin, and made preparations for the ceremony of her\ndaughter selecting a husband for herself. On receipt of her brother\u2019s\nwife\u2019s invitation, Rookmunee having obtained the permission of Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund, took leave and starting from Dwarka with her son,\narrived at her brother\u2019s house at Bhojkut. Rookum was highly delighted\nat seeing her, and respectfully bowed his head; falling at her feet,\nhis wife said, \u201cThis is the first visit you have paid us, since you\nwere carried off.\u201d She again said to Rookmunee, \u201cO sister-in-law! as\nyou have come here, kindly take compassion upon us, and receive this\nour daughter, Charoomutee, for your son.\u201d Rookmunee Jee replied, \u201cYou\nknow your husband\u2019s disposition; do not give occasion for him to\nquarrel with any one, there is no understanding or depending on my\nbrother; who knows what he may do, for this reason, both his words and\nactions excite apprehension.\u201d Rookum said, \u201cFear not, sister! there\nshall be no violence, it is an injunction of the Vedas, to give a\ndaughter in marriage to a sister\u2019s son in the Deccan country, for this\nreason, I will give my daughter, Charoomutee, to your son, Purdiyomun;\nand, abandoning my habit of enmity towards Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee, unite\nmyself to him by a new bond of relationship.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, when Rookum, rising thence, went to\nthe court, Purdiyomun having arrayed himself in full dress, went also,\nwith his mother\u2019s permission, to the assembly that was collected on\nthe occasion of Charoomutee selecting a husband for herself. He beheld\nRajas of all countries standing there with the hope of marriage,\nsplendidly dressed, and wearing a variety of jewels and ornaments. And\nthe young girl was moving about in the middle of the crowd with a\ngarland in her hand, and looking in every direction, but her glance\ndid not rest upon any one. In the mean while, when Purdiyomun Jee\nentered the assembly, she was fascinated at beholding him, and came\nand threw the garland on his neck. All the Rajas beheld the act with\nregret, and remained standing there in a state of disappointment and\npique; and began to say to themselves, \u201cLet us see whether he will\nlead away this girl in our presence, we will carry her off on the\nroad.\u201d\n\nO great king! the Rajas thus continued discoursing to themselves; and\nRookum, having taken the bride and bridegroom under the temporary\nbuilding which had been erected for the occasion, and having made a\nsolemn vow in the manner prescribed by the Vedas, gave away his\ndaughter; and bestowed upon her a dowry of unbounded wealth and\nriches; when Shree Rookmunee Jee had celebrated her son\u2019s marriage,\nand taken leave of her brother and his wife, she mounted her chariot,\ntaking with her, her son and daughter-in-law, and started for Dwarka.\nThe Rajas then came in a body, and blocked up the road, with the view\nof fighting and forcibly carrying off Purdiyomun\u2019s bride.\n\nObserving their wicked design, Purdiyomun seized his arms, and\nprepared for battle. The battle lasted for some time between them;\nwhen at length Purdiyomun, having slain and routed them all, arrived\njoyfully and happily at Dwarka.\n\nOn hearing of their arrival, all their relations, male and female,\ncame outside the city, and observing the usual and prescribed\nceremonies, and spreading silken cloths on the ground, conducted them\nin musical procession; there was rejoicing throughout the city, and\nthey dwelt happily in the royal palace.\n\nHaving narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! after some years, a son was born to\nPurdiyomun, the son of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy. On that\noccasion, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee sent for astrologers; and, having had\nseats placed for all his relations, gave a festive entertainment, and\nmade preparations for giving a name to the child in the manner\nprescribed by the Shastrus. The astrologers, consulting their\nalmanacs, and having fixed upon the year, month, half-month, solar and\nlunar day, the hour, the rising of the sign and the twenty-seventh\ndivision of the zodiack, gave the child the name of Unroodr\u00f9. On that\noccasion, when Purdiyomun had a son, Krishn\u00f9 was so overjoyed, that\nhis body could not contain him; and he could not be surfeited with\ngiving presents and gifts to the brahmins.\n\nO great king! having received intelligence of the birth of Krishn\u00f9\u2019s\ngrandson, Rookum wrote a letter to his sister and her husband in terms\nof great affection, proposing a marriage between the grandson and his\ngrand-daughter, and mentioning that the match would afford him great\ndelight. And afterwards, he sent for a brahmin; and, giving him a red\nmixture for the forehead, unbroken rice, a rupee and a cocoanut\nexplained to him and said, \u201cGo to Dwarka, and making many\nsupplications, in my name, give the nuptial presents to Unroodr\u00f9,\nKrishn\u00f9\u2019s grandson, and my daughter\u2019s son.\u201d On receiving this order\nthe brahmin, taking with him the nuptial gifts and presents, proceeded\non his journey, and arrived at Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\u2019s house at Dwarka.\nOn seeing him, Krishn\u00f9, treating him with the greatest respect and\nhonour, enquired, \u201cWhat, O divinity! is the occasion of your coming\nhere?\u201d The brahmin replied, \u201cO great king! I have been sent by Raja\nBheekmuk\u2019s son, Rookum; and have brought the nuptial gifts and\npresents for an alliance between his grand-daughter, and your\ngrandson.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this message, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee sent for ten of his\nrelations; and, having received the nuptial presents, and given many\ngifts to the brahmin, allowed him to take leave; and went to his\nbrother, Bulram, to make arrangements for the journey. Afterwards, the\ntwo brothers started thence, and went to the Raja Bheekmuk; and,\nhaving informed him of what had been proposed, took leave. Having come\nforth, they began to make all necessary arrangements, and collect all\nthings necessary for the marriage procession; when, after some days,\nthese arrangements were completed, and every thing was ready, Krishn\u00f9\nwent in great pomp and splendour, with the marriage procession, from\nDwarka to the city of Bhojkut. At that time, Shree Rookmunee Jee sat\nupon a glittering ruth with her son and grandson, and Shree Krishn\u00f9\nand Bulram were seated upon another ruth. At length after some days\nKrishn\u00f9 arrived at Dwarka with them all.\n\nO great king! on arrival of the marriage procession, Rookum, together\nwith the Rajas of Kuling and other countries, went outside the city to\nmeet it; and having invested all composing the procession in honorary\ndresses, and receiving them with the utmost respect and honour,\nescorted them to the appointed place of reception at the bride\u2019s\nhouse; afterwards, having entertained them, he had them conducted to a\nhall erected for the occasion adorned with flowers, and he gave away\nthe virgin in the manner prescribed by the Vedas; and he bestowed upon\nher so rich a marriage portion, that an account of it is impossible.\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--O great king! when the marriage ceremonies had been performed,\nRaja Bheekmuk went to the place of reception at the bride\u2019s house,\nand, joining his hands and using much entreaty, whispered to Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund, and said, \u201cO great king! the marriage has been\ncompleted, and every thing has gone on well; be pleased to make\narrangements for a speedy departure, because his relations, the Rajas\nwhom Rookum has invited, are all wicked and violent men. Do not let\nthere be any quarrelling. I, therefore, have taken an opportunity of\nspeaking to you, Moorari.\u201d When he had thus spoken, and went away,\nRookum came near Shree Rookmunee, and then Rookmunee exclaimed, \u201cHow\nshall we be able to return home? Your guests, the Rajas, are hostile,\nwho are united with you; if you mean well, brother, arrange so that we\nmay quickly reach home, otherwise you will see a pleasant state of\naffairs, succeeded by an unpleasant one.\u201d Rookum replied, \u201cSister! be\nnot at all anxious, I will first of all allow the different Rajas, who\nhave come as my guests, to take leave, and will afterwards do as you\nwish.\u201d With these words Rookum went thence to his royal guests; they\nall coming in a body, began to say, \u201cRookum! you have given so much\nwealth to Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo; and they through pride have not acted\nat all well, this is one subject of regret to us; and we are grieved\non another account, which is, that Bulram brought dishonour upon you.\u201d\n\nO great king! Rookum was angry at this speech, when the Raja of\nKuling, said, \u201cI have something to say, which, with your permission, I\nwill mention.\u201d Rookum replied, \u201cMention it.\u201d The Rajas said, \u201cWe have\nno concern with Shree Krishn\u00f9, but send for Bulram; and we will play\nat _choupur_ with him, and win all his money: and great as his pride\nis, we will send him away hence empty-handed.\u201d When Kuling had thus\nspoken, Rookum, after reflecting for a short time, went to Bulram Jee,\nand said, \u201cO great king! all the Rajas send their compliments, and\nhave invited you to play at _choupur_.\u201d On hearing this, Bulbhuddr\u00f9\nwent to accept the challenge; the Rajas rose, and bowed their heads on\nhis coming. The Rajas then said with the greatest politeness to Raja\nBulram, \u201cYou have had great practice at the game of _choupur_, we,\ntherefore, wish to play with you.\u201d With these words, they brought out\nand spread a cloth for playing at _choupur_; and Rookum and Bulram\nbegan playing; at first Rookum won ten times, and then said to Buldeo\nJee, \u201cYou have lost all your money; what will you stake now?\u201d The Raja\nof Kuling applauded this speech, and laughed. Observing this, Buldeo\nJee bent his head, and became thoughtful; Rookum then staked ten\ncrores of rupees at once, which when Bulram had won and taken up, they\nall began to wrangle and said, \u201cRookum\u2019s dice has fallen, (that is, he\nhas won,) why are you collecting the money?\u201d Bulram returned the whole\nsum on hearing this, and staking a hundred millions took up the dice.\nBulram won again, and Rookum lost; the Rajas, cheated a second time,\nand said, \u201cThat Rookum had won,\u201d and thus exclaimed, \u201cWhat do you know\nabout gambling and dice, you mean villager! Rajas understand war and\nplay, cowherds only understand about cows.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this speech, the anger of Buldeo Jee was excited in the\nsame manner, that the waves of the sea are swollen at the full moon.\nBulram, however, reasoning within himself, contrived to stifle his\nwrath; and making another stake of seven millions, played again; again\nBuldeo won, and then again the Rajas falsely declared \u201cThat Rookum had\ngained the game.\u201d When they had thus cheated, there was a voice from\nheaven, \u201cHuldhur won and Rookum lost; O Rajas! why have you spoken\nfalsely?\u201d\n\nO great king! when Rookum and the other Rajas having heard the voice\nfrom heaven, pretended not to hear it, Buldeo Jee was exceedingly\nangry, and said, \u201cAlthough you have allied yourself with me by\nmarriage, you have again quarrelled with me; O unjust and dishonest\nman! I will now put you to death, whatever opinion my brother\u2019s wife\nmay form of the deed. I will not now listen to any one on this\nsubject, but will to-day deprive you of life, you deceitful wretch.\u201d\n\nHaving narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O king! after some delay, Bulram killed Rookum in\nthe sight of all present: and having thrown Kuling down, knocked out\nall his teeth with blows, and said to him, \u201cYou also showed your teeth\nand laughed.\u201d After this, having slain and put to flight all the\nRajas, Bulram came to the place of reception at the bride\u2019s house, and\nmentioned all that had occurred to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund. On hearing\nthe account, Huri departed thence with all his party, and had a safe\nand pleasant journey to Dwarka; joy was diffused throughout the city\non his arrival, and there were festivities in every house. Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Jee and Buldeo Jee went into the presence of Raja Oogursen,\nand said, \u201cO great king! through your excellence and glory, we have\ncelebrated Unroodr\u00f9\u2019s marriage, and have destroyed the very wicked\nRookum.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXIII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! if I could obtain the power\nof the lord of Dwarka, I would relate the whole history of the taking\naway of Ookha; listen with attention, and I will explain, how she saw\nUnroodr\u00f9 in a dream at night, and lost her strength through sorrow;\nand how Chitrekha brought about a meeting between Unroodr\u00f9, and\nOokha. In the generation of Bruhm\u00f9 was first Kusyp, whose son\nHirunkusyp was very mighty and renowned; and became immortal. His son\nHurijun, a worshipper of Krishn\u00f9, was named Purladh, whose son was\nRaja Biroochun, and Biroochun\u2019s son the Raja Bul, whose fame and\nexcellence are still spread abroad on the earth. When Krishn\u00f9\ndescended upon the earth in the form of a dwarf, he having practised a\nstratagem sent Raja Bul to the infernal regions. The eldest son of\nthat Bul was Banasoor; a very potent and splendid monarch, he dwelt in\nShronitpore, and went constantly to the mountain Kuelas to perform\nadoration to Shiv\u00f9; he cherished the profession of brahmins, spoke\nthe truth, and lived with his passions in complete subjection.\n\nO great king! Banasoor having gone to the hill Kuelas, and performed\nadoration to Huri; and being absorbed in an intense feeling of\naffection, began in a state of ecstacy to play upon the hand-drum and\ndance and sing. Hearing him sing and play, Shree Muhadeo Bholanath was\ndelighted, and began to dance with Parbutee, and play upon a\nhand-drum. After dancing for some time, Muhadeo was highly pleased;\nand having called Banasoor to him said, \u201cSon! I have been highly\ngratified with your singing and dancing, ask a boon from me, and I\nwill grant whatever you ask; you have played most agreeably, and my\nmind has been rejoiced at hearing you.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, O great king! Banasoor, joining his hands and\nbending his head, said, with the greatest humility, \u201cO lord of\ncompassion! you have shown me great favour in promising me a boon, I\nsolicit that you will first make me immortal, and confer on me the\nsovereignty of the whole world, and afterwards make me so powerful\nthat no one will obtain a victory over me.\u201d Muhadeo Jee replied, \u201cI\ngrant you this boon, and release you from all fear; in the three\nworlds no one shall have power equal to yours; and, even Bruhm\u00f9 shall\nhave no authority over you: you have played excellent music, and\nafforded me extreme gratification, being greatly rejoiced in mind, I\nhave bestowed upon you a thousand arms, go home now, and, free from\nall anxiety, exercise a sovereignty, which cannot be shaken.\u201d\n\nBanasoor, O great king! having heard this speech of Bholanath, and,\nhaving received a thousand arms, was highly delighted; and, going to\nthe right, by way of adoration, and bowing his head, took leave, and\ndwelt by permission at Shronitpore, afterwards having conquered the\nthree worlds, and having brought all the gods under subjection, he dug\na broad deep ditch with water, springing at the bottom, and built\ncastles of fire and air; being free from all dread or fear of any one,\nhe began to carry on his government happily; after the lapse of some\ntime his arms, in consequence of his not fighting, became very strong:\nhe rubbed them and shook them about. Banasoor said to himself, \u201cWith\nwhom shall I fight, on whom shall I make an attack? I have become\ninfected with itch in consequence of not fighting, who will fulfil the\ndesires of my mind?\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, Banasoor went outside his house, and began to root\nup hills, and dash them to pieces, and wander about different\ncountries. When he had destroyed all the hills, and the irritation and\nitching of his hands had not left him, Banasoor said, \u201cWith whom shall\nI now fight, and what shall I do with so many arms? How shall I\nsupport the huge weight of my own strength, I will go again to\nMuhadeo, and speak to him on the subject.\u201d\n\nO great king! Banasoor, having thus reflected, went into the presence\nof Muhadeo Jee, and, joining his hands and bowing his head said, \u201cO\nlord of the three worlds! in whose hand is the trident, you did me the\nkindness to bestow upon me a thousand arms, which I find too heavy for\nmy body, I cannot support the weight of them, be pleased to remedy\nthis, and point out some one possessed of great strength with whom I\nmay fight, I cannot find any one in the three worlds so powerful as to\nface me in an encounter; as you have, through compassion, bestowed on\nme great strength, do me the kindness now to fight with me and satisfy\nthe yearnings of my mind, or else point out some other very strong\nbeing with whom I may contend, and dissipate the troubles of my mind.\u201d\n\nHaving narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O\ngreat king! Muhadeo Jee was angry at hearing Banasoor thus address\nhim, and began to say to himself, \u201cI granted him a boon, thinking him\na holy man, and now he is ready to fight with me; this fool has become\nproud of his strength and shall not escape with life; he who indulges\nin pride never lives long.\u201d Muhadeo having these thoughts in his mind,\nsaid, \u201cBanasoor! do not distress yourself, in a short time a fit\nantagonist for you, Shree Krishn\u00f9, will descend upon the earth in the\nfamily of Judoo, with exception of him there is no one in the three\nworlds who can contend with you.\u201d Banasoor was very much pleased when\nhe heard this, and said, \u201cLord! when will that man descend upon the\nearth, and how shall I know that he has been born?\u201d Raja Shiv\u00f9\npresenting Banasoor with a banner, said to him, \u201cTake this flag and\nplace it on the top of your house, and when this flag shall fall of\nitself and be broken to pieces, then know that your enemy is born.\u201d\n\nWhen Muhadeo, O great king! had thus explained to him, Banasoor took\nthe flag and returned home. On arriving there, he fixed the flag upon\nhis house, and daily offered up prayers that the man might appear,\nwith whom he could fight. When some time had elapsed, his chief queen,\nnamed Banawutee, became pregnant, and when her time was completed,\nbrought forth a girl; on that occasion Banasoor having sent for\nastrologers, and given them seats, said, \u201cFix upon the name, and point\nout the mental qualities of this girl.\u201d When he had thus spoken, the\nastrologers determined quickly upon the year, month, half month, lunar\nday, day of the week, hour, division of time equal to forty-eight\nminutes and the twenty-seventh division of the zodiack; and, having\nconsidered the proper moment, named the girl \u201cOokha,\u201d and said, \u201cO\ngreat king! this girl will be a mine of beauty, and good qualities of\nmind and disposition; and will be very intelligent; we can discover\nthis from her planet and other signs.\u201d\n\nBanasoor was highly gratified at hearing this; and, having bestowed\nmany gifts upon the astrologers, allowed them to take leave; and\nafterwards, having sent for singers and dancers and musicians, gave a\nfestive entertainment. As the girl grew up, Banasoor treated her with\nthe greatest affection. When Ookha was seven years of age, her father,\nBanasoor, sent her to the mountain Kuelas, which is near Shronitpore,\nwith many attendants and companions to Shiv\u00f9 and Parbutee, for the\npurpose of learning to read. Ookha, having propitiated Gunesh\u00f9 and\nSuroswutee, went into the presence of Shiv\u00f9 and Parbutee; and, having\njoined her hands and bending her head, thus submissively spoke: \u201cO\nseas of compassion! Shiv\u00f9 and Devee, grant me, your servant, the gift\nof knowledge, and acquire for yourselves renown in the world by so\ndoing.\u201d O great king! Shiv\u00f9 and Parbutee, being pleased with the\nhumility of Ookha\u2019s speech, began to impart knowledge to her; she went\nconstantly to them for the purpose of reading; and after some time had\nbeen thus spent, she read all the Shastr\u00f9s, and became very\nproficient in knowledge, and played upon all kinds of musical\ninstruments. One day Ookha played a duet with Parbutee on the lute,\nand sang scientifically, when Shiv\u00f9 Jee came and said to Parbutee,\n\u201cBeloved! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund has restored to life Kamdeo, whom I\nburnt to death.\u201d Having thus spoken, Shree Muhadeo went to the banks\nof the Ganges with Parbutee, and bathing both himself and her, became\nvery amorous, and began to assist Parbutee in dressing with great\naffection of manner, and to make love to her. At length, in the\necstasy of his passion, he began to play upon a hand-drum, and dance\nfrantically with violent gesticulation, singing according to the\nscience of music, explained in the Shastr\u00f9s, and fondly embracing his\nwife. Ookha, beholding the mutual joy and fondness of Shiv\u00f9 and\nParbutee, and feeling a desire to have a husband, began to say to\nherself, \u201cIf I had a husband, I would enjoy amorous diversion with\nhim, in the manner of Shiv\u00f9 and Parbutee. A woman without a husband\nis as defective in beauty as night without the moon.\u201d\n\nWhen, O great king! Ookha had thus expressed her thoughts to herself,\nShree Parbutee, acquainted with the secrets of the heart, knowing her\nthoughts, invited her with the greatest affection to come near, and\nthus with the most tender regard addressed her, \u201cDaughter! suffer not\nany anxiety of mind, thou shalt obtain a husband in a dream; search\nfor him and enjoy amorous pleasure with him.\u201d Having thus given her a\nbridegroom, the wife of Shiv\u00f9 allowed Ookha to take leave. Having\nattained a great proficiency in knowledge, and received a promise of a\nhusband, she made a salutation, and went to her father; who gave her a\nvery beautiful house, apart from all others, to live in. And she,\ntaking with her several of her friends and companions, lived there,\nand increased in stature daily.\n\nO great king! when the young maiden had reached the age of twelve\nyears, the full moon hid its diminished rays on beholding the lustre\nof her moon-like countenance; compared with the blackness of her hair,\nthe darkness of the night at the change of the moon seemed trifling.\nOn seeing her taper locks, snakes cast their skins and fled away; the\nbow began to palpitate, on beholding the arch of her eye-brows; deer,\nfishes and wagtails were abashed at the sight of her large and rolling\neyes; the sesamum withered on gazing at the elegance of her nose; the\nfruit of the binba tree was restless at the redness of her lips; the\nbreast of the pomegranate was lacerated, on viewing the regularity of\nher teeth; the rose ceased to blow when she saw the softness of her\ncheeks; pigeons were fidgetty at the roundness of her neck; on taking\na side view of her breasts, the buds of the lotus fell into the tank;\nthe lioness retired into the forest when she saw her slim waist; the\nplantain ate camphor on beholding the smoothness of her thighs; gold\nwas abashed at the fairness of her body, and the chumpa hid itself;\nthe lotus lost all its estimation in comparison with her hands and\nfeet. Such was she, with the gait of an elephant, the voice of a\nkokila, and in the very flower of youth and beauty, and by the\nsplendour of her charms eclipsed all the abovementioned.\n\nOn a subsequent day, the maiden, having applied perfumes and paste,\nand bathed and rubbed herself in pure water, combed her hair, and\ndivided it, and fastening pearls where the hair is divided, made use\nof antimony and tooth-powder, and stained herself with \u201c_mehadu_\u201d and\n\u201c_lac_;\u201d and, having eaten pawn and decked herself out in all kinds of\njewels and ornaments wearing an elegant, brilliant petticoat, with a\nborder of large pearls, and a cloth round her body with a hem of great\nsplendour, a shining boddice, and a sparkling and perfumed veil, came\nforth thus adorned and smiling with her female companions and\nattendants like Luchmee, and saluted her parents. When Ookha stood\nbefore them after having made a salutation, Banasoor, on beholding the\nsplendour of her beauty, allowed her to take leave, with this thought\nin his mind, \u201cThat she was now of a fit age to be married;\u201d and he\nafterwards sent many male demons to guard her house, and many females\nfor the protection of her person; the male demons exercised the\ngreatest vigilance night and day, and the females were in constant\nattendance upon her.\n\nO great king! the royal maiden constantly performed penance, bestowed\ngifts, fasted and offered adoration to Shree Parbutee Jee for a\nhusband; saying, \u201cWhen will my father celebrate my marriage, and how\nshall I obtain a husband?\u201d Having thus said, she went to sleep,\nthinking of a husband, and beheld in a dream a being of a childish\nappearance, black colour, a moon-like countenance, lotus eyes, very\nbeautiful and Cupid-like, with an enchanting face, dressed in yellow\nsilk, wearing a peacock crown on his head, standing awry, decked out\nwith ornaments and jewels, wearing ear-rings in the shape of an\nalligator, a garland reaching to his feet, and also one of the\n\u201c_goonja_\u201d seed, and very wanton looking and playful. On seeing him,\nshe blushed and held down her head. He then addressed her in the\nlanguage of love, and approached her in an affectionate manner, and\nlaying hold of her hand and embracing her, made her forget all her\nanxious and perplexing thoughts. Having both got rid of this reserve\nand hesitation, they sat upon the bed, and engaging in amorous\ndalliance and glances, and kissing and embracing each other, they\nreciprocated pleasure, and in a delighted excitement of mind,\naddressed each other in the accents of love. After some time, when\nOokha, in the midst of her affection, desired to embrace her husband\nin her arms, she awoke from sleep, and disappointed and sad, remained\nfixed in the position she had assumed with her arms extended for the\nembrace. She was very sorrowful on waking and greatly grieved; \u201cWhere\nhas he gone, the lord of my soul?\u201d She continued to search for him in\nevery direction. She thought to herself, \u201cHow shall I meet him again,\nand how shall I see him? If I had continued sleeping, my beloved would\nnever have gone away? Why should I have been on the point of embracing\nhim, when my sleep was disturbed, when I awoke, the night seemed very\ntedious, why did he inflict misery on me by departing? Without my\nbeloved my soul is very wretched, whilst not beholding him, my eyes\nlong for his presence. My ears desire anxiously to hear him speak.\nWhere has my beloved gone, the bestower of pleasure? If I again behold\nmy darling in a dream, I will resign my life to him.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, Ookha was very sad, and thinking\nupon her husband, sat down upon her bed with her face buried in her\nhands; when night was succeeded by morning, and about four hours and a\nhalf of the day had passed, her female friends and attendants began to\nsay to each other, \u201cWhat has happened to Ookha, that she has not yet\nrisen from sleep, although the day is so far advanced?\u201d Having heard\nthis remark, Chitrekha, the daughter of Banasoor\u2019s minister,\nRookbhano, went to the picture gallery, and beheld Ookha, lying\ndejected and motionless on her curtained bed, shedding tears and\nheaving long drawn sighs. On seeing her in this state, Chitrekha said\nto her with great emotion, \u201cExplain, my dear, to me, why you are so\nsad to-day, and have fallen into such a sea of affliction? You are\nweeping and sighing; why is your mind so disturbed? I will drive away\nall your griefs, and will do for you whatever you wish. You have no\nfriend so attached as me, nor one who has a greater affection for you.\nI will wander over all the three worlds to accomplish what you desire.\nBruhm\u00f9 has granted me a boon, and subjected all to my authority.\nDevee will assist me; and, by means of her power I will do whatever\nyou may tell me. Look upon me as possessed of such power of\nenchantment, as to be able to deceive and bring here Bruhm\u00f9, Roodr\u00f9\nand Indr\u00f9. No one knows the secrets of my nature, I therefore, myself\nexplain my own attributes. No one, whosoever he be, whether good or\nbad, can speak with the same knowledge of them as I can; mention all\nyour distresses to me; what has happened during the night? Do not\ndeceive me, O beloved! and I will bring about all you hope for.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, O great king! Ookha was very much ashamed, and\nwith her head drooping, approached Chitrekha, and said to her, in a\nsweet tone of voice, \u201cO beloved! knowing you to be my friend, I will\nmention all that occurred during the night, keep the affair a secret;\nand if you can apply a remedy, do so. During the night, in a dream, a\nbeing of the colour of the clouds, a figure brilliant as the moon,\nwith lotus-like eyes, dressed in yellow silk, and with a scarf of the\nsame colour, came and sat near me, and displaying great affection for\nme, captivated my mind; so that I lost all reserve and bashfulness,\nand conversed with him; at length when the conversation had continued\nfor some time, and in the eagerness of passion, I extended my arms to\nlay hold of him, I was awakened from sleep, and his fascinating form\nremained imprinted on my mind; I have never heard of nor seen any one\nlike him. How shall I attempt to give you a description, his beauty\nexceeds the power of language. He has stolen away my affections. When\nI used to go to the mountain Kuelas to acquire knowledge, under the\ntuition of Shree Muhadeo Jee, Shree Parbutee told me, that I should\nsee my husband in a dream, and that I ought to cause search to be made\nfor him. I saw that bridegroom last night in a dream; where shall I\nfind him again, and to whom shall I reveal the pangs of separation I\nendure? Whither shall I go, how shall I search for him, not knowing\neither his name or place of abode?\u201d\n\nO great king! when Ookha having thus spoken, and heaved long drawn\nsighs, drooped and pined in thought, Chitrekha said to her, \u201cBe not at\nall anxious, my dear; I will search out your husband wherever he may\nbe, and bring him to you. I have access to the three worlds; wherever\nhe may be I will try and find him out for you. Tell me his name, and\nallow me permission to start.\u201d Ookha replied, \u201cFriend! there is a\nproverb, he is dead, because he cannot breathe. If I knew his name and\nresidence why should I be sad; could I not apply some remedy to my\ndistress?\u201d Chitrekha replied, \u201cNever mind, dear, about not knowing his\nname and residence, I will write down and point out to you all the\nmale inhabitants of the three worlds; amongst whom, show me him, who\nhas stolen your heart, and it will be my business to bring him to\nyou.\u201d Ookha laughed and assented.\n\nO great king! when Chitrekha had obtained Ookha\u2019s consent, she sent\nfor writing materials, and sat down upon the ground; and, having\npropitiated Gunesh\u00f9 and Devee, and meditated upon her spiritual\npreceptor, began to write. She first wrote and showed her a\ndescription of the three worlds with their eight divisions, and\nfourteen sub-divisions, the seven islands, the nine divisions of the\nearth, the sky, the seven seas, and Vishn\u00f9\u2019s celestial paradise.\nAfterwards Chitrekha showed her a description of the gods, demons,\ncelestial musicians, choristers, demi-gods, saints, sages, the\nsupporters of the world, the supporters of the ten quarters and the\nRajas of all countries. But Ookha did not find her beloved amongst\nthem. After this, Chitrekha drew separate likenesses of the\ndescendants of Judoo; and when she showed them to Ookha, Ookha said on\nbeholding Unroodr\u00f9\u2019s picture, \u201cI have found him, who stole my heart,\nthis is he, who came to me in the night. Arrange some plan now,\nfriend, and search him out, and bring him here.\u201d On hearing this,\nChitrekha replied, \u201cHow shall he escape me?\u201d Chitrekha proceeded to\nsay, \u201cO friend! you do not know him, but I can tell you who he is, he\nis of the family of Judoo, and a grandson of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, and\nthe son of Purdiyomun; his name is Unroodr\u00f9. He lives at Dwarka, a\ncity built in the sea near the shore. By order of Huri, the quoit,\nSoodursun, keeps constant watch over that city in order that no devil,\ndemon nor wicked person may annoy the descendants of Judoo, and if any\nsuch come to the city, he cannot obtain entrance without the\npermission of Rajas Oogursen and Soorsen.\u201d\n\nO great king! Ookha was very sad at these words, and said, \u201cO friend!\nif it be a place so difficult of access, how will you go there and\nbring my husband thence?\u201d Chitrekha replied, \u201cMy dear! set your mind\nat rest on that point; by the glorious grace of Huri, I will bring\nyour soul\u2019s lord to you.\u201d Having thus spoken, Chitrekha put on\ngarments, imprinted all over with the name of Ram\u00f9, and made marks\nand perpendicular lines on her forehead with sandal wood, such as\ncowherdesses wear, and stamped impressions of different kinds on her\nbreasts, the upper part of her arms and throat, and wearing a large\ngarland of toolsee on her neck, and carrying rosaries of the large\ndiamonds of the toolsee in her hand, throwing over herself a chequered\nblanket, she folded under her arm a cloth to sit upon and assuming the\nappearance of a chief worshipper of Vishn\u00f9, she made an obeisance and\nstarted for Dwarka, taking leave of Ookha, and saying to her, \u201cI will\nproceed through the air, and pursue my journey in the sky, I will\nbring thy husband, otherwise my name is not Chitrekha.\u201d\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said, O\ngreat king! Chitrekha, having brought into play her delusive power,\nand mounting on a horse of air, started on a dark night in company\nwith a black cloud; and having arrived almost instantaneously at the\ncity of Dwarka, shone forth like lightning and entered the dwelling of\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, in such a manner that no one knew of her coming.\nProsecuting her search, she came to where Unroodr\u00f9 sleeping alone on\na bed, was diverting himself in a dream with Ookha. On beholding this,\nshe quickly took up the sleeper\u2019s bed, and went off with it. She\ncarried off the sleeper and his bed on Ookha\u2019s account, and brought\nUnroodr\u00f9 to the place, where Ookha was sitting thoughtful.\n\nO great king! on seeing Unroodr\u00f9 and his bed, Ookha was at first in a\ngreat flutter, and went and fell at the feet of Chitrekha, she\nafterwards began to speak in terms of the highest praise of her\ncourage and prowess, for having gone to a place of such difficult\naccess, and having brought him away, bed and all; and thereby having\ndone what she agreed to do, \u201cFor my sake thou hast undergone all this\ntrouble; I am not able to make a fitting return, but must remain a\ndebtor to your goodness.\u201d Chitrekha replied, \u201cIn the world it is a\nvery pleasant thing to contribute to the happiness of others; and it\nis a good act to assist them; this body is of no use with reference to\nour own selfish advantages, but it is very useful, if it can be made\nto promote the benefit of others. By such conduct our own objects and\nthe objects of others are accomplished.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, Chitrekha took leave, and went home,\nsaying, \u201cFriend! by the glorious favour of Bhugwan I have brought thy\nhusband to thee, awake him now and satisfy thy desires.\u201d On the\ndeparture of Chitrekha the delighted Ookha was ashamed and afraid of\nthe first interview, and began to say to herself, \u201cWhat shall I say to\nawaken my husband, and how shall I embrace him in my arms?\u201d At length\nshe began to play sweet notes on her lute, on hearing the sound of\nwhich Unroodr\u00f9 awoke; and, looking round on all sides, began to say\nto himself, \u201cWhat place is this and whose house; how did I come here,\nand who has brought me here with my bed, while asleep?\u201d\n\nO great king! Unroodr\u00f9 was in a state of great astonishment, uttering\nmany expressions of surprise; whilst Ookha, thoughtful and abashed,\nfearful of the first interview, standing in a corner, and gazing on\nthe countenance of her beloved, feasted her partridge-like eyes. In\nthe mean while, Unroodr\u00f9, on seeing her, was confused, and said,\n\u201cTell me, fair one, thy history, who art thou, whence hast thou come\nto me; or hast thou brought me here thyself? Look not upon truth and\nfalsehood as the same; at present I see every thing as in a dream.\u201d\n\nO great king! Ookha made no reply to this speech, but became more\nashamed, and crept into the corner; upon this he immediately laid hold\nof her by the hand, and seated her upon his bed; and, addressing her\nin the language of affection, dispelled all her anxiety and shame, and\nalarm; they sat together on the bed and began to exchange amorous\nglances, and engage in loving dalliance, and relate the history of\ntheir love. In the course of conversation Unroodr\u00f9 Jee enquired from\nOokha, \u201cHow didst thou, O beautiful creature! first see me, and\nafterwards have me brought here? Explain the circumstances fully to\nme, that my doubts may be all removed?\u201d On hearing this Ookha, gazing\nwith delight on the face of her husband, said, \u201cYou came to me in a\ndream, and stole away my affections; on awaking my mind was greatly\ntroubled, and I mentioned the subject to Chitrekha, who, O lord! has\nbrought you here, and whose proceedings I do not know.\u201d Afterwards\nOokha said, \u201cO great king! I have mentioned how I first saw, and have\nsince found, you; be pleased now, O lord of the Judoos! to explain how\nyou first saw me.\u201d Unroodr\u00f9 was highly delighted at this request, and\nreplied, smiling, \u201cO beauteous fair! I also saw thee in a dream last\nnight, and some one took me up in my sleep and brought me here. I have\nnot yet discovered who it was, and, on awaking, I beheld thee.\u201d\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O\ngreat king! the two lovers conversed thus with each other; and in the\nfervour of their affection, indulged in all kinds of voluptuous\npleasure and dalliance, and vanished all recollection of the pangs of\nseparation they had endured; subsequently when Ookha found the taste\nof pawn insipid, the pearl necklace cold to the touch, and the light\nof the lamp dim, and went outside, she perceived that it was morning.\nThe light of the moon was diminished, the splendour of the stars\ndimmed, and there was a dark, red colour in the sky. The birds were\nchirping on all sides, the white esculent lotus was withered, and the\nother lotus blooming, the red goose and its mate were together.\n\nO great king! observing this state of things, Ookha immediately shut\nall the doors, and came in great fright into the house, and, putting\nher arms most affectionately round her husband\u2019s neck, laid down upon\nthe bed; then having concealed him, and hid him from the sight of her\nfemale friends and companions, she began to attend upon him in secret;\nafter some time her friends and companions found out that Unroodr\u00f9\nhad come there, and that she passed the day and night in amorous\nenjoyment with her lord. One day Ookha\u2019s mother came to look after her\ndaughter; and without being observed saw her seated very happily, and\nplaying at _choupur_ in a house with a very handsome young man. On\nperceiving this, she returned home, without saying a word, on tiptoe,\nand in profound silence; highly delighted and uttering benedictions.\nSome days afterwards Ookha seeing her husband asleep, came forth\nblushing from the house, and thinking to herself, \u201cI hope that no one\nfrom not seeing me will imagine, that I remain in the house for my\nhusband\u2019s sake.\u201d\n\nO great king! Ookha leaving her husband alone, went off; but could not\nstay away from him, she returned again to the house, and shutting the\ndoors, engaged in amorous diversion. On observing this act, the\ndoor-keepers said to each other, \u201cBrother! what is the reason of the\nRaja\u2019s daughter having to-day come out of the house after remaining\nthere so long, and returning again immediately?\u201d One of them remarked,\n\u201cBrother! for some days past I have observed the doors of Ookha\u2019s\nhouse shut day and night, and there is some man inside, who sometimes\nlaughs and talks with her, and sometimes plays at _choupur_.\u201d Another\nsaid, \u201cIf this be true, let us go and mention the matter to Banasoor;\nwhy should we, knowing these circumstances, remain sitting quietly\nhere?\u201d One of them said, \u201cLet us not mention the matter, remain all of\nyou at some distance from the house, let what will happen; no one can\ncontrol the future, speak not a word about what the young lady may do,\nbut remain silent spectators of all that happens.\u201d\n\nO great king! whilst the door-keepers were thus conversing with each\nother, Banasoor came wandering about there, accompanied by several\nstrong, powerful men; and as he looked up at the top of the house, not\nperceiving the flag, which Shiv\u00f9 Jee had given, said, \u201cWhat has\nhappened to remove the flag hence?\u201d The door-keepers replied, \u201cO great\nking! it is now many days since the flag fell, and was broken to\npieces.\u201d On hearing this, and calling to mind what Shiv\u00f9 Jee had\nsaid, Banasoor became thoughtful, and exclaimed, \u201cWhen did the flag\nfall, some enemy has come, and carried it off.\u201d When Banasoor had thus\nspoken, a door-keeper came into his presence: and joining his hands,\nand bending his head, said, \u201cI have an important matter to\ncommunicate, which I cannot mention unless I obtain your permission to\ndo so.\u201d Banasoor granting permission, told him to communicate what he\nhad to say. The door-keeper then said, \u201cO great king! excuse my fault,\nwe have observed for some days past, that a man has come into your\ndaughter\u2019s house; day and night he converses with her, we have not\ndiscovered what man he is, and whence he has come, and what he does.\u201d\n\nOn hearing this authentic statement, Banasoor was exceedingly angry,\nand seizing his arms, went silently and alone to Ookha\u2019s house;\nconcealing himself, he saw on his arrival a man of a black colour,\nvery handsome and dressed in yellow, lying fast asleep with Ookha.\nBanasoor thought to himself, \u201cIt would be a sin to kill a sleeping\nman.\u201d\n\nO great king! with these thoughts in his mind, Banasoor stationed\nseveral guards there, and having told them to inform him when the man\nawoke; came home, and holding a court, and having summoned all his\ndemons, began to say, \u201cMy enemy has arrived, take the whole of your\narmy and go and surround Ookha\u2019s house, I will come also by and bye.\u201d\n\nOn receiving Banasoor\u2019s order, the demons all came and surrounded\nOokha\u2019s house; whilst in the mean while, Unroodr\u00f9 and the Raja\u2019s\ndaughter having awoke, began to play again at _choupur_. Whilst they\nwere engaged at the game, Ookha saw thundering clouds collected from\nall quarters, lightning began to flash, frogs, peacocks and sparrow\nhawks began to utter cries.\n\nO great king! on hearing the sparrow hawk\u2019s cry, the Raja\u2019s daughter\nsaid, leaning on the neck of her beloved, \u201cO sparrow hawk! do not call\nout thus, leave off this language of separation.\u201d In the mean while,\nsome one came and said to Banasoor, \u201cO great king! thy enemy has\nawoke.\u201d On hearing mention made of his enemy, Banasoor rose in great\nwrath; and taking arms with him, went and stood at Ookha\u2019s door, and\nbegan to peep inside. After looking some time, Banasoor called out\nloudly, \u201cHo! who are you inside the house, rich in appearance,\nfascinating as Cupid, with lotus-like eyes, and dressed in yellow?\nWhat thief will come forth? How will he possibly escape from me?\u201d\n\nO great king! when Banasoor had thus bawled out, Ookha and Unroodr\u00f9,\non seeing and hearing him were greatly disquieted. The Raja\u2019s daughter\nbeing perplexed and terrified, heaving deep sighs, said to her\nhusband, \u201cO great king! my father has come to attack us with an army\nof demons, how will you escape from his hands?\u201d Then Unroodr\u00f9 was\nangry, and said, \u201cWife! be not at all alarmed, I will destroy the\nwhole crowd of evil spirits and demons in a second.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, Unroodr\u00f9 Jee read incantations from the Vedas,\nand sent for a stone a hundred and eight hands long, and taking it in\nhis hand, coming forth and joining the army, challenged Banasoor. On\nhis coming out to give the challenge, Banasoor bent his bow and rushed\nupon Unroodr\u00f9 Jee with his whole forces, just as a swarm of honey\nbees would rush upon any one. When the demons began to discharge all\nsorts of weapons, Unroodr\u00f9 Jee was enraged, and began to deal about\nseveral such forcible blows with the stone, that the whole army of\ndemons became broken and dispersed like the scum upon stagnant pools:\nsome were killed, others wounded, and all who escaped whole, fled from\nthe field. Banasoor afterwards rallied them, and renewed the fight.\n\nO great king! all the weapons the demons discharged, fell in every\ndirection, but not one touched Unroodr\u00f9; the weapons, which would\nhave fallen upon Unroodr\u00f9, the edge of the stone cut them off half\nway. The strokes of the stone could not be endured, inflicting wounds\nlike those inflicted by Indr\u00f9, the lord of the gods, with a\nthunderbolt; heads were split in two by a blow of it, thighs were\nbroken and arms and bodies cut through. When the battle had lasted\nsome time, and Banasoor was left alone, the rest of the army having\nbeen cut in pieces, he was astonished, and laid hold of and fastened\nUnroodr\u00f9 with a running noose, saying to himself, \u201cNow shall I\nconquer this invincible man?\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! when Banasoor fastened Unroodr\u00f9 in\na running noose, and took him to his court, Unroodr\u00f9 thought to\nhimself, \u201cWhatever troubles may befal me, it is not right to falsify\nwhat Bruhm\u00f9 has said; for if I were to escape by force from the\nrunning noose, he would be dishonoured; I ought, therefore, to remain\nbound.\u201d And Banasoor kept constantly saying, \u201cYouth! I will put thee\nto death presently; if thou hast any one to assist thee, send for\nhim.\u201d Mean while, Ookha having heard of her husband\u2019s condition, said\nto Chitrekha, \u201cFriend! a curse will fall upon me, if I eat, drink and\nsleep at my ease, whilst my husband remains in affliction.\u201d Chitrekha\nreplied, \u201cFriend! be not at all anxious, no one will be able to do any\nharm to your husband; banish all care, for Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and\nBulram Jee will soon come to the attack, accompanied by all the\ndescendants of Judoo; and, having exterminated the army of demons,\nwill release and take away with them you and Unroodr\u00f9; it is their\ncustom to carry off by force and stratagem, in any way they can, all\nthe pretty daughters of Rajas they hear of; this is the grandson of\nhim, who carried off Rookmunee, the daughter of Raja Bheekmuk, after\nhaving fought with the very powerful and renowned Rajas Sissoopal and\nJoorasindhoo, in like manner, they will take you off also; be not,\ntherefore, at all apprehensive.\u201d Ookha said, \u201cI cannot endure this\naffliction. They have bound my husband in a running noose and carried\nhim off; a poisonous flame, in consequence thereof, burns up my body.\nHow shall I be able to enjoy peaceful repose, and how can my eyes\nbehold the grief of my beloved? Why should I live, since he, who is\ndearest to me, has been plunged in calamity. I will neither eat nor\ndrink--now Banasoor destroy my husband! O grant me, Banasoor, an\nasylum for my husband; (that is, spare his life,) whatever is to be,\nwill happen, what can any one say to prevent it? I will not respect\nthe world nor the Vedas, but will consider my husband\u2019s grief and\nhappiness as my own.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Ookha had thus spoken to Chitrekha, she went to her\nhusband, and sat down near him, without fear or alarm. Some one then\nwent and said to Banasoor, \u201cO great king! your daughter has left the\nhouse, and gone to that man.\u201d When Banasoor heard this, he sent for\nhis son, Uskundh, saying to him, \u201cSon! bring away your sister from the\ncourt, and take her into the house, and confine her there, and do not\nallow her to go out.\u201d On receiving his father\u2019s order, Uskundh went to\nhis sister, and spoke very angrily to her, \u201cWhat is this you have\ndone, you wicked creature, throwing aside all respect for the world,\nand consideration for your own modesty, you low thing? Why should I\nkill you (or what death shall I make you die?) It will be a crime, and\nI fear for my own disgrace.\u201d Ookha replied, \u201cBrother! say and do what\nyou please, I have obtained the husband whom Parbutee Jee gave me,\nwhom else shall I run after, leaving him, and thereby bring\ndisgraceful abuse upon myself? Women of low degree abandon their\nhusbands: this is the common custom of the world, and always has been\nso. If a woman is disgraced by living with him to whom the deity has\nunited her, she must submit.\u201d\n\nO great king! on hearing these words, Uskundh was enraged, and seizing\nher by the hand, carried off Ookha thence to the house, and did not\nallow her to leave it; he afterwards took Unroodr\u00f9 Jee also thence to\nsome other place and confined him. At that time Unroodr\u00f9 was in great\naffliction at being separated from his wife, and the Raja\u2019s daughter\ndenied herself all food and drink in the absence of her husband, and\nbegan to perform a very severe penance. Some days after this, one day\nNarud Jee, the sage, went first to Unroodr\u00f9 and explained to him \u201cNot\nto be at all anxious, as Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, and\nBulram, the abode of happiness, would soon release and take him away\nthence, after having fought with the evil spirits.\u201d He afterwards went\nto Banasoor and said, \u201cRaja! he, whom you have fastened in the running\nnoose, is the grandson of Shree Krishn\u00f9, and the son of Purdiyomun,\nand his name is Unroodr\u00f9. You know the descendants of Judoo well, act\naccording to this knowledge, I have come to put you upon your guard in\nthis matter and have done so.\u201d On hearing this, Banasoor allowed Narud\nJee to take leave, saying to him, \u201cNarud Jee! I know all about it.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXIV.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! when Unroodr\u00f9 had been four\nmonths bound, Narud Jee went to the city of Dwarka, and there beheld\nall the Judoos very sad, disconsolate and emaciated with grief. Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 and Bulram were sitting amongst them, very thoughtful and\nanxious, and saying, \u201cWho has carried off the child hence?\u201d They were\ntalking in this strain, and there was such weeping and lamentation in\nthe female apartments, that no one could hear another speaking. On the\narrival of Narud Jee, all persons present, both male and female, rose\nup to meet him, and came and stood in his presence greatly agitated\nand emaciated with grief, sad and shedding tears and lamenting. They\nafterwards joined their hands, and bowed their heads with great\nsubmissiveness, and expressing the deepest emotion, began to enquire\nfrom Narud Jee, \u201cSay, truly, O sage! in order that we may preserve our\nsinking lives, where shall we receive intelligence of Unroodr\u00f9? Say,\nO holy man! so that we may rely on your words.\u201d Shree Narud Jee\nreplied, \u201cSuffer not any anxiety of mind, and banish all sorrow,\nUnroodr\u00f9 Jee is alive and well at Shronitpore. He has gone there, and\nenjoyed amorous pleasure with the daughter of Banasoor; for which\nreason, he has laid hold of and bound him with a running noose; he\nwill not, on any account, release Unroodr\u00f9 without fighting. I have\nmentioned this secret to you; form your future plans accordingly.\u201d\n\nO great king! Narud Jee departed, when he had given them this\nintelligence; afterwards all the descendants of Judoo went to the Raja\nOogursen, and said, \u201cO great king! we have received exact intelligence\nthat Unroodr\u00f9 Jee is at Shronitpore, at the house of Banasoor; he has\nenjoyed the Raja\u2019s daughter, and the Raja has, in consequence thereof,\nkept him bound with a running noose. What are your orders now to us?\u201d\nOn hearing this account, Raja Oogursen said, \u201cTake all my army with\nyou, and use your utmost endeavours to release and bring Unroodr\u00f9\nhere.\u201d\n\nWhen Oogursen had thus spoken, all the Judoos, O great king! took the\nRaja\u2019s army with them, and accompanied Bulram, and Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund, and Purdiyomun Jee, mounting on the sovereign of the feathered\nrace, arrived before them all at Shronitpore.\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said, O great king! when\nBulram Jee, taking all the army of Oogursen and sounding the large\nkettle-drum, went from the city of Dwarka to Shronitpore, it is\nimpossible to describe the splendid appearance of his cavalcade. In\nfront of all were \u201c_must_\u201d elephants in rows, with huge tusks; on\nwhich the large kettle-drum was sounded, and flags and banners were\nwaving. Behind these, was another row of elephants with howdahs, on\nwhich the bravest, most heroical and the mightiest of the Judoos were\nseated, wearing coats of mail and helmets, and completely armed;\nimmediately following, were successive lines of chariots, after them\ntroops of horsemen were moving along on horses of all colours with\ncollars, harness, tasselled ornaments and iron armour, making them\npace as in the manege, and move in an artificial manner, and dance\nabout and jump and plunge. In the midst of them, panegyrists were\nsinging songs of praise, and bards were singing war songs. Behind them\ncame the foot soldiers, thick as a host of locusts, armed with\nshields, swords, knives, daggers, spears, javelins, bows, arrows,\nclubs, quoits and every description of warlike weapon. The sound of\nthe drums and other musical instruments in the midst of this\nprocession, contributed greatly to the fine effect and beauty of the\nscene. The dust flew up, and spread to the sky, the sun was hid and\nbecame like night; the ruddy goose and its mate were separated; wives\nenjoyed themselves with their lords, the lotus bloomed, and the white\nesculent lotus withered, noctural animals prowled about, supposing\nthat it was night.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee, said,--O\ngreat king! when Bulram Jee, advancing with great pomp and noise, with\na force of twelve complete armies, and destroying all the forts,\nstrongholds and castles of the Raja, and laying waste his country,\narrived at Shronitpore, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and Purdiyomun Jee\narrived also, some one in great alarm, and distracted with fear, said\nto Banasoor, with joined hands and bowing his head, \u201cO great king!\nKrishn\u00f9 and Bulram have advanced with their whole army, and they have\nrazed all the strongholds, forts and castles in our country and have\nencompassed the city on every side. What now are your orders?\u201d\nBanasoor was greatly enraged at these words; and, having summoned all\nhis great demons, said to them, \u201cTake all your armies outside the\ncity, and go and oppose Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram, I will also come by and\nbye.\u201d\n\nOn receiving this order, O great king! the demons immediately took\nwith them twelve complete armies, and being fully equipped with arms\nof all kinds, stood ready to encounter Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram Jee;\nand in rear of them, Banasoor worshipping, calling to mind, and\nmeditating upon Shree Muhadeo Jee, was also ready for battle.\n\nShookdeo, the sage, said,--O great king! whilst Shiv\u00f9 Jee was\nmeditating, his seat shook, and his meditation was interrupted; on\nreflecting upon this, he thought to himself, \u201cA worshipper of mine is\nin a difficulty; I must go now and remove his anxiety.\u201d When having\nformed this resolution, he had assumed half the body of Parbuttee,\nfastened his matted hair, rubbed his body over with ashes, eaten a\nlarge quantity of hemp, swallow-wort and thorn-apple, wearing a\nbrahminical thread, composed of white snakes, clad in an elephant\u2019s\nhide, with a necklace of heads and garland of snakes, holding a\ntrident, bow, hand-drum and skull; riding upon the bull Nandya\naccompanied by ghosts, goblins, spectres, witches, female divinities,\nimps, sprites and evil spirits, and taking an army with him, Bholanath\ncame forth; his splendid appearance baffles all description; in his\near was an ornament, consisting of the elephant pearl, on his forehead\nwas the moon; he placed the Ganges on his head, and his eyes were very\nred, of a very frightful aspect and appearing in the form of the\ndestroying deity; he proceeded in this manner, with music and singing,\nand making his army dance; to describe his appearance is impossible to\nbe understood, it must be seen. At length, after some little delay, he\ncame with his army to the place where Banasoor was standing with his\narmies of demons. On seeing Muhadeo, Banasoor was delighted, and said,\n\u201cO sea of compassion! who without you would look after me? Your\nflaming heat will burn them up, how will the Judoos now survive?\u201d He\nproceeded to say, \u201cO great king! make this a fair fight, so that each\nman may have an antagonist opposed to him.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Banasoor had thus spoken, on one side, the army of\nthe demons was standing in battle array, and on the other, the\ndescendants of Judoo were in a state of preparation; drums began to\nsound on both sides; brave, bold, resolute and mighty heroes began to\narrange their weapons; and the irresolute eunuchs and cowards to fly\nfor their lives from the field of battle. At that time Shiv\u00f9 Jee\nappeared before Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund in the form of the destroying\ndeity. Banasoor was opposed to Bulram Jee; Uskundh encountered\nPurdiyomun; and in this manner each man closed with an antagonist.\nMuhadeo held the bow Pinak in his hand, while the lord of the Judoos\nhad the bow, Sarung. Shiv\u00f9 discharged the arrows of Bruhm\u00f9: Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Jee cut them off with a weapon of Bruhm\u00f9\u2019s also. Roodr\u00f9\nthen sent forth a mighty wind, which Huri avoided with fire. Muhadeo\nupon this kindled a fire, which Moorari extinguished by pouring down\nrain, and raised an immense flame, which extended to the army of\nSudashiv\u00f9; and burning their beards, mustachios and hair, made all\nthe demons appear of a very terrible aspect. When the army of the\ndemons began to be burnt, and raised a loud cry for deliverance,\nBholanath cooled the burnt and half-burnt bodies of the demons, ghosts\nand goblins, by pouring down rain; and being greatly enraged was on\nthe point of letting fly the arrows of Narayun: but upon reflection,\nhe abstained from doing so, and kept them back. After this, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Jee discharged the arrows of Sloth; and having stupified them\nall, began to cut down the army of demons, just as a husbandman would\ncut grain. On beholding this exploit, when Muhadeo thought to himself,\nand said, \u201cThat it would be absolutely necessary to engage in and\nprolong the battle, so as to involve universal destruction,\u201d Uskundh,\nmounted a peacock, and ascending into mid-air, began to discharge\narrows upon the army of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee. Then Purdiyomun exclaimed\nto Huri, \u201cSome one is fighting from above, mounted on a peacock, give\nthe order to fight with energy, and I will kill him now, and he shall\nfall upon the ground.\u201d On hearing this, Krishn\u00f9 gave the order, when\nPurdiyomun discharged an arrow, which hit the peacock, and Uskundh\nfell down. Banasoor was highly indignant at the fall of Uskundh, and\nbending five bows and placing two arrows on each bow, began to shower\nforth his arrows like rain, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund cut them off\nmid-way.\n\nO great king! at that time, drums and tambourines resounded on all\nsides; bards sang chimes in music, streams of blood gushed forth, as\nthough squirted from wounds; in every direction was seen blood, as red\nas _holee_ powder; in the midst ghosts, goblins and spectres in\nvarious frightful forms, wandered about, playing all sorts of antic\ntricks; rivers of blood flowed like streams of red colour, it could\nnot be called a battle, but seemed to be more like a _holee_ on both\nsides. When the battle had been raging for some time, Shree Krishn\u00f9\nJee discharged an arrow, so as to kill Banasoor\u2019s charioteer, and the\nhorses started; on the death of his charioteer, Banasoor fled from the\nfield, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 pursued him.\n\nHaving narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee, said,--O\ngreat king! on hearing the news of Banasoor\u2019s flight, his mother,\nwhose name was Kutra, of a hideous appearance, with dishevelled hair,\ncame naked before Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, and began to call out; on\nseeing her, Krishn\u00f9 shut his eyes and turned his back upon her, when\nshe spoke; in the mean while Banasoor fled, and again rallied his\narmy.\n\nO great king! Kutra did not withdraw from the presence of Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Jee, until Banasoor had returned with a complete army, fully\narrayed. Banasoor, on his arrival, engaged in a mighty battle, but\ncould not stand before Krishn\u00f9; and running away again went to\nMuhadeo. Beholding Banasoor in a state of fear, Shiv\u00f9 Jee was greatly\nenraged, and having summoned a fever of a poisonous and inflammatory\nnature, caused it to spread in the army of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee. The\nfever, which was very violent and burning, whose heat equalled that of\nthe sun, with three heads, nine feet, six hands, three eyes, and of a\nfrightful appearance, came and penetrated the army of Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund. The descendants of Judoo began to be burnt by its heat, and to\nshake and tremble; at length, after having suffered very great pain,\nand being alarmed, the descendants of Judoo came to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee\nand said, \u201cO great king! the fever of Shiv\u00f9 has come, and raged\nviolently amongst our whole army, and destroyed many; be pleased now\nto save us from its fury, otherwise not a single member of the family\nof Judoo will escape alive.\u201d\n\nO great king! having heard this request, and seeing that they were all\ndistressed, Huri sent forth the ague, which rushed upon Muhadeo\u2019s\nfever. On seeing the ague, Muhadeo\u2019s fever fled through fear; and\ncontinuing his flight, came to Sudashiv\u00f9 Jee. The inflammatory fever\nthen said to Muhadeo, \u201cAfford me an asylum, or the fever of Krishn\u00f9\nwill destroy me.\u201d Muhadeo Jee replied, \u201cThere is no one in the three\nworlds, except Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, who can drive away the fever he\nhas sent, it is therefore most advisable for you to go to Shree\nMoorari, the friend of his worshippers.\u201d Having heard of Shiv\u00f9\u2019s\nspeech, and reflected upon it, the inflammatory fever went into the\npresence of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy; and joining his\nhands, beseeching in a most submissive manner and making many\nentreaties, said, \u201cO sea of compassion, the brother of the poor, the\npurifier of sinners and kind to the needy! be pleased to pardon my\nfault and save me from your fever. O Krishn\u00f9! you are the lord of\nBruhm\u00f9 and all other divinities. Your power, O lord of the world! is\nincomprehensible; it was you who created and arranged the world. All\nthe delusive power in the universe belongs to you. O Krishn\u00f9! I have\nfound out your compassionate nature, and having obtained knowledge,\nlook upon you as the creator of the world.\u201d The benignant Huri\nreplied, \u201cYou have come to seek protection from me, and have therefore\nescaped, otherwise you would not have escaped with life. I forgive\nyour present fault; but do not again direct your attacks against my\nworshippers and servants, this is my order to you.\u201d The fever said, \u201cO\nsea of compassion! whoever shall hear this history, ague, tertian ague\nand tertian fever shall never attack him.\u201d After this, Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund said, \u201cGo now to Muhadeo; do not stay here, or else my fever\nwill harass you.\u201d On receiving this order, the inflammatory fever took\nleave, and having made an obeisance, went off to Muhadeo, and the pain\nof the fever was entirely subdued.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee, said,--O\ngreat king! whoever shall hear this conversation need never be afraid\nof fever. After this Banasoor was very angry; and, taking bows and\narrows in all his hands, came opposite to Krishn\u00f9 and bawled out, \u201cI\nhave fought a severe battle with you; but my inclinations are not yet\nsatisfied.\u201d When having thus spoken, he began to discharge arrows with\nall his hands, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee let loose the quoit,\nSoodursun, and cut off all his hands, except four, with the same\ncelerity as any one would cut the boughs of a tree. On his hands being\ncut off, Banasoor fell down stupified, and a river of blood flowed\nfrom his wounds in which his arms appeared like alligators. The heads\nof the elephants, which had been cut off, seemed like drowning\ncrocodiles. Chariots were carried along the stream, like baskets for\nirrigating fields and like boats. In different places on the field of\nbattle, dogs, jackals, vultures and other birds and beasts were\ntearing and rending, and fighting and contending for the dead bodies;\nand crows were flying off with eyes, which they had picked out from\nheads.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! on seeing this state of the\nbattle field, Banasoor was very sad, and began to feel regret, and\nafterwards, being deprived of all strength, went to Muhadeo Jee. Then\nRoodr\u00f9, after thinking on the matter, said to him, \u201cYou must now\nendeavour to please and captivate Huri.\u201d With these words, Shree\nMuhadeo Jee, taking Banasoor with him, and reading the Vedas to him on\nthe road, came to the place where Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund was standing on\nthe field of battle. Throwing Banasoor down at the feet of Krishn\u00f9,\nShiv\u00f9 Jee said, with joined hands, \u201cO merciful to those who come for\nsanctuary! this Banasoor has now come to you for protection; be\npleased to look upon him with compassion, and do not retain in your\nmind a recollection of his crime. You repeatedly descend upon the\nearth, to remove the burthens of the world, and to destroy the wicked,\nand to save the universe. You are, O lord! invisible, impenetrable,\nwithout end; for the sake of your worshippers, you come, and are\nmanifest in the world, otherwise, you constantly remain in the form of\nthe embodied spirit. The form of the spirit is this; heaven is his\nhead; the sky, his navel; the earth, his feet; the sea, his belly;\nIndr\u00f9, his arms; hills, his nails; clouds, the hair of his head;\ntrees, the hair of his body; the moon and sun, his eyes; Bruhm\u00f9, his\nmind; Roodr\u00f9, his pride; the air, his breath; the closing and opening\nof his eye-lids, night and day; thunder, his voice. Such is the form\nin which you constantly dwell: and no one can comprehend it. And this\nworld is a sea of trouble, the water of which is filled with anxiety\nand delusion. O lord! without the aid of the boat of your name, no one\ncan cross this vast and very difficult sea; and many flounder and are\ndrowned, in attempting it. Whosoever has obtained mortal form, and\nshall not offer adoration and prayers to you, and shall not keep you\nin constant remembrance, he shall lose his religion and shall\naggravate his sins. He, who has come into the world, and has not\ncalled upon your name, has abandoned the water of life and drank\npoison. In whosesoever\u2019s breast you dwell, he has obtained pardon on\naccount of his faith by celebrating with songs your good qualities.\u201d\nAgain, Shree Muhadeo Jee said, \u201cO sea of compassion and brother of the\npoor! your greatness is boundless. Who has power to describe it, and\nwho can understand your actions? Take compassion upon me now, and\nforgive this Banasoor\u2019s transgression; and grant him faith in you; he\nalso possesses a title to be considered your worshipper, because he is\na portion of the lineage of Purhlad, your adorer.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund replied, \u201cShiv\u00f9 Jee! there is no difference between you and me;\nand whoever supposes there is a difference, he will fall into the\ngreat hell, and shall never obtain me, (that is, gain my favour;)\nwhoever has meditated upon you, will, at his latter end, obtain my\nfavour, this Banasoor called upon your name without deceit; and, for\nthis reason, I have made him four-armed; I have protected all on whom\nyou have conferred boons, and will protect those also, to whom you may\nin future grant blessings.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Krishn\u00f9 had uttered these words, Sudashiv\u00f9 Jee\nmade an obeisance; and, taking leave, went to the mountain Kuelas,\naccompanied by his army; and Shree Krishn\u00f9 remained standing where he\nwas; Banasoor then joining his hands and bowing his head, said,\nsubmissively,--\u201cO lord of the poor! as you have compassionately\npardoned me, be pleased now to make pure your servant\u2019s house by\ncoming to it, and take away Unroodr\u00f9 Jee and Ookha with you.\u201d On\nhearing this, Shree Beharee, the benefactor of his worshippers, taking\nPurdiyomun Jee with him, went to Banasoor\u2019s abode.\n\nO great king! Banasoor being then highly delighted, conducted\nKrishn\u00f9, with a warm welcome, to his house, spreading silken cloths\non the road, afterwards he washed his feet and took the water with\nwhich his feet had been washed, and sipping it in his hand put it on\nhis head. He then began to say, \u201cThe water in which his feet have been\nwashed, so difficult to be obtained by all, I have this day obtained\nby the favour of Huri, and obliterated the sins of each birth, he who\nhas drank of the water of the Ganges will, undoubtedly, obtain heaven;\nhe who has seen the Bhageruttee has gained the whole world.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken and brought Unroodr\u00f9 Jee and Ookha,\nhe said in the presence of Krishn\u00f9, joining his hands, \u201cBe pleased to\nforgive my fault; what was predestined has happened, I give this Ookha\nas a servant to you.\u201d When he had thus spoken, Banasoor gave his\ndaughter in marriage, according to the injunctions of the Vedas, and\nbestowed upon her a boundless dowry.\n\nHaving narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O\ngreat king! on the marriage taking place, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, having\nrestored Banasoor\u2019s confidence, seated him upon the royal throne; and,\naccompanied by his grandson and grand-daughter, took leave, and\nsounding the large kettle-drum, went thence, with all the descendants\nof Judoo, to the city of Dwarka. On hearing of their arrival all the\ninhabitants of Dwarka went outside of the city, and escorted Krishn\u00f9\nin musical procession; at that time the inhabitants of the city sang\nsongs of rejoicing, and indulged in festivities in the markets, roads,\ncross-roads, sheds and houses; and in the royal palace Shree Rookmunee\nand all the women sang songs of congratulation, and observed all the\nceremonies usual on festive occasions; the gods, seated in their\nchariots, and raining down flowers from the sky, raised cries of\nvictory; and joy was universally diffused throughout the city, both\ninside each house and outside. Bulram, the abode of happiness, and\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, having then allowed all the\ndescendants of Judoo to take leave, went to live at their ease and\nhappily at the royal palace, taking Unroodr\u00f9 and Ookha with them; the\nwives of Krishn\u00f9 were delighted at beholding Ookha; when she was\nbrought into the palace, her mother-in-law gave her a blessing, and\nclasped her into her bosom; and being highly pleased at seeing her,\nadorned her with ornaments.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXV.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! Raja Nurug, of the family of\nIshwak, was very intelligent, liberal, religious and brave; he made\ninnumerable presents of cows; it would be as easy to count the grains\nof sand of the Ganges, the drops of rain in the month of Bhador, and\nthe stars of the sky, as to reckon the number of cows Raja Nurug gave\naway; although he was so wise and so very liberal a Raja, he was, for\na slight transgression, changed into a lizard, and dwelt in a dry\nwell, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee released him.\n\nIn this part of the history, the Raja Pureechit interrupted Shree\nShookdeo Jee, and enquired,--\u201cO great king! for what sin was so pious\nand liberal a Raja turned into a lizard, and why did he remain in a\ndry well, and how did Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee release him? Explain\nthese circumstances to me, that the perplexities of my mind may be\nremoved?\u201d Shree Shookdeo replied,--O great king! be pleased to listen\nwith attention, and I will explain all the circumstances as they\noccurred. The Raja Nurug was in the constant habit of presenting gifts\nof cows; one day, having bathed early in the morning, and finished his\nreligious meditations and prayers, he gave in alms a thousand cows;\nwhite, purple, black, yellow, brown and grey, with hoofs of silver,\nhorns of gold, backs of copper, and dressed out in cloths of silk; and\nin addition to the cows, he gave as a present to brahmins large\nquantities of grain, and a great deal of money, all of which they took\nto their homes; on another day the Raja, in like manner, began to make\na present of cows; when, unknown to the Raja, a cow that had been\ngiven away on the first day, was mixed up with the cows of the second\nday, which the Raja gave away with that day\u2019s cows; a brahmin, who\nreceived it, was taking it to his house, when another brahmin,\nrecognizing the cow as his, stopped it on the road and said, \u201cThis is\nmy cow, I received it yesterday at the Raja\u2019s, brother! why are you\ntaking it away?\u201d The brahmin replied, \u201cI have just received this cow\nfrom the Raja, and am bringing it thence, how is it yours?\u201d O great\nking! the two brahmins began thus to dispute, each claiming the cow;\nafter disputing some time they both went to the Raja, who, having\nheard the statements of both, joining his hands, said, in a very\nsubmissive manner, \u201cLet one receive from me a lakh of rupees, and let\nthe other take the cow, or let me give the cow to the other.\u201d Both the\nquarrelsome brahmins were very angry at this proposal, and said, \u201cThe\ncow, for which, on receiving, we pronounced a benediction, we will not\ngive up for a crore of rupees, this is a part of our souls.\u201d O great\nking! the Raja then falling at the feet of those brahmins, tried every\nmeans of coaxing and explanation, but those vindictive brahmins would\nnot listen to what the Raja said; at length, both the brahmins went\naway very angry to their homes, leaving the cow, and saying to the\nRaja, \u201cO great king! the cow, which you gave in alms to us, and which\nwe received, after having extended our hands to pronounce a\nbenediction, is not to be given up for money, if it still remain with\nyou, without our receiving any thing, it does not signify, (or, we\nhave no objection.)\u201d\n\nO great king! on the departure of the brahmins, the Raja Nurug was at\nfirst very sad, and began to say to himself, \u201cI have unintentionally\ncommitted this act of injustice, and how will it be wiped away;\u201d and\nafter this he continued to perform many acts of charity, and gave many\ngifts. After the lapse of many days, the Raja Nurug died, the\nattendants of Jum took him to Dhurumraj, who, on seeing him, rising\nfrom his throne, stood up; having afterwards welcomed him, and offered\nhim a seat, he said in the kindest manner, \u201cO great king! your virtues\nare many, and sins few; what will you first receive, the reward of\nvirtue, or the punishment of crime?\u201d On hearing this Nurug said,\njoining his hands, \u201cDo not, O lord! let my good acts pass away from\nyour mind, I will first suffer for my sins, and endure affliction in\nmortal shape.\u201d On hearing these words, Dhurumraj said to the Raja\nNurug, \u201cO great king! for the sin of having unknowingly given away a\ncow a second time, which you had already once given, you must become a\nlizard in a forest on the banks of the Goomtee, and remain in a dry\nwell; when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund shall descend upon the earth at the\nend of the Dwarpur age, he will grant you release.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, Dhurumraj remained silent, and the\nRaja Nurug, being then transformed into a lizard, went and fell into a\ndry well; and feeding on animals, began to abide there; after the\nlapse of some ages, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee descended upon the earth\nat the end of the Dwarpur age; when, having enjoyed sports and\ndiversions at Bruj, he went to Dwarka, and had sons and grandsons. A\nnumber of his sons and grandsons went together one day to the forest\nto hunt; and, whilst engaged in hunting, became thirsty; by chance, as\nthey were searching for water in the forest, they came to the brink of\nthe blind well, in which Raja Nurug, having been born as a lizard,\ndwelt. As one of them leaned over the well to look into it, he called\nout to the rest, \u201cBrothers! come and see what a large lizard there is\nin this well!\u201d they all ran to the spot on hearing this, and standing\non the raised stone masonry round the mouth of the well, began to\nfasten their turbands and waistbands together, and suspending them in\nthe air, tried to draw him forth, and to say to each other, \u201cBrother!\nwe will not go away from this place until we have drawn the lizard out\nof the well.\u201d\n\nO great king! when all their efforts with their turbands and\nwaistbands did not succeed, they procured from the village flax,\nthread and grass, with which ropes are made, and thick, large thongs\nof leather; and letting them down the well, and fastening the lizard\nwith them, began to pull forcibly, but the lizard was not even moved\nthence; then some one went to Dwarka, and said to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee,\n\u201cO great king! there is an enormous lizard inside a dry well in the\nforest, which all the children have fatigued themselves in trying to\npull out, but it will not come forth.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, Huri rose and started off; and going along\ncame to the place were all the children were trying to pull the lizard\nout. On seeing Krishn\u00f9 the children said, \u201cFather! see what a large\nlizard this is; we have for a long time been trying to pull it out,\nbut it will not come.\u201d\n\nO great king! having heard this speech, when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee\ndescended into the well, and placed his foot on the lizard\u2019s body, he\nrelinquished his form, and became a very handsome man. In the form of\na Raja, he continued to lay hold of Krishn\u00f9\u2019s feet, joining his\nhands, and bowing his head, he solicited him, \u201cO sea of compassion!\nyou have shown me great favour in having taken thought of me in the\nmidst of this great calamity.\u201d\n\nShookdeo Jee said,--Raja! when in the form of a man, he began to\naddress Huri thus, the Judoos\u2019 children, and the sons and grandsons of\nHuri being astonished, enquired from Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, \u201cO great\nking! who is this, and for what crime, being transformed into a\nlizard, has he remained here, kindly tell us, in order that the\nperplexities of our minds may be removed.\u201d Then Krishn\u00f9, without\nmaking any reply himself, said to the Raja, \u201cExplain your history, so\nthat all may hear it with attention. Who are you; whence have you\ncome, and for what sin have you obtained this body?\u201d The Raja replied,\njoining his hands, \u201cYou know it all, O lord of the Judoos! But as you\nask me to relate my history, I will do so? My name is Raja Nurug, I\ngave numberless cows to brahmins for your sake; it so happened that\none day I gave a great many cows in alms to brahmins, on another day\none of those cows came back to me; which, without being aware of this\ncircumstance, I gave away with other cows to another brahmin; as he\ntook the cow away with him, the first brahmin recognizing it as his,\nsaid to him, \u2018This cow is mine, I yesterday received it at the Raja\u2019s,\nwhy are you taking it away?\u2019 He replied, \u2018I have just received it at\nthe Raja\u2019s, and am bringing it thence, how is it yours?\u2019 O great king!\nthose two brahmins came to me, disputing on this matter; I explained\nto them and said, \u2018One of you receive from me a lakh of rupees in\ncompensation for the cow, and one of you give up your claim to the\ncow.\u2019 O great king! they both obstinately refused to listen to what I\nsaid; at length they both went away angry, leaving the cow with me; I\ncontinued to regret, and to be distressed at the circumstance. At the\ntime of my decease, the messenger of Jum took me to Dhurumraj, who\nsaid to me, \u2018Raja! your virtues are many, and your sins few; say, will\nyou first receive the reward of your virtues, or suffer for your\ncrimes?\u2019 I replied, \u2018I will suffer first for my sins.\u2019 On hearing\nthis, O great king! Dhurumraj said, \u2018Raja! thou hast bestowed upon a\nbrahmin a cow, which thou hadst already given away; for this fault be\ntransformed into a lizard, and go upon the earth, and remain in a dry\nwell in a forest, on the banks of the Goomtee; when, at the end of the\nDwarpur age, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund having descended upon the earth,\nshall go to you, you will then be released.\u2019 O great king! from that\ntime I have been lying in this blind well, in the form of a lizard,\nand have meditated upon your lotus feet; you have now come and\ndelivered me from a great affliction, and carried me across the ocean\nof existence.\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! the Raja Nurug having thus spoken,\ntook leave; and, sitting in a chariot went to Vishn\u00f9\u2019s paradise; and\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee explained to all the cowherds\u2019 children, and\nbegan to say, \u201cDo not any of you commit a crime against a brahmin, nor\nseize on a brahmin\u2019s portion; whatever you may have vowed in your\nminds to offer, keep back no portion of it; speak the truth to\nbrahmins. Jum has inflicted this punishment on one, who received back,\nwhat had been given to a brahmin; continue to be the servants of\nbrahmins, submit to all the transgressions of brahmins; whoever\nrespects a brahmin respects me, let not any one think a brahmin and me\nseparate from each other, he, who shall suppose that there is a\ndifference between me and a brahmin, shall fall into hell; and he who\nshall treat with consideration and honour a brahmin, shall obtain my\nfavour; and shall, without doubt, go to heaven.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee took them all\nthence, and returned to the city of Dwarka.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXVI.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! on one occasion, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, and Bulram, the abode of happiness,\nwere sitting in a jewelled house, when Buldeo Jee said to Krishn\u00f9,\n\u201cBrother! when Kuns sent to invite us from Brindabun, and we went off\nto Muttra, then you and I promised the cowherdesses, and Nund and\nJusodha, that we would return quickly, we have not gone there, but\ntaken up our abode at Dwarka; they will be thinking of us. With your\npermission I will go and see the place of our birth, and will offer\nthem consolation.\u201d Krishn\u00f9 gave his consent; and upon this, Bulram\ntook leave of them all, carrying a ploughshare and pestle; and\nmounting his chariot, started off.\n\nO great king! the Rajas of all the cities, towns and villages, Bulram\nJee passed through, came out to welcome him, and escorted him with the\ngreatest politeness; and he offered consolation to each of them. After\nsome days\u2019 journey, Bulram Jee arrived at the city of Awuntika; he\npaid his respects to the spiritual preceptor, who had instructed him\nin knowledge, and stayed about ten days with him. On taking leave of\nhis preceptor, Buldeo Jee went on to Gokool, and beheld the cows every\nwhere in the jungle with their mouths open, not having eaten any\ngrass, thinking of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, their minds wrapt up in the\ntones of his lute, wandering about lowing and panting; and behind them\nthe cowherds\u2019 children singing Huri\u2019s praises, and imbued with\naffection for him, were going along; and on all sides the inhabitants\nof the city were commending Krishn\u00f9\u2019s exploits and sports. Seeing\nthis condition of the inhabitants and of the cows, on arrival at his\nbirth-place, Bulram took compassion upon them, and his eyes filled\nwith tears; all the cowherds\u2019 children came running out, when they saw\nthe flag and banner on the chariot, supposing that Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund and Bulram had come. Bulram descended from his ruth at their\napproach, and embraced and began to make the kindest enquiries from\neach of them; in the mean while, some one told Nund and Jusodha, \u201cThat\nBuldeo had arrived.\u201d On hearing the news, Nund and Jusodha, and the\ncowherds rose and rushed out. Bulram, when he saw them from a distance\ncoming towards him, ran and threw himself at the feet of Nund Rae;\nthen Nund Jee shedding tears of joy, raised Bulram, and embraced him\nwith the utmost affection, and forgot all the pains of separation;\nBulram then went and laid hold of Jusodha\u2019s feet, who fondly clasped\nhim to her bosom, she embraced and clung to his neck, tears streaming\nfrom her eyes.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja,--O great king! after this interview, Nund Rae Jee took\nBulram into the house, and began to make kind enquiries, asking \u201cIf\nOogursen and Basoodeo, and the Judoos, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the\nroot of joy, were all well. Do they ever think of us?\u201d Bulram said,\n\u201cThrough your favour, they are all well and happy, and constantly sing\nof your good qualities.\u201d Nund Rae was silent when he heard this; then\nthe Ranee Jusodha, tears filling her eyes as she thought of Krishn\u00f9,\nsaid with great emotion, \u201cBuldeo Jee! is Shree Krishn\u00f9, the star of\nmy eyes, well?\u201d Bulram replied, \u201cThat he was quite well.\u201d Jusodha then\nbegan to say, \u201cBuldeo! since Huri went hence, there has been a\ndarkness before my eyes; and I think of him constantly, day and night,\n(during the eight puhurs)--and he has entirely forgotten me, and gone\nand taken up his abode at Dwarka; and behold, my sisters, Dewukee and\nRohnee, have also relinquished all affection for me, consider Gokool\nas near Muttra; you have thought hitherto that we lived at a distance,\nHuri would come to see us and pay us visit; but they, (that is, Rohnee\nand Dewukee) have arranged that he shall not have another interview\nwith us.\u201d\n\nO great king! when having thus spoken, Jusodha was in a state of the\ngreatest agitation, and began to weep, Bulram Jee entered into\nexplanations with her, and made her understand how matters really\nstood; and inspired her with confidence; afterwards when he had taken\nrefreshment, and eaten pawn, and came out of the house, he saw that\nall the women of Bruj were emaciated and desponding with dishevelled\nhair, a dirty appearance, depressed in spirits, neglecting their\ndomestic affairs, deeply in love, in the highest excitement of\nyouthful desire, singing the good qualities of Huri, restless at his\nabsence, and going about in every direction like drunken persons.\n\nO great king! on seeing Bulram, they came running to him with the\ngreatest delight; and making obeisance, surrounded him on all sides;\nand with joined hands, began to question him, and say, \u201cTell us, O\nBulram! the abode of happiness, where does our soul, the lovely\nKrishn\u00f9, now dwell? Does Beharee ever think of us, or has he\nforgotten all his former love, since he obtained a throne? Since he\nwent hence, he has once sent us a message through Oodho to perform\npenance; and has taken no further thought of any one; and as he has\nnow gone to take up his abode in the sea, why should he make enquiries\nabout any of us?\u201d On hearing these words, one of the cowherdesses\nsaid, \u201cFriend! who would regret the love of Huri, after seeing the\nmanner he has treated us all? He is not beloved by any one, he who has\nturned his back upon his father and mother; he does not remain an hour\nwithout Radha, and it is she, who has made him stay away; again what\nhave you and I gained by leaving our homes, sacrificing all respect\nfor our families, and for the world, abandoning our sons and husbands,\nand fixing our affections upon Huri; having embarked us on the boat of\nlove, he has altogether left us in the midst of the sea of separation;\nand we hear, that Krishn\u00f9 has now gone to Dwarka, and contracted many\nmarriages; and that he has also married sixteen thousand one hundred\nand eight Rajas\u2019 daughters, whom Bhomasoor had kept confined. They\nhave had sons and grandsons, why should he leave them and come here?\u201d\nAnother cowherdess said, \u201cFriend! do not regret in any way on account\nof the reports about Huri, because Oodho Jee came and mentioned all\nhis good qualities.\u201d She again said, \u201cFriends! act now according to my\nsuggestion--let us, having been allowed to touch the feet of Bulram,\ncontinue to sing in praise of his good qualities. He is fair, and not\nof black-coloured body, he will not practise deceit.\u201d Bulram said in\nreply, \u201cI have made this journey for your sakes. I have come here to\ntell you; and for this purpose Krishn\u00f9 sent me to Bruj; I will stay\ntwo months with you, and dance the circular dance, and fulfil all your\nexpectations.\u201d\n\nO great king! Bulram Jee, having thus spoken, gave a command to the\nwomen of Bruj, \u201cAs this is the night of the full moon of Chuetr\u00f9,\nadorn yourselves, and go into the forest; and I will engage in festive\nsongs and dance with you.\u201d Having thus said, Bulram Jee went in the\nevening to the forest, and all the women of Bruj followed him, wearing\nelegant dresses, and ornaments? and adorned from head to foot, came to\nBuldeo, they all remained bending their heads. The beauty of Buldeo\ncannot be described; of the colour of gold, he was dressed in a blue\ndress; his moon-like countenance and lotus eyes captivated all hearts;\na ear-ring shone with lustrous beauty in one of his ears; as though\nthe sun and moon dwelt together; the other ear had drank of the\nflavour of the celebrity of Huri; and he did not fasten an ear-ring in\nit. Jewels in profusion were fastened on all parts of his body, the\nsplendour of which baffles description. The women fell at his feet,\nsaying, \u201cEngage in sports and delightful festive songs and dances with\nus.\u201d\n\nO great king! on hearing this request, Bulram Jee made the mystical\nsound of \u201c_hoon_,\u201d on uttering which, all the materials necessary for\nthe festival were immediately produced. The cowherdesses then\nabandoning all care and modesty, giving themselves up to the passion\nof love, began to sing and play upon lutes, drums, cymbals, pipes and\nother musical instruments of all kinds, and gratify Bulram by their\nmerry-making and dancing, and blandishments.\n\nOn hearing them play and sing, and seeing them dance, Buldeo Jee was\ndelighted; and, having drank some spirituous liquor, began to sing and\ndance, and engage in every kind of sport, and enjoy mutual pleasure;\nat that time the gods, celestial musicians and choristers, and the\ndemi-gods, accompanied by their wives, and sitting in chariots,\nsinging the praises of Bulram, rained flowers from the sky. The moon\nand the assembly of the stars, beholding the happiness of the festive\nassembly, poured down nectar from their rays, the air became still,\nand the course of water was stopped.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O\ngreat king! in this manner Bulram Jee engaged at night in festive\nsongs and dances with the women of Bruj, during the months of Chuetr\u00f9\nand Bysakh, and in the day-time made Nund and Jusodha happy by\nrelating the history of Huri. One night, whilst engaging in\nfestivities, Bulram Jee having gone and reposed on the banks of the\nriver, said angrily, \u201cJumna! flow thou here, and forming a thousand\nstreams, bathe me with thy waters; if thou obeyest not my command, thy\nwaters shall be divided into several portions.\u201d When, O great king,\nthe Jumna through pride would not attend to what Bulram Jee said, he\ndrew her towards him with his plough and bathed, and from that day the\nJumna has been bent at that spot. Having bathed and got rid of all his\nfatigue, Bulram Jee made all the cowherdesses happy; and, taking them\nwith him, went from the forest to the city; there the cowherdesses\nsaid, \u201cO lord of the Judoos, take us hence with you.\u201d\n\nHaving heard this request, Bulram Jee encouraged the hopes of the\ncowherdesses; and, having inspired them with confidence, allowed them\nto take leave, and went himself to take leave of Nund and Jusodha. He\nthen explained to them and gave them comfort also; and after a stay of\nsome days took leave, and set off for Dwarka, where he soon arrived.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXVII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! there was a Raja, named\nPounrik, in the city of Kasee, a very powerful and glorious monarch,\nwho assumed the appearance of Vishn\u00f9 and imposed upon all people by\ndeceit and force; he constantly wore a yellow dress, a necklace\ncomposed of five jewels, produced from the elements of nature, a\ngarland of pearls, and a garland, composed of various jewels; and\ncarrying about with him a shell, quoit, club and lotus, he made two\nwooden hands for himself; and having placed upon a horse a wooden\nsovereign of the feathered race, he went about, mounted upon it. He\ncalled himself Basoodeo Pounrik, and caused himself to be worshipped\nby all men; whatsoever Raja did not obey his order, he attacked him;\nand, having fought, reduced him to subjection.\n\nHaving narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--Raja! seeing and hearing of his practices, people began to say\nin every country, city, village and house, \u201cOne Basoodeo has appeared\nin the country of Bruj, in the family of Judoo, and he dwells in the\ncity of Dwarka, another has now come to Kasee, which of the two shall\nwe look upon and respect as the true one?\u201d Such was the talk in every\ncountry; when, having made some discovery, Basoodeo Pounrik came one\nday into his own court, and said, \u201cWho is Krishn\u00f9 that lives at\nDwarka, whom the world calls Basoodeo? He has come upon the earth for\nthe sake of his worshippers, and has there assumed an appearance like\nmine.\u201d Having thus spoken, he sent for a messenger; and, entering into\nvery minute explanations with him, despatched him to Dwarka to Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund Jee, saying, \u201cTell all persons, who are wandering about\nin an appearance like mine, to relinquish that appearance and if they\ndo not relinquish it, prepare to fight with them.\u201d On receiving the\norder the messenger, taking leave, started from Kasee, and arrived at\nthe city of Dwarka; and appeared in the court of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nJee. Krishn\u00f9 asked him, \u201cWho he was, and whence he had come?\u201d He\nreplied, \u201cI am a messenger of Raja Pounrik, of the city of Kasee, I am\ncome to deliver a message to you from my master, which, with your\npermission, I will mention.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund granted permission.\nWhen he had done so, the messenger standing up with joined hands,\nbegan to say, \u201cO great king! Basoodeo Pounrik says, \u2018That he is lord\nof the three worlds and creator of the universe, and asks who you are,\nwho having assumed his appearance, and fled from fear of Joorasindhoo,\nhave come to live at Dwarka; you must either immediately give over\nimitating him in outward appearance and seek his protection; or he\nwill come and destroy you, together with all the descendants of Judoo;\nand, having removed the burthens of the earth, will cherish his own\nworshippers, I am Pounrik, the unseen, the invisible, the without\nform; gods, sages, saints and men offer prayers, penance, sacrifice\nand gifts continually to me. I, as Bruhm\u00f9, am the creator, as\nVishn\u00f9, the preserver, and as Shiv\u00f9, the destroyer. In the form of a\nfish I rescued the sinking Vedas, in the form of a tortoise I\nsupported a hill, as a boar I upheld the earth, descending upon the\nearth as half man and half lion, I destroyed the demon Hirunkusyp, in\nthe incarnation of a dwarf, I deceived Buli, when I descended as Ram,\nI destroyed the great devil, Rawun. This is my occupation, that,\nwhenever demons vex my worshippers, I descend upon the earth, and\nremove its burthens.\u2019\u201d\n\nHaving narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! the messenger of Basoodeo Pounrik\nwas thus speaking, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, seated\non a jewelled throne amidst an assemblage of Judoos was listening and\nlaughing, when one of the descendants of Judoo exclaimed, \u201cHas the\nregent of the dead come to take thee away, that thou speakest thus; we\nwill kill thee, thou low wretch! Thou hast come as the go-between of a\ndeceitful man; if you were not an ambassador, we would certainly put\nyou to death, it is not right to kill a messenger.\u201d\n\nO great king! when the descendants of Judoo had thus spoken, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Jee, having called that messenger, explained to him and said,\n\u201cGo and tell thy Basoodeo, that Krishn\u00f9 says, that he is about to\ngive up imitating thy appearance, and to seek an asylum with thee, be\nprepared.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words the messenger made a salutation, and took\nleave; and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee also set out with his army for the\ncity of Kasee. The messenger went and said to Basoodeo Pounrik, \u201cO\ngreat king! I have been to Dwarka, and delivered the whole of the\nmessage you charged me with to Shree Krishn\u00f9; and on hearing it he\nsaid, \u2018Go and tell thy master to be prepared, as I am about to give up\nimitating his appearance, and to seek an asylum with him.\u2019\u201d\n\nO great king! whilst the ambassador was still speaking, some one came\nand said, \u201cO great king! why are you sitting thus unconcerned? Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 has advanced with his army.\u201d In hearing this, Basoodeo\nPounrik came forth with his whole army in his assumed appearance; and,\nproceeding onwards, came in front of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee. Another\nRaja of Kasee came also with him; on both sides the armies were\narranged in battle order: the warlike instruments began to sound, the\nbrave, the resolute and the heroical began to fight; and cowards,\nleaving the field, to run for their lives; at that time Basoodeo\nPounrik continuing to fight and being in the hands of death, went in\nhis assumed form in front of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee, and challenged\nhim. On seeing him in that counterfeit dress, the descendants of Judoo\nsaid to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, \u201cO great king! how shall we kill him in\nthis likeness?\u201d Krishn\u00f9 said, \u201cIt is no crime to kill a deceitful man\nin that likeness.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, Huri gave the order to the quoit, Soodursun, who\nwent and plucked out his two wooden arms; the wooden sovereign of the\nfeathered race was broken at the same time, and the horse ran away;\nwhen Basoodeo Pounrik fell Soodursun cut off his head, and threw it\naway. On his head being cut off the Raja Pounrik was released from\nexistence; his head fell in the city of Kasee, where his seraglio was,\nand his wives saw it; they wept and tore their hair, saying, \u201cWho was\nthe author of this deed? You were not subject to decrepitude and were\nimmortal. How has your soul departed in a second?\u201d\n\nO great king! on hearing the lamentations of the Raja\u2019s wives, a son\nof his, named Soodukoch, came there, and seeing his father\u2019s head,\nwhich had been cut off, was greatly enraged and began to say, \u201cI will\nnot rest without revenging myself on him who has slain my father.\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee,\nsaid,--O great king! having destroyed Basoodeo Pounrik, Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund Jee returned with all his army to Dwarka, and the Raja\u2019s son,\nwith a view of revenging his father\u2019s death, began to perform a very\ndifficult penance to Muhadeo Jee. When he had been engaged some days\nin this penance, Muhadeo Bholanath came one day highly delighted, and\nsaid, \u201cAsk a boon from me.\u201d The Raja\u2019s son said, \u201cO great king! grant\nme this boon, that I may be revenged on Shree Krishn\u00f9 for my father\u2019s\ndeath.\u201d Shiv\u00f9 Jee replied, \u201cVery good, if you desire revenge, adopt\nthis plan.\u201d He said, \u201cWhat plan?\u201d Shiv\u00f9 replied, \u201cOffer a sacrifice,\nrepeating the incantations of the Vedas backwards, a female devil will\ncome forth from the fire, who will do whatever you tell her.\u201d\n\nWhen Shiv\u00f9 Jee had thus spoken, the Raja\u2019s son, O great king! sent\nfor brahmins, and having built an altar, and taking sesamum, ghee,\nbarley, sugar and other requisites for the sacrifice and mixing them\nup together, began to offer sacrifice, repeating the incantations of\nthe Vedas backwards. At length, whilst he was engaged in the\nsacrifice, a female devil, named Kritya, came forth from the hole, in\nwhich the consecrated fire was received, who, burning all the cities\nand villages, and the whole country in rear of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee,\narrived at the city of Dwarka, and began to set the city on fire.\nSeeing the city in flames, all the descendants of Judoo went in\nconsternation to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee, and called out, \u201cO great\nking! how shall we escape from this fire, it is burning down the whole\ncity?\u201d Krishn\u00f9 replied, \u201cBe not at all alarmed, this is a female\ndevil, named Kritya, who has come from Kasee, I will immediately make\narrangements with regard to her.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee gave the order to\nthe quoit, Soodursun, to attack and put her to flight, and to go at\nonce, and set fire to the city of Kasee. On receiving Huri\u2019s order,\nthe quoit, Soodursun, put to flight and destroyed Kritya, and went\nforthwith, and set Kasee on fire, The inhabitants fled from place to\nplace in great distress; and bitterly abused Soodukoch. The quoit\nreturned, after having fired the city, and came, and told Krishn\u00f9.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXVIII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! I will now relate how\nBulram, the abode of happiness, the receptacle of beauty, killed the\nmonkey, Doobid, listen with attention. One day Doobid, who was the\nminister of Soogreet, and brother of the monkey Mindree, and the\nfriend of Bhomasoor began to say, \u201cThere is a thorn in my mind, which\nalways pains me.\u201d On hearing this, some one enquired, \u201cWhat is it?\u201d He\nreplied, \u201cI will kill him, who has destroyed my friend Bhomasoor, in\norder that the grief of my mind may depart.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, he went, on one occasion, in great\nwrath, to the city of Dwarka, laying waste the country of Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund, and harassing the people. He set some afloat by\npouring down rain, he sent down flames and burnt others, some he\nknocked down with a hill, he dashed hills upon others, some he drowned\nin the sea, he bound others, and hid them in caves, he ripped open the\nbellies of some, some he killed with uprooted trees. He thus\nconstantly vexed the people; and wherever he found sages, holy men and\ngods sitting, he poured down upon them dung, urine and blood, thus\nafflicting and oppressing the people, he went at length to the city of\nDwarka; and assuming a very small form, sat on the palace of Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund. On seeing him, Krishn\u00f9\u2019s wives, shutting all the\ninner doors, ran off and hid themselves; he, then having obtained\nintelligence of Bulram, ascended the hill Kewut, thinking to himself,\n\u201cI will first kill Bulram, and afterwards destroy Krishn\u00f9\u2019s life.\u201d At\nthe place, where Buldeo Jee was diverting himself with his wives,\nDoobid, O great king! who was concealed, saw that Bulram had been\ndrinking, and that he had taken all his wives with him into the middle\nof a tank, and was engaged in various sports with them, and singing\nand bathing. On witnessing this scene Doobid climbed up a tree and\nchattering, and uttering angry cries, began to leap and jump about the\nbranches, and play all kinds of tricks; and defile a water-pot, filled\nwith spirituous liquor, and the clothes of all of them which were\nlying about. On seeing the monkey the women were frightened, and\nexclaimed, \u201cO great king! whence has this monkey come, who has\nfrightened us, and defiled all our dresses?\u201d When Buldeo heard this\nspeech, he came out of the tank, and laughingly threw a clod of earth\nat the monkey, who supposing him to be intoxicated, came down from the\ntree, chattering and enraged; he first upset the contents of the large\nearthen vessel, filled with spirituous liquor, which was placed on the\nbank of the tank, and tore all the clothes into strips. Bulram Jee was\nthen angry, and poised in his hand his plough and pestle, and the\nmonkey becoming as large as a hill, came in front of Bulram, prepared\nto fight. Buldeo brought into play his plough and pestle, and the\nmonkey hurled trees and hills. They both closed and had a fierce\nencounter, and neither moved back at all from his position.\n\nO great king! these two mighty beings were contending resolutely with\neach other, and practising all kinds of feints and stratagems; but the\nspectators were ready to die of fright; at length Bulram perceiving\nthat they were all distressed, threw down and killed Doobid. Gods, men\nand sages were all rejoiced at his death, and their griefs were\ndispelled; the delighted gods rained flowers and raised shouts of\nvictory for Bulram.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O\ngreat king! that monkey had existed since the Treta age, which Buldeo\nJee killed and released from existence. Bulram, the abode of\nhappiness, having gratified them all, brought them with him thence to\nthe city of Dwarka, and related all the circumstances of the\ndestruction of Doobid to the descendants of Judoo.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXIX.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja! I will now relate to you the history\nof the marriage of Luchmuna, the daughter of Doorjodhun, how Sumboo\nwent to Hastinapoor, and married her. O great king! when the Raja\nDoorjodhun\u2019s daughter, Luchmuna, was marriageable, her father sent\nletters of invitation to Rajas of different countries, and appointed a\nday for the bride to select her own husband; having received\nintelligence of the day that had been appointed, Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund\u2019s son, by Jamwutee, named Sumboo, came also to witness the\nceremony. On arriving there he beheld Rajas of all countries powerful,\npossessed of excellent qualities, the receptacles of beauty, very\nintelligent, wearing elegant dresses and jewelled ornaments, armed and\nsilent, standing in rows in the midst of the assemblage, and the\nKouruvus were standing in like manner behind them; musical instruments\nresounded here and there outside; and inside musicians and singers\nwere engaged in festivities; in the centre of all the Raja\u2019s daughter,\nthe beloved of her mother and father, was moving about like a pupil of\nthe eye, with a garland in her hand, and saying to herself, \u201cWhom\nshall I marry?\u201d\n\nO great king! when that sweet dispositioned girl, the abode of beauty,\ncarrying a garland, and blushing, came, in the course of her circling,\nopposite Sumboo, she laid aside all reserve and bashfulness; and\nseizing him fearlessly by the hand, and seating him in her chariot,\nproceeded homewards. All the Rajas looked on in silent surprise, and\nKurun, Dron, Sulup, Bhoorisurwa, Doorjodhun and the other Kouruv\u00f9s\ndid not at that time say a word; afterwards, being very angry, they\nbegan to say to each other, \u201cSee what he has done, spoiling all our\npleasure, and making a happy occasion disagreeable!\u201d Kurun said, \u201cIt\nis the constant practice of the descendants of Judoo to do acts of\nviolence on occasions of pleasure, and rejoicing.\u201d Suti said, \u201cThey\nare men of low caste, who have lately been exalted; since they\nobtained sovereignty, they have become insolent and domineering.\u201d On\nhearing these words, all the Kouruv\u00f9s in great wrath, and seizing\ntheir arms, rushed forth, saying, \u201cLet us see what mighty man will\ntake way the girl from before us,\u201d and they went and surrounded Sumboo\non the road. Warlike weapons were brought into play on both sides,\nwhen at length the battle had lasted some time, and Sumboo\u2019s\ncharioteer had been killed, and he himself had descended from his\nchariot, they surrounded and carried him away bound, making him stand\nup in the middle of the assembly, they enquired, \u201cWhere is thy mighty\npower now gone?\u201d He was ashamed at hearing this; at this time, Narud\nJee having come, said to Doorjodhun and all the Kouruv\u00f9s, \u201cThis is\nShree Krishn\u00f9\u2019s son, by name Sumboo, do not say any thing to him,\nwhatever was to happen, has happened, Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram will\ncome here with an army, prepared for battle, immediately they receive\nintelligence of him, whatever you have to say to him or hear from him,\nsay and hear it; it is not at all becoming to taunt a child, whatever\nact his boyish understanding may have done.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, Narud Jee took leave and proceeded\nto the city of Dwarka, and went and stood in the court of the Raja\nOogursen; they all rose at seeing him and bowed their heads, and\ninstantly brought a seat for him. Narud Jee when seated said, \u201cO great\nking! the Kouruv\u00f9s have bound Sumboo, and have inflicted, and are\nstill inflicting, great pain upon him. If you wish to take thought of\nhim, do so now; otherwise it will be difficult for Sumboo to escape.\nThe Kouruv\u00f9s have become very proud, and have shown no respect or\nconsideration for you, they have bound the child in a manner that any\none would bind an enemy.\u201d Raja Oogursen was very angry at hearing\nthis, and having summoned the descendants of Judoo, said to them,\n\u201cTake all my army and advance against Hustinapoor, and having killed\nthe Kouruv\u00f9s, release and bring Sumboo here.\u201d When the army was ready\nto set out on receiving the Raja\u2019s order, Bulram Jee went to explain\nto the Raja Oogursen, and said, \u201cO great king! do not send an army\nagainst them; with your permission, I will go and complain to them and\nwill have Sumboo released, and will bring him away with me; I will see\nwhy they have bound him; unless I go, the reason of this act will not\nappear.\u201d Upon this the Raja Oogursen gave Bulram Jee permission to go\nto Hustinapoor; and Buldeo Jee went from Dwarka, accompanied by\nseveral great pundits, brahmins and by Narud, the sage, and arrived at\nHustinapoor. Bulram on his arrival, having encamped on a piece of\nenclosed ground, said to Narud Jee, \u201cO great king! we have encamped\nhere; please go and inform the Kouruv\u00f9s of my arrival.\u201d On receiving\nthis order, Narud Jee went to the city and gave information of\nBulram\u2019s arrival; having heard this news they all prepared to go out\nand meet him. Bheekum, Kurun and Dron went together, taking handsome\ncloth dresses as presents. Doorjodhun went hastily forth, saying, \u201cMy\nspiritual preceptor, Sunburkhun, has come.\u201d\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja,--O great king! all the Kouruv\u00f9s went to the enclosure where\nBulram was encamped to visit him, and offered him presents; and,\nhaving fallen at his feet, joining their hands, eulogized him highly;\nafter this having applied perfume and sandal, and putting a garland of\nflowers upon him, and spreading silken cloths, they conducted him, in\nmusical procession, to the city; they then entertained him with all\nkinds of delicacies; and, sitting near him, made various enquiries, \u201cO\ngreat king! why have you come here?\u201d Bulram Jee replied, \u201cI have been\nsent by the Raja Oogursen to deliver a message to you.\u201d The Kouruv\u00f9s\nsaid, \u201cWhat message?\u201d Buldeo Jee replied, \u201cThe Raja says, that it was\nnot becoming in you to do an act of enmity towards him: you were many\nand he a single child; you fought with him, abandoning all\nunderstanding and discrimination; you intentionally committed a great\ninjustice, and, relinquishing respect for the world, laid hold of\nKrishn\u00f9\u2019s son; you have now become very proud, and have designedly\nafflicted him.\u201d\n\nO great king! on hearing these words the Kouruv\u00f9s said, very angrily,\n\u201cEnough! enough! Bulram Jee, do not exalt Oogursen any more, as we\nwill not listen to you; it is scarcely four days, since no one knew or\nrespected Oogursen; from the time he connected himself with us he has\nobtained high rank, and has now sent us a haughty message: is he not\nashamed, considering that he obtained sovereign power sitting quietly\nat Dwarka, to forget entirely his former condition, and now to say\nwhatever he pleases? Does he forget the day, when he used to associate\nand eat with cowherds and Goojurs at Muttra? We have now reaped the\nfruits of allowing him to eat with us, and forming an alliance with\nhim, and procuring sovereign power for him. If we had done these good\nacts to a respectable man, he would have been thankful for them all\nhis life; some one has said truly, \u2018That the friendship of a mean\nperson is like a wall of sand.\u2019\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--O great king! discoursing much in this strain, Kurun, Dron,\nBheekum, Doorjodhun and all the Kouruv\u00f9s rose haughtily and went to\ntheir homes. Bulram Jee laughing at what they had said, thought to\nhimself, \u201cThey are proud of their royal power and strength, and,\ntherefore speak in this strain; otherwise, would they treat with such\ndisrespect that Oogursen, who is the lord of Bruhm\u00f9, Roodr\u00f9 and\nIndr\u00f9, to whom the three bow their heads? As my name is Buldeo, I\nwill drown all the Kouruv\u00f9s with their city in the Ganges.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus said, Buldeo Jee in great wrath laid hold of\nall the Kouruv\u00f9s and their city with his plough, and took them to a\nbank of the Ganges, and was on the point of drowning them, when all\nthe Kouruv\u00f9s came in the greatest alarm and consternation, with\njoined hands, bowing their heads, and beseeching earnestly, began to\nsay, in a submissive tone, \u201cO great king! forgive our fault; we have\ncome to you for protection, save us now, and we will do whatever you\nmay order, and will be always obedient to the commands of Raja\nOogursen.\u201d\n\nWhen, O great king! they had thus spoken, the wrath of Bulram Jee was\nappeased, and he allowed the city to remain on the site, to which,\nwith his plough, he had drawn it, on the banks of the Ganges. From\nthat day Hustinapoor has been on the banks of the Ganges, formerly it\nwas not there; he afterwards released Sumboo, and Raja Doorjodhun,\nhaving propitiated his uncle and nephews, and taken them to his house,\nprepared a festive entertainment, and gave his daughter in marriage to\nSumboo according to the prescribed injunctions of the Vedas; and\npresented her with a very handsome dowry.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O\ngreat king; thus did Bulram Jee go to Hustinapoor, lower the pride of\nthe Kouruv\u00f9s, release his nephew and bring him home after his\nmarriage. At that time there was joy in all the city of Dwarka; and\nBuldeo Jee went and explained to the Raja Oogursen all the\ncircumstances connected with Hustinapoor.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXX.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! it occurred once to Narud\nJee to go and see how Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund carried on his domestic\naffairs with sixteen thousand one hundred and eight wives, with this\nthought in his mind, he came to Dwarka, and beheld outside the city\nhigh, lofty trees, flourishing, loaded with fruits and flowers, waving\nin the orchards, on which, pigeons, parrots, peacocks and other birds\nwere sitting, and pouring forth pleasing notes; lotuses were blooming\nin elegant tanks, on which swarms of bees buzzed; on the banks geese,\ncranes and other birds were sporting about; in the flower gardens, the\ngardeners sang sweet strains, and throwing water high and low,\nsaturated the different beds with it; in some places wheels and\nleather buckets were brought into play, and on the quays there were\ncrowds of women carrying water on their heads: the beauty of whom\ncannot be described; to be appreciated, it must have been seen.\n\nO great king! Narud Jee having beheld with delight the beautiful\nappearance of the forests and groves, saw on going into the city\nelegant, golden houses, covered with jewels, and shining brilliantly,\non which flags and banners were waving. Wreaths and garlands of\nflowers were fastened upon each gate-way, at the doors were placed\npillars of plantain and water-pots of gold, filled with sprouts. From\nthe trellis-work, windows and lattices of each house, the smoke of the\nperfume, burnt at the time of worshipping, came curling forth, like a\nblack cloud; in the midst of which the golden spires shone like\nlightning; in every dwelling there was worshipping and reading of\nprayers, and sacrifice and offering of gifts; and in every place\npeople were engaged in adoration and meditation, songs and reading,\nand hearing the Pooran\u00f9s; here and there the descendants of Judoo\nwere seated, forming a court, similar to that of Indr\u00f9, and joy was\ndiffused throughout the city.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! Narud Jee being highly gratified on\nentering the city, began to say, \u201cTo what house shall I go first to\nfind Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund?\u201d Saying this, O great king! to himself,\nNarud Jee went to Shree Rookmunee\u2019s house, where Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nwas reclining at his ease, and who rose and stood up on seeing him;\nthey brought a ewer of Rookmunee\u2019s filled with water; Krishn\u00f9, having\nwashed Narud Jee\u2019s feet, and given him a seat, placed before him\nperfume, lamps and consecrated food, and offering adoration began to\nsay to him with joined hands, \u201cHappiness and wealth will follow the\nman in whose house the feet of good men fall. You have come and paid\nme, a householder, a visit in my house, for the sake of my salvation.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Krishn\u00f9 had thus spoken, Narud Jee giving him this\nblessing, \u201cMay you long live to protect Shree Rookmunee,\u201d went to the\nabode of Jamwutee, where he saw Huri playing at _choupur_. On seeing\nNarud Jee, Krishn\u00f9 rose up; when, having given him a blessing, Narud\nwent away again; after this he went to Sutbhama\u2019s and saw Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund seated, and having oil and perfumed paste applied to\nhis body, Narud Jee returned thence in silence, because it is written\nin the Shastr\u00f9s \u201cThat at the time of the application of oil, a Raja\nshould not make a salutation, nor a brahmin pronounce a benediction,\u201d\nNarud Jee then went to Kalindee\u2019s house, and there saw Huri asleep. O\ngreat king! Kalindee, on seeing Narud Jee, began to rub Huri\u2019s feet,\nand awoke him, Krishn\u00f9, on awaking, approached the sage; and having\nmade an obeisance, said with joined hands \u201cThe feet of holy men are\nlike the waters of places of pilgrimage; wherever they fall they\npurify.\u201d On hearing this and having given his blessing, Narud Jee\nrose, and went thence to the residence of Mittrabinda, he there saw\nbrahmins being fed, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 serving out food to them,\nKrishn\u00f9 said, on seeing Narud Jee, \u201cO great king! as you have done me\nthe favour to come here, please partake of this food, and give me your\nleavings, and make pure my house.\u201d Narud Jee replied, \u201cO great king! I\nwill come again, after having gone round to a few other houses, be\npleased to serve out food to the brahmins, and I will take what is\nleft on my return.\u201d With these words, Narud Jee took leave and went to\nSutya\u2019s house, and there saw Shree Beharee, the benefactor of his\nworshippers, sitting pleased, and amusing himself, on beholding this\nstate of affairs, Narud Jee went away thence, and having then gone to\nBhudra\u2019s abode, saw Huri eating, he returned thence to the house of\nLuchmuna, and there saw Krishn\u00f9 bathing.\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative Shree Shookdeo said,--O\ngreat king! in this manner the sage, Narud Jee, went about to sixteen\nthousand one hundred and eight houses, but did not see a single house\nwithout Shree Krishn\u00f9 in it, and wherever he beheld him he saw him\nengaged in some domestic occupation, having observed this custom Narud\nwas astonished, \u201cThat there was not a house without Krishn\u00f9 in it,\nwherever I go, there is the beloved Huri; thus has Krishn\u00f9 spread\nabout his pastimes. In each of the sixteen thousand one hundred and\neight houses, the supporter of the hill (Krishn\u00f9) remains with one of\nhis wives.\u201d The delighted sage said reflecting, \u201cThe deceptive power,\nwhich jogees are supposed to possess, belongs to thee, O lord of the\nJudoos! no one can understand this power; and who can escape from it?\u201d\n\nO great king! when Narud Jee, in a state of astonishment, had thus\nspoken, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the bestower of happiness said, \u201cNarud!\nbe not all grieved in thy mind; my delusive power is very mighty and\nhas been spread over the whole world; it fascinates even me, who else\nhas ability to escape from its influence, and who that has come into\nthe world is not affected by it.\u201d Narud having heard this and bowing\nhis head, said, beseechingly, \u201cTake compassion on me, O lord of the\nJudoos! in order that veneration for thee may exist always in my\nthoughts and that my mind, being under the influence of delusion, may\nnot desire objects of sense.\u201d\n\nRaja! Narud Jee having thus spoken, took leave of Krishn\u00f9, and,\nhaving made the usual parting salutation, returned to his own dwelling\nplaying on the lute and singing. Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee continued\nhis pastimes at Dwarka.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXI.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee, said,--O great king! on one occasion Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund was diverting himself with Rookmunee during the night,\nand she was sitting in a state of ecstatic delight, and feasting her\npartridge-like eyes by gazing on the moon-like countenance of her\nbeloved, when in the mean while the night passed away, birds chirped,\nthere was a red colour in the sky; the chukoor suffered from\nseparation; ruddy geese were in pairs, the lotus bloomed and water\nlilies withered, the beauty of the moon was diminished, and the\nsplendour of the sun increased; all people were awake and began to\noccupy themselves with their domestic affairs, at that time Rookmunee\nJee, quitting Huri\u2019s side, began to engage thoughtfully and modestly\nin household matters; and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee, having performed his\nablutions, washed his hands and face, bathed and finished his prayers,\nmeditations, adoration and oblations of water, having given gifts of\nvarious kinds to brahmins, completed his daily work, received the\ndaily offering presented to him early in the morning, and eaten it\nwith cloves, cardamums, mace and nutmegs, arrayed himself in elegant\nclothes and ornaments; and putting on arms, went to the Raja Oogursen,\nand having afterwards come into the court of the descendants of Judoo,\nsat upon a jewelled throne.\n\nO great king! at that time a brahmin went and said to the\ndoor-keepers, \u201cGo and tell Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee, that a brahmin is\nstanding at the gate, who is desirous of seeing him; and with his\npermission, the brahmin will come in.\u201d On hearing what the brahmin\nsaid, a door-keeper went and informed Bhugwan, \u201cO great king! a\nbrahmin is standing at the gate, desirous of seeing you; and, with\nyour permission, he will come into your presence.\u201d Huri replied,\n\u201cBring him immediately.\u201d On Krishn\u00f9 uttering these words the\ndoor-keepers ushered the brahmin quickly into his presence; and, on\nseeing him, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund descended from his throne, and,\nhaving made an obeisance, and advancing and taking him by the hand,\nbrought him into the palace, and having seated him by his side on the\njewelled throne, thus addressed him, \u201cSay, O divinity! whence and for\nwhat purpose hast thou come?\u201d The brahmin replied, \u201cO sea of\ncompassion and brother of the poor! I have come from the Mugudh\ncountry, and bring a message from twenty thousand Rajas.\u201d Krishn\u00f9\nenquired, \u201cWhat message?\u201d The brahmin replied, \u201cO great king! the\ntwenty thousand Rajas, whom Joorasindhoo has forcibly confined,\nputting handcuffs and leg-irons upon them, have, with the utmost\nsubmissiveness, sent this message by me to you. O lord of the poor!\nthis is your custom that whenever demons vex your worshippers you\ndescend upon the earth and afford them protection. O lord! in the same\nmanner, that you released Purhlad from Hirunkusyp, and an elephant\nfrom the shark, be pleased, compassionately, to release us also now\nfrom this great affliction; we are in grievous trouble; and, with\nexception of you, no one has power to rescue and deliver us from this\nheavy calamity.\u201d\n\nO great king! on hearing these words, Krishn\u00f9 being mercifully\ndisposed towards them, said to the brahmin, \u201cO divinity! do not suffer\nanxiety any more on their account, it shall now be my office to remove\ntheir afflictions.\u201d The brahmin was gratified by this speech of Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund\u2019s, and began to give him a blessing. In the mean while\nNarud Jee made his appearance there, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, having\nmade a salutation to him, enquired, \u201cNarud Jee! you go and come every\nwhere, tell me how are Joodisthur and the other Pandoos, my five\nbrothers, getting on now-a-days, and what are they about? It is long\nsince I heard any thing about them; and for this reason my thoughts\nare occupied with them.\u201d Narud Jee replied, \u201cO great king! I am just\ncome from them, they are quite well, but are much, and anxiously\noccupied in making preparations for a royal sacrifice, and are saying\nrepeatedly, \u2018Without Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\u2019s assistance, our sacrifice\nwill not be complete.\u2019 For this reason, O great king! be pleased to\nadopt my suggestion, and first make arrangements for their sacrifice,\nand afterwards proceed elsewhere.\u201d\n\nO great king! on hearing this speech of Narud Jee\u2019s, Krishn\u00f9 sent for\nOodho Jee, and said to him, \u201cOodho! you are my friend, never absent\nfrom my mind or sight, there is an immense crowd at both places; to\nwhich will you go first O brave warrior? so many Rajas, suffering\ngrievous misfortune, are expecting my approach and here the Pandoos\nhave prepared a sacrifice.\u201d Thus did Krishn\u00f9 address Oodho.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee\nallowed the brahmin to take leave, who brought the message of the\nRajas, having first said to him, \u201cO divine being! go and say from me\nto all the Rajas not to be at all anxious, as I shall come soon and\nliberate them.\u201d With these words, O great king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\ndismissed the brahmin, and having taken Oodho Jee with him, went into\nthe court of the Rajas Oogursen and Soorsen, and mentioned all the\nnews he had heard in their presence. On hearing which they were\nsilent; upon this Oodho Jee said, \u201cO great king! do these two things;\nfirst, release the Rajas from the power of Joorasindhoo, and\nafterwards go and make arrangements for the sacrifice; because no one,\nexcept a Raja, can take part in a royal sacrifice; and there are\ntwenty thousand Rajas collected at that place; if you will set them\nfree, they will, without invitation, assist in the sacrifice, showing\nyou the greatest respect for your favour to them. O great king! if any\none else were to conquer the ten quarters of the world, he would not\nfind so many Rajas collected together; it is therefore most advisable\nthat you go to Hustinapoor; and, uniting and consulting with the\nPanduv\u00f9s, do what is necessary to be done.\u201d O great king! Oodho Jee\nafter this again said, \u201cRaja Joorasindhoo is very liberal, and a great\nrespecter and worshipper of the cow and brahmin; every one who asks\nhim for any thing receives it; no beggar ever returns disappointed\nfrom his presence; he never speaks falsely, and fulfils every promise\nhe makes, and he has the strength of ten thousand elephants; which\nstrength is equal to that of Bheemsen. Lord! if you go there, take\nBheemsen also with you, I have an idea, that he will perish by\nBheemsen\u2019s hand.\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--Raja! when Oodho Jee had thus spoken Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund, having taken leave of Rajas Oogursen and Soorsen, said\nto the descendants of Judoo, \u201cGet my army ready, as I shall go to\nHustinapoor.\u201d On hearing this, the descendants of Judoo arranged and\nbrought the whole army, and Krishn\u00f9 accompanied it with his eight\nqueens.\n\nO great king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, accompanied by his family and\narmy, and sounding the great kettle-drum, proceeded from the city of\nDwarka to Hustinapoor, the beauty of the scene exceeded all\ndescription; in front of all were the castles of the elephants; on the\nright and left was the protection of chariots and horses; in the\ncentre was the seraglio; and in rear of all, accompanied by his army,\nand affording universal protection, came Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee;\nwherever they encamped, a handsome, elegant city of many coss in\nextent was formed. The Rajas of different countries came in a state of\nalarm to pay visits, and offer presents; and Krishn\u00f9, seeing that\nthey were terrified, consoled them in every way; at length, having\nproceeded with this great pomp and show, Huri arrived with them all in\nthe neighbourhood of Hustinapoor. Upon this some one went, and said to\nthe Raja Joodisthur, \u201cO great king! some monarch with a very large\narmy and a great retinue of followers, has advanced into your country,\nbe pleased to take measures quickly for arresting his progress,\notherwise he will be here immediately.\u201d\n\nThe Raja Joodisthur, O great king! was alarmed at these words and sent\nhis two younger brothers, Nukool and Suhdeo, to confront Krishn\u00f9,\nhaving given them this instruction, \u201cSee and come and inform me what\nRaja is coming to attack us.\u201d On receiving the Raja\u2019s order Suhdeo and\nNukool went to see who had come, and on their return reported to the\nRaja, \u201cO lord of our lives! Huri has come.\u201d On hearing this the Raja\nbanished all anxiety. Raja Joodisthur, being greatly delighted, sent\nafterwards for Bheem and Urjoon and said to his four brothers, \u201cGo all\nof you in advance to meet Krishn\u00f9 and bring him here with you.\u201d\n\nHaving received, O great king! the Raja\u2019s order, and heard of\nKrishn\u00f9\u2019s arrival, the four brothers were very much pleased and\ntaking with them the necessary presents and materials for offering\nadoration and accompanied by learned pundits, they went forth with\nmusic playing, and singing songs to bring Krishn\u00f9 in; at length,\nhaving met him with great respect and reverence, and offered presents\nand adoration in the manner prescribed by the Vedas, the four brothers\nbrought Krishn\u00f9 with them into the city in musical procession,\nspreading silken cloths on the road for him to walk upon, showering\ndown flowers of silver and gold, sprinkling perfumes, sandal and\nrose-water, and presenting sweet scents, lamps and consecrated food.\nThe Raja Joodisthur was exceedingly gratified to meet Krishn\u00f9, and\nconsidered that all his wishes in life had been accomplished. After\nthis all persons outside and inside the city had cordial meetings,\nobserving the usual ceremonies, and mutually interchanged civilities\nand kindnesses, and were in the highest degree pleased; joy was\ndiffused every where, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, by staying there, made\nthem all happy.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXIII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! one day Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund, the sea of compassion, the brother of poor and the benefactor\nof his worshippers, was sitting in an assembly of wise men, sages,\nbrahmins and Chuttrees, when the Raja Joodisthur came; and, beseeching\nearnestly and bowing his head, said to him, with joined hands, \u201cO lord\nof Shiv\u00f9 and Bruhm\u00f9! gods, sages, holy men and jogees constantly\nmeditate on you; you are the unseen, invisible and impenetrable; no\none understands the secrets of your nature; holy men and jogees\nmeditate on you with profound attention; but you do not for a moment\nenter their minds; you appear to us at our home, and have an affection\nfor your worshippers; the sports you engage in, Mohun, no one can\ncomprehend; the world has been deceived by your delusive power! you\nbehave towards us as a mortal; you look upon those as your superiors,\nwho bear you in remembrance, O lord of the world! you are far from the\nproud man, and the root of the life of the speaker of truth.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, Raja Joodisthur then said, \u201cO\nmerciful to the poor! through your compassion, all that I had in view\nhas been accomplished, but I have still one desire.\u201d Krishn\u00f9\nenquired, \u201cWhat is it?\u201d The Raja said, \u201cO great king! it is my wish to\nperform a royal sacrifice, and present it as an offering to you, and\nthereby cross over the sea of the world.\u201d On hearing these words Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund was delighted, and said, \u201cRaja! you have formed a good\nwish, by this gods, men, saints and sages will all be gratified; this\nwill be agreeable to all, and it is not at all difficult for you to do\nthis; because your four brothers, Urjoon, Bheem, Nukool and Suhdeo are\nvery renowned and powerful; there is not any one in the world now who\ncan oppose them; first send them forth to conquer, and bring under\nsubjection the Rajas of the ten quarters of the world, and after that\nperform the sacrifice at your ease.\u201d\n\nRaja! when Krishn\u00f9 had thus spoken, the Raja Joodisthur sent for his\nfour brothers, and giving them armies, sent them in four different\ndirections; Suhdeo Jee went to the South, Nukool to the West, Urjoon\nto the North, and Bheemsen to the East. Some time after this, O great\nking! the four brothers, by the glorious favour of Huri, having\nconquered the seven islands and nine divisions of the earth, and\nsubjugated the Rajas of the ten quarters, brought them back with them,\nat that time Raja Joodisthur, having joined his hands, said to Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund Jee, \u201cO great king! through your aid this business has\nbeen accomplished; what are your orders now?\u201d Upon this, Oodho Jee\nsaid, \u201cO incarnation of justice! the kings of all countries have come,\nwith exception of the Raja Joorasindhoo, of the Mugudh country, who is\nnot under your authority; and until he shall be made subject to you,\nit will not be of advantage to perform the sacrifice. The Raja\nJoorasindhoo, the son of Jydruth, is very mighty and renowned, and\nliberal and just; not every one has power to oppose him.\u201d When the\nRaja Joodisthur having heard this was sad; Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund said,\n\u201cO great king! be not at all anxious, but give the order to my\nbrothers, Bheem and Urjoon, and to me, and we will, either by force or\nstratagem, bring him here bound, or kill him.\u201d On hearing these words,\nRaja Joodisthur gave the order to the two brothers; and then Huri,\naccompanied by the two brothers, took the road to the Mugudh country;\nwhen they had advanced some distance on their journey, Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund Jee said to Urjoon and Bheem, \u201cTravel as brahmins, and let us\nkill our enemy by stratagem or force.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee assumed the\nappearance of a brahmin, and Bheem and Urjoon did the same also. The\nthree having drawn three horizontal lines across their foreheads, and\ntaking each a book under his arm, went along assuming the same bright,\nhandsome, elegant and well-arranged appearance, as the three\nproperties of humanity, truth, passion and ignorance, would assume, if\nthey put on corporeal form, or as the three times, present, past and\nfuture, would assume. At length, after some days\u2019 journey, they\narrived in the Mugudh country, and at mid-day stood at the gate of the\nRaja Joorasindhoo. On seeing their appearance, the gate-keepers went,\nand said to the Raja, \u201cO great king! three brahmin guests (or beggars)\nof very splendid appearance, great pundits, and very intelligent are\nstanding at the gate, desirous of some thing. What are your orders to\nus?\u201d\n\nO great king! at these words, Raja Joorasindhoo rose up, and came to\nwhere the brahmins were standing; and having made an obeisance to the\nthree, conducted them with the greatest respect and deference to his\nhouse; afterwards, having seated them on a throne, he stood in their\npresence with joined hands, and looking at them, and reflecting said,\n\u201cThe beggar, who being a great Raja, comes to another man\u2019s gate, is\ncalled a guest, you are not brahmins, but strong, powerful men of war,\ndeceit of any kind is wrong; if a thug (or impostor) come as such, he\nis regarded in his proper character, and not as an honest man; the\nlustre of your Chutree appearance cannot be concealed: you seem to be\nresolute, bold, strong men. You three brothers are splendid to behold,\nbestowers of boons like Shiv\u00f9, Bruhm\u00f9 and Vishn\u00f9. This is what\nappears probable to me; but do you, O deities! give an explanation\nyourselves; whatever you may desire I will do for you, and will not\nswerve from my agreement. A liberal man never speaks falsely, and will\nnot keep back his wealth, body or any thing else; I will make you any\npresent you ask for, my children, wives, any thing I may have, and my\nlife.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee said, \u201cO great king!\nonce on a time, there was a very liberal Raja, named Hurchund, whose\nfame is still spread abroad in the world; on one occasion there was a\nfamine in Raja Hurchund\u2019s country; and in consequence of the dearth of\ngrain vast numbers of people began to die; upon this, the Raja sold\nall his property, and gave food to his people; when all his country,\ntowns and wealth were gone; and the Raja was left without any money,\none evening he was sitting hungry with his family, when Biswamittr\u00f9\ncame, and, in order to test his truth and sincerity, said, \u2018O great\nking! give me wealth, and derive the same advantage from doing so, as\nyou would derive from giving a daughter in marriage.\u2019 On hearing this\nspeech, the Raja brought out all that was in his house, and gave it\nhim, then the holy man said, \u2018O great king! my business will not be\ncompleted with this much money.\u2019 After this the Raja sold his male and\nfemale servants, and brought the proceeds, and gave them to the sage;\nand having expended all his wealth, and sold all his servants, he was\nleft without money and without servants, and only with his wives and\nchildren. The sage again said, \u2018O form of justice! my business has not\nbeen accomplished by the money you have given me, to whom shall I go\nnow, and ask for more? I do not know of any one in the world, who is\nwealthier, more virtuous and liberal than you are. Yes, there is a\nChundal, named Soopuch, who is a vessel of wealth; if you tell me to\ndo so, I will go and ask him for money, but I am ashamed to do so for\none reason, that having begged from so liberal a Raja, what should I\nbeg from him?\u2019 O great king! on hearing these words, Raja Hurchund\ntook Biswamittr\u00f9 with him, and went to the house of that Chundal, and\nsaid to him, \u2018Brother! keep me in pledge for a year, and fulfil his\nwishes for him.\u2019 Soopuch said, \u2018How will you be able to do my work and\nbanish all pride and passion from your mind? You are a very\nillustrious and mighty Raja; and the service you will have to perform\nfor me is of a low, menial kind and severe. O great king! my business\nis to keep watch in a cemetery, and to receive a tax on every corpse\nthat comes there, and afterwards to watch and guard my own house; if\nyou can do this, I will give the rupees required, and keep you in\npledge.\u2019 The Raja said, \u2018Well I will serve you for a year; give him\nthe money.\u2019 When the Raja had thus spoken, Soopuch counted out the\nmoney to Biswamittr\u00f9, which he took away to his home; and the Raja\nremaining at the Chundal\u2019s house, began to wait upon him. After some\ndays, Raja Hurchund\u2019s son, Roohitas, died; and his mother went with\nher son\u2019s corpse into the burying place; and as she was on the point\nof lighting the funeral pile she had erected, the Raja came, and asked\nfor the tax; the Ranee being displeased and grieved said, \u2018Consider\nand reflect, O Raja! this is your son, Roohitas, and I have nothing\nwherewith to pay the tax, except this cloth, which I am now wearing.\u2019\nThe Raja replied, \u2018I have no option in the matter; I am employed on my\nmaster\u2019s business, and if I do not do his work, my character for truth\nwill be lost.\u2019 O great king! when the Ranee, on hearing this, put her\nhand on the border of the cloth to take it off, the three worlds\ntrembled. Upon this Bhugwan, who had observed the sincerity of the\nRaja and Ranee, first sent a chariot, and afterwards having appeared\nhimself, liberated all three. O great king! when Bruhm\u00f9, having\nrestored Roohitas to life, and seated the Raja and Ranee, together\nwith their son, on a chariot, gave the order to proceed to the\ncelestial paradise, Raja Hurchund joining his hands, said to Bhugwan,\n\u2018O brother of the poor, purifying the guilty and kind to the wretched!\nhow can I go and dwell in paradise without Soopuch?\u2019 Having heard this\nspeech, and knowing the Raja\u2019s secret wishes, Huri, the benefactor of\nhis worshippers, the sea of compassion, granted deliverance to\nSoopuch, together with the city in which he abode, and to the Raja,\nRanee and their son. There Hurchund obtained immortality; and here for\nages, his fame has been handed down.\u201d\n\nHaving mentioned this account of Hurchund to Joorasindhoo Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund Jee said, \u201cO great king! and besides the above\ninstance, Ratdeo performed a penance, during which he remained\nforty-eight days without water; and when he sat down to drink, some\none, who was thirsty, came to him. He did not drink any water himself,\nbut gave it to the thirsty man; and by the gift of that water,\nobtained salvation. Again the Raja Buli was very munificent in his\ngifts, and obtained the government of the infernal regions, and even\nyet, his great renown is being handed down. Again the sage Oodwal ate\nafter six months\u2019 fasting. On one occasion a beggar came to him, when\nit was his eating time; he did not himself eat any food, but gave it\nto the beggar, and died from excess of the hunger he then endured, and\nafterwards in consequence of having given away his food, he went to\nVishn\u00f9\u2019s celestial paradise, mounted on a chariot. Again, on one\noccasion, Raja Indr\u00f9 went with all the gods, and said to Dudheech, \u2018O\ngreat king! we cannot escape now from the hands of Brittasoor, unless\nyou give us one of your bones, and then we shall escape, otherwise\nescape will be difficult, because he can only be destroyed by a\nweapon, formed of one of your bones.\u2019 On hearing this, O great king!\nDudheech having had his body licked by a cow extracted his thigh bone\nand gave it to the gods, who made it into a thunderbolt, and Dudheech\nhaving sacrificed his life, obtained paradise. Such are instances of\nmen of boundless liberality, whose fame the world celebrates.\u201d\n\nRaja! having thus spoken, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee, said to\nJoorasindhoo, \u201cO great king! you equal in the present age the just and\nliberal Rajas, who flourished formerly in other ages, and now satisfy\nour expectations in the same way, that formerly they fulfilled the\ndesires of those who solicited them. There is a saying, \u2018What will not\na beggar ask, and what will not a liberal man give; he has no\navaricious desire for his house, sons and wives, but will give up his\nbody and head, and obtain celebrity.\u2019\u201d When Krishn\u00f9 had thus spoken,\nJoorasindhoo said, \u201cA beggar has no sympathy with a donor, but in\nspite of this the liberal and resolute do not lay aside their usual\ndispositions, whether they derive pleasure or pain from the exercise\nof them. Lo! Huri, being disguised as, and transformed into, a dwarf,\nwent to the Raja Buli, an asked for three paces of ground; at that\ntime, Shookr\u00f9 cautioned Buli not to give it, but the Raja did not\nswerve from his promise, he gave the earth together with his body, and\nhas obtained renown in the world by this act. What celebrity has\nVishn\u00f9 acquired by being a beggar, who, having received every thing,\nacted perversely? For this reason, do you first of all explain your\nnames, and your mysterious appearance, and I will then grant whatever\nyou ask. I do not speak falsely.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund replied, \u201cRaja!\nwe are Chutrees; Basoodeo is my name; you know me very well, and these\ntwo, Urjoon and Bheem, are my father\u2019s sister\u2019s children; we have come\nto fight with you, be pleased to fight with us; we have come here to\nmake this request, and do not ask any thing else from you.\u201d\n\nHaving, O great king! heard this speech of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee\u2019s,\nJoorasindhoo laughed and said, \u201cWhy should I fight with you; you have\nalready fled from before me? Nor will I fight with Urjoon, because he\nwent into the Bidurubh country, disguised as a woman; there remains\nBheemsen, with whom I will fight, if you wish it, he is my equal, and\nI am not ashamed to fight with him. First of all refresh yourselves\nwith food, and afterwards wrestle in the pal\u00e6stra.\u201d Having given them\nrefreshments the Raja came out, and sent a message to Bheemsen. He\ngave him his own club, and took himself one belonging to another man.\nMoorari went and sat where all the spectators were assembled in a\ncircle, Joorasindhoo and Bheemsen stood up simultaneously, opposed to\neach other; they had helmets on their heads, and fastened tight the\ncloths they wore round their hips, and tucked them in behind,\nappearing very like jugglers.\n\nO great king! when the two heroes striking the upper part of their\narms in preparation for the encounter, holding their clubs at arm\u2019s\nlength, changing their attitudes, and moving slowly from side to side,\nconfronted each other in the pal\u00e6stra, they seemed like two \u201c_must_\u201d\nelephants, rushing upon each other. Before the struggle commenced,\nJoorasindhoo said to Bheemsen, \u201cStrike the first blow with your club,\nbecause you came to my gate in the appearance of a brahmin; and I will\nnot, therefore, strike you first.\u201d Having heard this, Bheemsen\nreplied, \u201cRaja! we will have a fair fight, and the understanding is\nnot necessary, that I should strike first, let who will, strike\nfirst.\u201d\n\nO great king! these two brave men having thus conversed with each\nother, aimed blows simultaneously, and began to fight. They watched\neach other\u2019s stratagems, inflicting wounds right and left; and jumped\nabout, avoiding blows, and sparred and fought club against club; they\nstruck their clubs violently against each other, making them clash,\nand inflicting wounds. Great noise and tumult were produced by the\ncollision.\n\nHaving narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! in this manner those two resolute\nantagonists had a fair fight during the whole day; and coming in the\nevening to the house, ate and rested together. They thus spent\ntwenty-seven days, fighting continually; when one day at their\nfighting time, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee thought to himself, that\nJoorasindhoo could not be destroyed by this mode of encounter,\nbecause, when he was born, he was born in two separate parts; and the\nfemale Demon, Jura, his mother, closed his mouth and nose; and then\nthe two separate parts were united. Having been informed of this\ncircumstance, his father, Jyedruth, summoned the astrologers, and\nenquired from them, \u201cWhat the child\u2019s name should be, and what would\nbe his future career?\u201d The astrologers said, \u201cO great king! his name\nis Joorasindhoo, and he shall acquire a very glorious reputation, and\nshall not be subject to the infirmities of age, and shall be immortal:\nand shall not be destroyed by any one, until the junction, uniting the\ntwo separate parts of his body, shall be rent asunder.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, the astrologers took leave. O great king! Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Jee reflected upon these matters in his mind; and, having\nbestowed his own strength upon Bheemsen, and splitting a straw winked\nto him, that he must split up Joorasindhoo in the same manner. On\nreceiving this hint from Krishn\u00f9, Bheemsen laid hold of Joorasindhoo\nand threw him down, and having placed his foot on one of his thighs,\nand laying hold of his other foot with his hand, he tore him asunder,\njust as any one would tear asunder a stick for cleaning the teeth. On\nthe death of Joorasindhoo, gods, men and celestial musicians, playing\nupon drums and other musical instruments, and raining down flowers,\nbegan to raise shouts of victory; and grief and calamity having\ndeparted, joy was diffused throughout the city. At that time, the wife\nof Joorasindhoo came and stood, weeping and lamenting in the presence\nof Krishn\u00f9, joining her hands, she exclaimed, \u201cBravo! bravo! you have\ngreat reason to exult, O lord! in having taken away the life of him,\nwho gave you every thing, this is the sort of friendship, you show to\none, who resigns to you his sons, wealth and body. Under a disguised\nappearance you have practised deceit and violence, and this is the\ncelebrity you have acquired coming into the world.\u201d\n\nO great king! when the wife of Joorasindhoo, from tenderness for her\nhusband\u2019s memory, spoke thus solicitingly, with joined hands in\npresence of the abode of mercy; then Krishn\u00f9 taking compassion on\nher, first performed the funeral obsequies of Joorasindhoo, and having\nafterwards sent for his son, Suhdeo, making the marks of sovereignty\non his forehead, and seating him on a throne said, \u201cSon! carry on a\nmoral government, and protect sages, holy men, cows, brahmins and your\nsubjects.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXIV.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee\nhaving seated Suhdeo on the royal throne; and, having given him\nadvice, said to him, \u201cRaja! go now and bring those Rajas, whom your\nfather kept shut up in a hill cave.\u201d On hearing these words from the\nmouth of Krishn\u00f9, Joorasindhoo\u2019s son, Suhdeo, consenting to bring\nthem, went to the cave; and, having removed a stone from the mouth of\nit, brought forth twenty thousand eight hundred Rajas, and took them\nto the presence of Huri. On coming there with handcuffs and leg-irons,\niron collars on their necks, their nails and hair grown long, bodies\nemaciated, depressed in spirits, and dirty in appearance, all the\nRajas stood in rows before Krishn\u00f9, joining their hands, they\nsubmissively said, \u201cO sea of compassion and brother of the poor! you\nhave thought of us in good time, otherwise we should have died; by\nseeing you our lives have been restored, and our former griefs have\nbeen obliterated.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, O great king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the\nsea of favour, looked upon them; Suhdeo immediately took them away;\nand, having had their handcuffs, leg-irons and the rings with which\ntheir fetters were fastened, cut off, causing them to be shaved and\nbathed, and washed, entertaining them with all sorts of delicacies,\ngiving them clothes and ornaments, and furnishing them with arms,\nbrought them again into Huri\u2019s presence; at that time Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund Jee appeared to them in a form with four arms, and holding a\nshell, quoit, club and lotus. On beholding the form Krishn\u00f9 had\nassumed, the Rajas joining their hands said, \u201cLord! you liberate\nmortals from the difficult bonds of the world; what difficulty was\nthere to you to release us from the imprisonment of Joorasindhoo? As\nyou have compassionately released us from this severe confinement,\nrelease us also from this well in the form of a dwelling, free us from\ndesire, anger, avarice and inordinate affection, in order that we may\nsit down in retirement and meditate on you, and cross over the sea of\nthe world.\u201d\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said, Raja! when all the Rajas had spoken these\nwords, so full of knowledge and devotion, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee was\ndelighted and said, \u201cThey who worship me with sincerity of mind, shall\ncertainly obtain deliverance and salvation; bondage and release are\ntrials of the mind, to him whose mind is firm; the house and forest\nare alike; have no other anxiety in your minds, than living happily at\nyour homes; carry on a well regulated government, protect the subject;\nattend upon the cow and brahmin; do not speak falsely; avoid lust,\nanger, avarice and pride; worship Huri with sentiments of religion,\nand you will certainly obtain eternal happiness; whoever, coming into\nthe world, has indulged in pride, has not lived long; behold! how many\npride has brought to destruction. His strength destroyed Pursooram,\ncelebrated as being very powerful, and having a thousand arms. Raja\nBynoo became Rawun, and was ruined by his pride. Bhomasoor and\nBanasoor, and Kuns were all exterminated through pride. Let no one be\nintoxicated with prosperity, or indulge in pride; he who shuns pride\nmay live without fear.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund said to all the Rajas, \u201cGo\nnow to your homes, have meetings with you relations, arrange the\naffairs of your kingdoms and settle yourselves upon your thrones, and\ncome quickly, about the time of my own arrival, to Hustinapoor, to the\nRaja Joodisthur\u2019s, to assist at the royal sacrifice.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee had thus spoken, Suhdeo\ninstantly procured all things necessary for the departure of the\nRajas. They received them; and, taking leave of Krishn\u00f9, went each to\nhis own country, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee also travelled thence\njoyfully, accompanied by Suhdeo and Bheem, and Urjoon, and came to\nHustinapoor. Krishn\u00f9 having gone, after his arrival, to the Raja\nJoodisthur, explained to him all the circumstances, attending the\ndeath of Joorasindhoo, and the release of the Rajas.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! about the time of the arrival of\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, at Hustinapoor, the Rajas\narrived also with their armies, and with presents; and, having had an\ninterview with Raja Joodisthur, and offered their presents, they\nencamped on all sides of Hustinapoor by order of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nJee, and prepared to assist in the sacrifice.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXV.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja! listen with attention, and I will\nnow relate how Raja Joodisthur performed the sacrifice, and Sissoopal\nwas slain, when the twenty thousand eight hundred Rajas went there,\nall the other Rajas from the surrounding countries, and from every\nquarter, whether descendants of the sun, or descendants of the moon,\ncame also, and were ready at Hustinapoor. Then Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nand Raja Joodisthur together behaved with the utmost affability to all\nthe Rajas, and made all the arrangements, and entrusted each with a\nspecific duty in the sacrifice. After this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee\nsaid to the Raja Joodisthur, \u201cO great king! we five brothers, Bheem,\nUrjoon, Nukool, Suhdeo and myself, together with the other Rajas, will\ndo all the extraneous work, and do you be so good as to send for the\nsages, priests and brahmins, and begin the sacrifice.\u201d\n\nO great king! on hearing these words, Raja Joodisthur, having summoned\nall the priests, sages, and brahmins, said, \u201cO great kings! order all\nthings necessary for the sacrifice.\u201d At these words, the priests,\nsages and brahmins, having consulted their holy books, wrote down on a\npaper a list of all the articles required; and the Raja caused them to\nbe procured immediately, and placed before them. The priests, sages\nand brahmins together erected an altar for the sacrifice. The priests,\nsages and brahmins of the four Vedas, having spread their seats, sat\ndown in the middle of the altar; then Raja Joodisthur, having purified\nhimself, came and sat down there also with his wife, the skirts of\ntheir mantles, being tied together as at a bridal. And Dronahcharuj,\nKripacharuj, Dritrasht, Doorjodhun, Sissoopal and all the other mighty\nmen, and great Rajas came and sat there also. The brahmins, having\nstrewed boiled rice, and prayed for the blessings of the gods on the\nceremony about to be performed; and, having caused Gunesh to be\nworshipped, made an offering of a jar of water, with the twigs of five\nsacred trees placed in it, and invoked the nine planets. The Raja\nhired for the performance of the religious ceremonies Bhurdooaj,\nGoutum, Bisist, Biswamittr\u00f9, Bamdeo, Purasur, Byas, Kusyp and other\ngreat priests, sages and brahmins; who, having repeated incantations\nfrom the Vedas, summoned all the gods; and, having caused the Raja to\nmake a vow of giving alms of the sacrifice, they began to prepare the\nburnt offerings.\n\nO great king! having repeated the incantations, the priests, sages and\nbrahmins began to offer oblations with fire to the deities; and the\ngods, openly extending their hands began to receive them; at that time\nthe brahmins were reading the Vedas, and all the Rajas brought the\ndifferent materials of the burnt offerings, and presented them to the\nbrahmins, and the Raja Joodisthur was engaged with the burnt\nofferings, when the sacrifice was peaceably completed, and the Raja\ngave the final oblation. At that time, gods, men and sages began to\nutter exclamations of praise of all the Rajas; and the demi-gods,\ncelestial musicians, and choristers began to play upon musical\ninstruments, celebrate their fame in songs, and rain down flowers.\n\nHaving narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! being free from all the business of\nthe sacrifice, Raja Joodisthur, having sent for Suhdeo Jee, enquired,\n\u201cWhose adoration shall we perform first; to whom shall we give\nunbroken rice and marks upon the forehead? Who is the great lord of\nthe gods, to whom we may bow the head, and offer worship?\u201d Suhdeo Jee\nsaid, \u201cO great king! Basoodeo is the god of all the gods; no one\nunderstands his nature; he is the lord of Bruhm\u00f9, Roodr\u00f9 and Indr\u00f9;\nbut be pleased to worship and bow the head to him first, as by giving\nwater to the root of a tree, all the branches become green, so all the\ngods are gratified by adoration being offered to Huri, he is the lord\nof the universe, and he creates, preserves and destroys; his pastimes\nare endless; no one knows the end of them; he is the unseen, invisible\nand impenetrable lord; Luchmee having become a servant, constantly\nattends upon his lotus feet; he descends upon the earth continually\nfor the sake of his worshippers; and, assuming corporeal form, appears\nand acts like a mortal; he comes and sits in our houses, and calls us\n\u2018brothers;\u2019 and fascinates us with his delusive power; we being\ndeluded by great fascination and affection, consider the deity as a\nbrother; we have not seen any one so great as him, let him be first\nworshipped.\u201d\n\nO great king! on hearing this speech, all the saints, sages and Rajas\nexclaimed, \u201cRaja! Suhdeo Jee has spoken truly, Huri is worthy of our\nfirst adoration.\u201d Then Raja Joodisthur having seated Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund Jee upon a throne, together with his eight queens, offered\nadoration to him, presenting sandal, unbroken rice, flowers, perfume,\nlamps and consecrated food; after this he worshipped all the gods,\nsaints, sages, brahmins and Rajas, arrayed them in dresses of\ndifferent colours, made marks upon their foreheads with sandal and\nsaffron, decorated them with garlands of flowers, and sprinkling\nperfume, the Raja, with due observance of what was right and fitting,\nbehaved to them all with the most engaging politeness.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja! all were pleased with the adoration of\nHuri, except Sissoopal, who hung down his head for a long time, he\nkept his head bent towards the ground, and remained thoughtful and\nreflecting; at length, being in the hands of death, he descended very\nangrily from his throne into the middle of the assembly; and, laying\naside all reserve and fear, said, \u201cIn this assembly are Dritrasht,\nDoorjodhun, Bheekhum, Kurun, Dronachuruj and others, men of great\nknowledge and dignity of character; but their rank and understanding\nhave, on this occasion, been entirely overlooked. Great chiefs of\nsaints and sages have been sitting here, whilst adoration has been\noffered to the son of the cowherd, Nund, and no one has said any\nthing; he who was born in Bruj, and has eaten the leavings of the\ncowherds\u2019 children\u2019s prepared food, has, in this assembly, received\nhigh honour and exaltation. All here thoughtlessly call him great,\nthey bestow the strength of the lord of the gods upon a crow, they\nhave in this assembly made him the most holy of men, who fixed his\naffections on cowherdesses and herdsmen\u2019s wives; all in a body have\ncelebrated the praises of him, who stole from every house, and ate\nmilk, curds, butter-milk and butter; respect has here been paid to\nhim, who received alms on the roads, and ghauts; all have advisedly\nmade the honorary marks first on his forehead, who, by force and\nstratagem, has enjoyed himself with other men\u2019s wives. This is he, who\nabolished the worship of Indr\u00f9 in Bruj and established the worship of\na mountain; and afterwards he was not ashamed to play off a trick, and\neat up all the different confections and things he had caused to be\nbrought near the mountain for the worship of Indr\u00f9. All have here\nregarded, as invisible and immortal, him, whose pedigree, parentage\nand family are certainly known.\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! in this manner Raja Sissoopal being\nin the power of death, was casting many reproaches upon Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund Jee, who, seated on a throne in the midst of the assembly,\nlistened, and drew a line for every reproach that was uttered; in the\nmean while Bheekum, Kurun, Dron and other great Rajas, having heard\nHuri spoken of disparagingly, were very angry, and said to Sissoopal,\n\u201cFool! dost thou in the midst of this assembly in our presence speak\ndisparagingly of Krishn\u00f9? O mean, low caste wretch! be silent,\notherwise we will immediately throw you down, and put you to death.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, all the Rajas seizing their weapons,\nrose up and rushed towards Sissoopal to kill him. Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund, the root of joy, then prevented them, and said, \u201cDo not use\nyour arms against him, stand here and look on, he will bring\ndestruction on himself presently, I will tolerate a hundred offences\nin him, because I have agreed to do so; but I will not tolerate more\nthan a hundred, and therefore I have been drawing these lines.\u201d\n\nO great king! on hearing this speech, all, having joined their hands,\nenquired from Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, \u201cO lord of compassion! what is the\nreason that you will pardon a hundred faults on his part, be pleased\nkindly to explain to us, that the doubts of our minds may be removed?\u201d\nKrishn\u00f9 said, \u201cWhen he (Sissoopal) was born, he had three eyes and\nfour arms, when his father, Raja Dumadhok, was informed of this he\nsent for astrologers and great pundits and enquired, \u2018What sort of\nchild will this be, consider and give me your answer?\u2019 On hearing what\nthe Raja said, the pundits and astrologers, having consulted the\nShastr\u00f9s, replied, \u2018O great king! this child will be possessed of\ngreat strength, and will be highly renowned, and we are also of\nopinion that this child will be destroyed by him, at meeting with whom\none of his eyes and two of his arms shall fall down.\u2019 Having heard\nthis, his mother, Muhadewee, the daughter of Soorsen, the sister of\nBasoodeo, my maternal aunt, was very sad, and passed day and night in\nanxious thought about her child; after some days, she came on one\noccasion with her son to her father\u2019s house at Dwarka, and presented\nher son to every one; when the child and I met, one of its eyes, and\ntwo of its arms fell upon the ground, then my aunt having bound me by\na promise, said, \u2018The child\u2019s death is in your hands, please do not\nkill it, I ask this as an alms from you.\u2019 I replied, \u2018Very good, I\nwill not reckon a hundred faults he may commit, should he commit any\nin excess of this number, I will destroy him.\u2019 Having received this\npromise from me, my aunt took leave of us all with these words, \u2018How\ncan the child commit a hundred offences against Krishn\u00f9 and perish by\nhis hand,\u2019 and returned home with her son.\u201d\n\nO great king! having mentioned this account of Sissoopal, and\nobliterated the doubts of all the Rajas\u2019 minds, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee\ncounted the lines he had drawn separately for each offence, which\namounted to more than a hundred. Krishn\u00f9 then gave an order to the\nquoit, Soodursen, who instantly cut off Sissoopal\u2019s head. The\nbrilliant light, which came forth from his body, went at once to the\nsky, and returning thence settled in the sight of all, on the mouth of\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund. On beholding this exploit, gods, men and sages\nbegan to raise cries of exultation and rain flowers. On that occasion,\nShree Moorari, the benefactor of his worshippers, gave him a third\ndeliverance, and performed his funeral obsequies.\n\nHaving heard thus much of the narrative, Raja Pureechit enquired from\nShree Shookdeo Jee,--\u201cO great king! please explain to me, how Krishn\u00f9\ngave Sissoopal a third deliverance?\u201d Shookdeo Jee replied,--Raja! once\nhe appeared as Hirunkusyp, and then Krishn\u00f9 having descended upon the\nearth as half lion, half man, released him. On the second occasion he\nbecame Rawun, when Huri having descended as Ram, liberated him, the\npresent is the third occasion, and therefore the present is the third\nrelease. Having heard this, the Raja said to the sage,--\u201cO great king!\nbe pleased now to proceed with the narrative.\u201d Shree Shookdeo Jee,\nsaid,--Raja! when the sacrifice was finished, Raja Joodisthur bestowed\ndresses on all the Rajas and their wives, and numberless gifts on\nbrahmins. It was the business of Raja Doorjodhun to distribute during\nthe sacrifice, who, in place of distributing once, distributed many\ntimes, and thereby acquired celebrity, but was still dissatisfied.\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja\nPureechit,--O great king! on the completion of the sacrifice, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Jee took leave of the Raja Joodisthur, accompanied by his\narmy and relatives, and went from Hustinapoor to the city of Dwarka.\nOn the arrival of Krishn\u00f9, there were festive rejoicings in every\nhouse, and joy was diffused throughout the city.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXVI.\n\nRaja Pureechit said,--\u201cO great king! explain to me the reason, why\nall were delighted with the royal sacrifice, and Doorjodhun alone\ndissatisfied, that the perplexities of my mind may be removed.\u201d Shree\nShookdeo Jee said,--Raja! your paternal grandfather was a man of great\nwisdom, and apportioned the business of the sacrifice to each,\naccording to his observation of the character of each. He made Bheem\nsuperintendent of the victualling department; he appointed Suhdeo to\nlook after the religious ceremonies; Nukool\u2019s office was to bring\nmoney; Urjoon was appointed to be in constant attendance; Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund Jee took the duties of washing feet and clearing away\nwhat food was left, and the trenchers, formed of leaves; to\nDoorjodhun, the Raja assigned the business of distributing money; and\nevery one of the Rajas received each some separate work. O great king!\nall did their work fairly, with exception of Raja Doorjodhun, who\npractised the deceit of distributing many times in place of only\ndistributing once; thinking, and having determined in his mind, to\nbreak their bank, and thereby destroy their respectability. But by the\nfavour of Bhugwan, their respectability was not destroyed; on the\ncontrary, their character was enhanced, and therefore he was\ndispleased, and he did not know that there were lines in his hand, so\nthat if he gave one rupee, four would be collected.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--Raja! be pleased now to listen to what follows in the\nnarrative. On the departure of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee, Raja\nJoodisthur, having entertained the Rajas, bestowed dresses of honour\nupon them, and behaved to them with the utmost complaisance, allowed\nthem to take leave; and they arranged their several armies, and set\nout for their own countries. After this, Raja Joodisthur, taking the\nPanduv\u00f9s and Kouruv\u00f9s with him, went, in musical procession, to\nbathe in the Ganges. Having arrived on the banks of the river, he made\nan obeisance; and, having rubbed dust on his body and sipping water in\nhis hands, he entered the stream with his wife; all the party bathed\nat the same time with them. Then, when they had bathed and washed, and\nfinished their meditations and prayers, and adoration, and had put on\ntheir clothes and ornaments; Raja Joodisthur, accompanied by them all,\ncame to where the demon Mye had built a most elegant house of gold,\nstudded with jewels. O great king! having gone there, Raja Joodisthur\nsat upon a throne; at that time, celestial musicians sang of his good\nqualities; bards and panegyrists recited his celebrated deeds; in the\nmidst of the assembly, dancing girls danced; inside and outside the\nhouse, musicians and singers played and sang songs of festivity and\nrejoicing; and the court of the Raja Joodisthur appeared like the\ncourt of Indr\u00f9. In the mean while, when the Raja Doorjodhun heard of\nthe Raja Joodisthur\u2019s arrival, he pretended friendship, and went there\nwith great pomp and parade to meet him.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! the demon Mye had contrived in the\nmidst of a square enclosure, that whoever entered it, should mistake\ndry land for water, and water for dry land. O great king! when the\nRaja Doorjodhun entered the enclosure, on seeing dry land, he thought\nthat it was water, and pulled off all his clothes; having then gone a\nlittle further and seeing water, he mistook it for dry land; and, as\nhe advanced, his clothes wetted. On observing this mistake of his, all\nthe courtiers burst out laughing, and Raja Joodisthur turned his head\naside to prevent himself from laughing. O great king! having heard\nthem all laughing, Raja Doorjodhun was very much ashamed and went away\nin great wrath. Having sat down in the court, he began to say, \u201cSince\nJoodisthur has obtained the support of Krishn\u00f9\u2019s strength, he has\nbecome very proud. To-day, while he was sitting in the court, he made\nall the courtiers laugh at me; I will revenge myself on him for this,\nand chastise his pride, otherwise my name is not Doorjodhun.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXVII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nand Bulram Jee were at Hustinapoor, a demon, named Salub, a follower\nof Sissoopal, who, at the marriage of Rookmunee, had been wounded by\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee, and had run away, began to perform a penance\nin honour of Muhadeo Jee, saying to himself, \u201cI will now take revenge\nupon the descendants of Judoo.\u201d He conquered and brought under\nsubjection his eleven organs of action and perception: he endured\nhunger, thirst and all changes of season. In this manner he began to\nperform penance, keeping in remembrance the feet of Muhadeo: he\nconstantly rose up and ate a handful of sand; and performed difficult\npenance, fixing his thoughts upon Shiv\u00f9. One year passed away thus,\nthen Muhadeo granted him a boon. \u201cFrom to-day, thou shalt not be\nsubject to the infirmities of age, and shalt not die; and the demon\nMye shall make for you a ruth of delusive power, which shall carry you\nwherever you wish: it shall have power, through the efficacy of my\nblessing, to go every where like a chariot in the three worlds.\u201d\n\nO great king! as Sudashiv\u00f9 Jee granted this boon, a ruth came and\nstood before Salub; who, having made a salutation to Shiv\u00f9 Jee and\nmounted upon the ruth, proceeded with tumultuous haste to the city of\nDwarka. Having gone there, he began to occasion all sorts of troubles\nto the inhabitants of the city: sometimes he used to pour down fire\nupon them, sometimes water: he sometimes uprooted trees, and threw\nthem upon the city, and sometimes hills; from dread of him, all the\ninhabitants running off in great alarm, went to Raja Oogursen, and\ncalled out to him for mercy and protection. \u201cO great king! a demon has\ncome into the city, and caused the greatest confusion; and if he\ncontinue to commit the same acts of violence he has already committed,\nnot a soul will be left alive.\u201d\n\nO great king! on hearing these words, Raja Oogursen sent for\nPurdiyomun Jee and Sumboo, and said, \u201cBehold! this demon has come to\nwatch Huri, and to vex the inhabitants; form some plan for remedying\nthe distresses he has caused.\u201d On receiving the Raja\u2019s orders,\nPurdiyomun Jee took all his army; and, having gone in a chariot\noutside the city, was ready for battle. Seeing, that Sumboo was\nterrified, he said, \u201cBe not at all anxious; I will, by the glorious\nfavour of Huri, destroy this demon in a second.\u201d Having thus spoken,\nwhen Purdiyomun Jee taking his army with him, and seizing his weapons,\ncame opposite to the demon; the demon exercised his delusive power in\nsuch a manner, that the day was changed into a very dark night.\nPurdiyomun, upon this, discharged arrows of fire, and dissipated the\nthick darkness, just as the rays of the sun would disperse a fog.\nAfter this he discharged several arrows with such force, that the\ndemon\u2019s ruth was sent helter skelter; and he, being frightened,\nsometimes ran off; and sometimes returning, fought, exercising\ndelusive power in various demoniacal ways; and gave great annoyance to\nthe subjects of Purdiyomun.\n\nHaving narrated thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! there was a great battle raging on\nboth sides; in the midst of which, Doobid, the minister of Salub, came\nall at once, and struck Purdiyomun with such violence on the chest\nwith a club, that he fell senseless. On his falling, Doobid screamed\nout, \u201cI have killed Shree Krishn\u00f9\u2019s son, Purdiyomun.\u201d\n\nO great king! while the descendants of Judoo were carrying on a mighty\ncontest with the demons, the son of the charioteer, Daruk; seeing that\nPurdiyomun Jee had fainted, threw him into a chariot, and ran off with\nhim from the field of battle, and brought him into the city. On\nrecovering his senses, Purdiyomun Jee was greatly enraged, and said to\nthe charioteer, \u201cIt was not right in you, knowing me to be senseless,\nto make me run from the field of battle. You left the field, and\nbrought me home: this is not the act of a brave man. There is not in\nthe family of Judoo a single member, who would abandon, and run from\nthe field of battle. What! didst thou ever see me fly, that thou hast\nto-day brought me away, and made me leave the battle? Whoever hears of\nthis, will laugh at, and reproach me. You have not done well, in\nfixing a stain upon my reputation without necessity.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, O great king! the charioteer, having descended\nfrom the chariot, stood up in the presence of Purdiyomun; and with\njoined hands, and bowing his head, said, \u201cLord! you know all customs\nand usages; and there is not in the world a right practice, with which\nyou are not acquainted. It is said, \u2018When a brave warrior in a chariot\nfalls wounded, his charioteer will carry him off from the field of\nbattle. If the charioteer should be wounded and fall; the warrior in\nthe chariot ought to save and take him away.\u2019 You received a very\nsevere blow from a powerful club, and fainted, and were senseless. I,\nthen, went off with you from the battle. I feared lest my master might\nbe injured, or dishonoured. You have taken about an hour\u2019s rest: now\ngo, and fight again. You know what is right and proper: do not cast a\nthought upon the laughter and jeering of the world. Destroy all the\nevil spirits immediately, and seize forcibly upon the delusive power\nof the demon.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, the charioteer took some water to\nPurdiyomun Jee; who, having washed his hands and face, and being fully\nrecovered, putting on a coat of mail and helmet, and taking in his\nhand his bow and arrows, said to the charioteer, \u201cWell! what has\nhappened, has happened; but take me now to the spot, where Doobid has\ncontinued to fight with the descendants of Judoo.\u201d On hearing this,\nthe charioteer instantly took him to where Doobid was fighting. On\ngoing there, Purdiyomun called out to him, and said, \u201cWhy are you\nfighting here and there, come and confront me, that I may send you to\nSissoopal?\u201d When, on hearing this challenge, Doobid rushed upon\nPurdiyomun Jee, Purdiyomun discharged several arrows, which struck,\nand brought him to the ground: and Sumboo, having also cut into pieces\nthe army of the demons, filled the sea with them.\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--O great king! when the descendants of Judoo had been engaged\ntwenty-seven days in fighting at Dwarka with the army of the demons,\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee, acquainted with the secrets of the heart,\nremaining at Hustinapoor, and beholding the condition of Dwarka, said\nto Raja Joodisthur, \u201cO great king! I beheld in a dream, during the\nnight, that great violence was being perpetrated at Dwarka, and that\nall the descendants of Judoo were grievously afflicted; I will,\ntherefore, with your permission, take my departure for Dwarka.\u201d On\nhearing this Raja Joodisthur, having joined his hands, said, \u201cDo as\nyou please.\u201d When the Raja had thus spoken Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram\ntook leave of all; and when they came outside the city, beheld a doe\nrunning towards them on the left hand, and a dog standing in front of\nthem shaking his head. When Huri had seen these bad omens, he said to\nBulram, \u201cBrother! come after me with all the rest of the party, and I\nwill go on in advance.\u201d\n\nRaja! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, after thus speaking to his brother, went\non to the field of battle, and there saw, that the demons had, in\nevery direction, committed great slaughter on the descendants of\nJudoo, who were carrying on the contest in very great confusion,\nwhilst Huri was standing there, and reflecting thoughtfully on this\nstate of affairs, Buldeo Jee also arrived; at that time Shree Krishn\u00f9\nsaid to Bulram, \u201cBrother! go and protect the city and the inhabitants,\nI will come after I have destroyed these demons.\u201d Having received\nKrishn\u00f9\u2019s order, Buldeo Jee went into the city, and Huri to the field\nof battle, where Purdiyomun was contending with Salub. The shell was\nsounded on the arrival of the lord of the Judoos, when all knew that\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund had come.\n\nO great king! when Krishn\u00f9 went upon the field of battle, Salub flew\noff with his chariot to the sky, and began to pour down arrows of fire\nfrom thence like rain. Then Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee counted sixteen\narrows, and discharged them with such force, that Salub\u2019s chariot and\ndriver were utterly destroyed, and he fell reeling down; recovering\nhimself after his fall, Salub\u2019s struck Huri on the left arm with an\narrow, and called out, \u201cHo Krishn\u00f9! I wish to make trial of your\nstrength, and fight with you; you have by fraud or force killed\nSunkhasoor, Bhomasoor, Sissoopal and other very powerful men: but it\nwill be a difficult matter for you to escape now from my hands; you\nhave now to deal with me, lay aside deceit and begin the contest; the\npowerful Banasoor and Bhomasoor are expecting you, Huri, I will send\nyou where you will not be able to come back from; if you run away, you\nwill not gain greatness.\u201d When Krishn\u00f9, in reply to this speech, had\nsaid, \u201cO stupid, proud, cowardly fool! Chutrees and firm, resolute,\nbrave men do not begin with talking in a high sounding strain to any\none;\u201d the demon rushed upon Huri, and aimed a very furious blow with a\nclub at him, which Krishn\u00f9 easily warded off; then Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund Jee struck him with a club; and on receiving the blow, he\nremained senseless for two hours under the protection of his delusive\npower; he afterwards assumed a disguise, and coming into the presence\nof Krishn\u00f9 said, \u201cYour mother, Dewukee, who is in a state of great\nagitation, has sent me here: your enemy Salub has seized and carried\noff Basoodeo.\u201d\n\nO great king! the demon having thus spoken, went thence; and having\nmade an illusory Basoodeo, brought it bound into the presence of Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 and said, \u201cBehold! Krishn\u00f9, I have brought your father\nbound, and I will now cut off his head, and destroy all the\ndescendants of Judoo, and fill the sea with them, afterwards I will\nkill you and hold universal dominion.\u201d\n\nO great king! when he had thus spoken, he abased the head of the\nimaginary Basoodeo and cut it off in sight of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee, and\nhaving placed it upon the point of a spear, showed it publicly. On\nbeholding this act of the delusive power, Krishn\u00f9 at first became\nfaint; but afterwards recovering, began to say to himself, \u201cHow has it\nhappened that he has seized and brought Basoodeo Jee from Dwarka,\nwhilst Bulram was there, what! is he more powerful than Bulram, that\nhe should have carried off Basoodeo from before him and brought him\nhere?\u201d\n\nO great king! many thoughts of this kind passed for a long time\nthrough the mind of Krishn\u00f9, whilst he was under the influence of the\ndemon\u2019s delusive power, and he was absorbed in reflection; at length\nwhilst Huri was considering and looking at the demon\u2019s illusory\napparition, he found out the secret of the contrivance, and called out\nto Salub. On hearing Krishn\u00f9\u2019s challenge, he mounted into the air,\nand began to discharge weapons thence upon Krishn\u00f9; in the mean while\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee struck him with several arrows with such\nforce, that the demon fell with his ruth into the sea; recovering from\nthe fall, he rushed upon Huri with a club; upon which Krishn\u00f9 was\ngreatly enraged and killed and brought him to the ground with the\nquoit, Soodursun; just as the lord of the gods killed and brought down\nBritasoor.\n\nO great king! on the fall of the demon, the jewel of his head fell out\nupon the ground, and the splendour of it was concentrated in the mouth\nof Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXVIII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja! I will now narrate how Sissoopal\u2019s\nbrothers, Bukrudunt and Bidooruth, were slain; from the time Sissoopal\nwas killed, the two brothers constantly thought, how they might\nrevenge themselves on Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund for their brother\u2019s death.\nAt length, on the death of Salub and Doobid, they advanced against the\ncity of Dwarka with all their army; and having encompassed it on all\nsides, began to discharge all kinds of engines and weapons of war\nagainst it. There was great commotion in the city; on hearing the\nclamour Moorari ascended his chariot. Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee went,\nafter this, outside the city, and stood where the two demons in great\nwrath, and with arms in their hands, were prepared for battle. On\nseeing Krishn\u00f9, Bukrudunt said, with great haughtiness, \u201cHo Krishn\u00f9!\nfirst bring into play all thy warlike weapons, and afterwards I will\nslay thee, my reason for telling thee this is, that at the time of\ndeath thou mayest not have to regret not having attacked Bukrudunt;\nthou hast destroyed very mighty men, but shall not now escape alive\nfrom me.\u201d\n\nO great king! having made many such wicked speeches, Bukrudunt threw a\nclub at Krishn\u00f9, which Huri easily cut off and brought to the ground;\nthen, taking another club, he engaged in a severe contest with Huri,\nwhen Bhugwan killed and brought him to the ground, and his life\nissuing forth went into the mouth of Krishn\u00f9. When Bidooruth beheld\nthe death of Bukrudunt, he advanced to the attack, and Shree Krishn\u00f9\nJee sent forth the quoit, Soodursun, who cut off his head, and brought\nit to the ground, with the crown and ear-rings; he afterwards slew and\nput to flight the whole army of the demons: at that time, the\ndelighted gods rained down flowers; celestial choristers and bards\ncelebrated with songs the renown of Huri; all the demi-gods, holy men\nand celestial dancers, ascending chariots, raised cries of exultation\nand victory. They then all said to Krishn\u00f9, \u201cYour pastimes are\ninfinite; no one can understand the secret of them. First, Hirunkusyp\nand Hirnakoos were born; afterwards Rawun and Koombhkurun, and now\nDuntbukr\u00f9 and Sissoopal; you have killed them three times, and\ngranted them the highest release, for this reason your state and\nnature are not understood by any one.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, the gods made an obeisance to\nKrishn\u00f9, and departed; and Huri began to say to Bulram Jee, \u201cBrother!\nthe Kouruv\u00f9s and Panduv\u00f9s have fought; what shall we do?\u201d Buldeo Jee\nreplied, \u201cO abode of kindness! please do me the favour to go to\nHustinapoor, and I will come there by and bye, after having gone on\npilgrimage to holy places.\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narration, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--O great king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee, having heard this\nsuggestion, went to Koorchetr\u00f9, the country about Delhi, where the\nKouruv\u00f9s and Panduv\u00f9s were carrying on a great war; and Bulram Jee\nwent forth on pilgrimage; whilst engaged in visiting the places of\npilgrimage Buldeo arrived at Neemkhar; he there beheld that on one\nside holy men and sages were engaged in sacrifices; and on another\nside in an assembly of sages and holy Soot Jee, seated on a throne,\nwas reading histories. On beholding Bulram, Sounuk and all the sages,\nand saints rose up and made obeisance, and Soot Jee remained looking\nat him, seated on a cushion on the throne.\n\nO great king! on Soot Jee\u2019s not rising, Bulram Jee said to Sounuk and\nall the sages, and saints, \u201cWho has made this fool a speaker, and\ngiven him the seat of Byas? A speaker should be religious, a man of\ndiscrimination and of wisdom; this man is without good qualities,\navaricious and proud; again, it is necessary, that he should be free\nfrom covetousness, and be virtuous; this man is very greedy and\nselfish. The seat of Byas does not become one, who is devoid of\nintellect, and judgment. It would not much matter, if we were to kill\nhim; but we must have him removed hence.\u201d On hearing this Sounuk and\nall the great sages and saints, said most submissively, \u201cO great king!\nyou are brave, resolute, acquainted with all observances and usages;\nwhilst this man is a coward, irresolute, without discretion, proud and\nwithout intelligence, be pleased to forgive his fault, that he is\nsitting upon the cushion of Byas, and because Bruhm\u00f9 has placed him\nhere for the business of the sacrifice; the fool was puffed up with\npride, because he was seated, and did not rise to make a salutation to\nyou. This, O lord! is his fault, he has committed an error, but is a\ngood man; it would be a sin to kill Soot Jee, no one in the world\nwould call it a good act; what you have said to him will not be\nwithout advantage. Think of this in your mind.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Bulram Jee heard these words, he took up a blade of\ngrass, and struck Soot Jee lightly, who died from the touch of it. On\nbeholding this act, Sounuk and all the sages, uttering expressions of\ngrief, and being very sad, said, \u201cO great king! what was to be, has\ncome to pass, but be pleased now to favor us by removing our anxiety.\u201d\nBulram replied, \u201cTell me what your desire is, and I will satisfy it.\u201d\nThe sages said, \u201cO great king! let there be no interruption in the\nperformance of our sacrifice, this is our desire, be pleased to fulfil\nit, and gain celebrity in the world.\u201d When the sages had thus spoken,\nBulram Jee, acquainted with the secrets of the heart, caused Soot\nJee\u2019s son to be sent for; and having seated him on the cushion of\nByas, said, \u201cHe will be more eloquent than his father, and I have\nconferred undying dignity upon him, and made him long lived, perform\nyour sacrifice now, free from all anxiety.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXIX.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! when Sounuk and all the\nsaints and sages having received Bulram Jee\u2019s order; and, being highly\ndelighted, began to perform sacrifice, a demon, named Jalub, the son\nof Lub, came; and, having collected masses of clouds, thundering and\nsending forth a very terrible and black storm, began to rain down from\nthe sky blood and excrement, and urine and commit many acts of\nviolence.\n\nO great king! when Buldeo Jee beheld this tyranny on the part of the\ndemon, he summoned his plough and wooden pestle; they came, and were\nready; then Buldeo in great wrath, having laid hold of Jalub with his\nplough, struck him a blow on the head with his wooden pestle with such\nforce that his head was split, and his soul escaped; there was a\nstream of blood on the spot; his eyes came out of their sockets, and\nhis hair was dyed with blood. The sages, being very much pleased at\nthe death of Jalub, performed adoration to Buldeo Jee, and glorifying\nhim greatly, offered presents. Bulram, the abode of happiness, after\nthis departed thence, and proceeded on his pilgrimage.\n\nO great king! having visited all holy places of pilgrimage, and made a\ncircuit of the earth, he arrived at the country about Delhi, where\nDoorjodhun and Bheemsen were carrying on a great war; and Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund and great Rajas, together with the descendants of\nPandoo, were standing looking on. On Bulram Jee\u2019s arrival, the two\nheroes, Doorjodhun and Bheemsen, made him a salutation; the one\nregarding him as his spiritual preceptor, the other as his brother.\nWhen, O great king! Buldeo Jee saw them fighting, he said, \u201cBoth of\nyou are powerful, brave warriors; O resolute heroes! refrain now from\nwar, preserve the progeny of Kooroo and Pandoo; brothers, friends,\nhave all been exterminated.\u201d Both said, when they heard this, bowing\ntheir heads, \u201cWe cannot now give up fighting.\u201d Then Doorjodhun said,\n\u201cO divine preceptor! I will not speak falsely in your presence; be\npleased to listen with careful attention to what I am about to say.\nThis great war, which is now being carried on, in which people have\nbeen killed, and will be killed, is carried on by the advice of your\nbrother, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee. These poor helpless creatures, who\nare now fighting, are as much under the power of Huri, as a wooden\npuppet is in the power of a juggler, who can make it move in any\ndirection he pleases. It was not right in him to assist the Panduv\u00f9s,\nand act with such enmity towards us; he has caused the shoulder of\nDoosasun to be torn from its socket by Bheem, and has caused me to be\nwounded in the thigh by a club. What more need I now say to you?\nWhatever Huri may wish will now be done, this every one knows.\u201d When\nDoorjodhun had thus spoken, Bulram Jee approached Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund, having first said to Doorjodhun, \u201cYou, of course, have not\npractised any stratagem or treachery to cause violence?\u201d And he said\nto his brother, \u201cWhat have you done in causing this war to be waged,\nand Doosasun\u2019s shoulder to be torn from its socket, and Doorjodhun\u2019s\nthigh to be wounded? This is not a custom of fair fighting, that a\npowerful man should pluck out another\u2019s shoulder from the socket, or\ndirect weapons, and aim below the loins. It is a fair fight when one\nchallenges the other, and fights opposite him.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nreplied, \u201cO brother! you do not know the circumstances; these\nKouruv\u00f9s are very unjust and tyrannical, their tyranny is beyond\ndescription, they first, at the suggestion of Doosasun, Shugoon and\nBhugdunt, cheated at play, and won every thing belonging to Raja\nJoodisthur. Doosasun laid hold of Dropudee by the hand, and for that\nreason Bheemsen pulled his arm out of the socket. Dhoorjodhun, in the\nmidst of the court, told Dropudee to sit upon his thigh; and for this\nreason his thigh was wounded.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund proceeded to say,\n\u201cBrother! you do not know what injustice the Kouruv\u00f9s have shown\ntowards the Panduv\u00f9s, and I cannot describe it; the fire of this war\nwill not, therefore, be now extinguished, do not attempt any remedy.\u201d\n\nWhen Krishn\u00f9, O great king! had thus spoken, Bulram Jee came from the\ncountry in the neighbourhood of Delhi to the city of Dwarka; and,\nhaving an interview with Rajas Oogursen and Soorsen, began to say to\nthem with joined hands, \u201cO great kings! through your excellence and\nglory I have made a pilgrimage to all holy places; but I have been\nguilty of a fault.\u201d Raja Oogursen said, \u201cWhat fault?\u201d Bulram Jee\nreplied, \u201cO great king! having gone to Neemkhar, I killed Soot Jee,\nthe sin of whose murder attaches to me, with your permission I will\nnow go again to Neemkhar; and, having seen the sacrifice, and bathed\nat the holy place, will obliterate the sin of the murder; after that I\nwill give food to brahmins and give an entertainment to all persons of\nmy own caste, in order that I may obtain renown in the world.\u201d Raja\nOogursen consented, and told him to proceed on his journey, and return\nto him.\n\nO great king! having obtained the Raja\u2019s leave, Bulram Jee,\naccompanied by several of the descendants of Judoo, went to Neemkhar;\nand having bathed and offered gifts, was purified, and returned.\nAfterwards, having sent for his family priest, and caused burnt\nofferings to be offered up to the gods, he fed and entertained\nbrahmins, and his own caste; and, having observed all the customs\nusual in the world, was made clean.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said, O\ngreat king! whoever shall hear this history with attention; all his\nsins shall be annihilated.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXX.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! I will now relate the\nhistory of Soodama how he went to Krishn\u00f9, and his poverty was put an\nend to; do you listen with attention: in the direction of the southern\nquarter is the Dravis country, where brahmins and traders dwelt as\nkings, under whose government adoration and remembrance, and\nmeditation upon Huri were practised in each house; and all men\nperformed penance and sacrifice; and respected religion and offered\ngifts; and reverenced virtuous and holy men and cows, and brahmins,\nthus they all dwelt there, thinking of none but Huri. In that country\nwas a brahmin, named Soodama, who had been instructed by the same\nspiritual preceptor as Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, very humble, emaciated\nand poor, so that there was no thatch upon his hut, and he had nothing\nto eat. One day Soodama\u2019s wife being greatly frightened and grieved at\ntheir poverty, went to her husband in a state of alarm, and said\ntrembling, \u201cO great king! we are greatly troubled by this state of\npoverty; if you wish to put an end to it, I will point out a plan of\ndoing so.\u201d The brahmin asked, \u201cWhat plan?\u201d She replied, \u201cShree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, lord of the three worlds, and an\ninhabitant of Dwarka is your chief friend, if you go to him our\npoverty will depart, because he is the bestower of wealth, virtue,\ndesires and final happiness.\u201d\n\nO great king! when the brahmin\u2019s wife had thus explained to her\nhusband, Soodama said, \u201cO beloved! even Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund does not\ngive any one any thing, without that person giving him something\nfirst, I know well, that during my whole life, I have not given any\nthing to any one and without having given, whence shall I receive? I\nwill, however, go as you suggest and come back after seeing Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Jee.\u201d On hearing these words the brahmin\u2019s wife tied up a\nlittle rice in an old white cloth and brought it and gave it to her\nhusband as a present for Krishn\u00f9 and placed before him a string, a\nbrass pot and a staff. Then Soodama having cast the string and the\nbrass pot upon his shoulders and placed the bundle of rice under his\narm, taking the staff in his hand, set out for the city of Dwarka,\nhaving propitiated Gunesh\u00f9 and meditating upon Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nJee.\n\nO great king! going along the road, Soodama began to say to himself,\n\u201cI am certainly not destined to be rich; but, by going to Dwarka, I\nshall see Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy.\u201d With these thoughts\nin his mind Soodama arrived at the city of Dwarka after a journey of\nless than nine hours, and there beheld a city, surrounded on all sides\nby the sea. All round the city were forests and groves, producing\nflowers and fruits. At the ponds, pools and large wells of masonry,\nwheels and leather buckets were in full play, herds of cows were\ngrazing in different places, and the cowherds\u2019 children, who\naccompanied them, were engaged apart in sports.\n\nHaving recited thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king!\nSoodama, having beheld the beauty of the forests and groves, went into\nthe city, and saw very elegant houses of gold, covered with jewels,\nshining in full splendour. At the different places of meeting, the\ndescendants of Judoo were seated, forming courts like that of Indr\u00f9:\nin the markets, roads and cross-roads, things of different kinds were\nsold; in each house, and in various places, songs were sung, and gifts\nand adoration offered in honour of Huri, and Krishn\u00f9\u2019s praises were\ncelebrated; and the inhabitants of the whole city were highly\ndelighted.\n\nO great king! beholding all these sights, and making enquiries for the\nabode of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, Soodama went and stood at the great\nentrance gate of Krishn\u00f9\u2019s house; and timidly enquired from some one\nwhere Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund lived. The man replied, \u201cO divinity! go\ninside the house, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee is seated opposite on a\njewelled throne.\u201d\n\nWhen, O great king! Soodama, having heard this went inside, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund, on seeing him, descended from his throne; and,\nadvancing to meet him, seized his hand with the greatest affection,\nand led him in; having then placed him upon his throne, he washed his\nfeet, and took the water, with which his feet had been washed; after\nthis, smearing his body with sandal, putting unbroken rice upon his\nforehead, and decorating him with flowers, placing perfumes and lamps\nbefore him, Krishn\u00f9 performed adoration to Soodama; having done so\nthe lord of the Judoos joined his hands, and made kind enquiries\nregarding his health, &c., &c.\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja,--O great king! on beholding this behaviour on the part of\nKrishn\u00f9, Shree Rookmunee Jee and the seven queens, and the sixteen\nthousand eight hundred wives and all the descendants of Judoo, who\nwere then present, began to say to themselves, \u201cWhat virtuous act has\nthis poor, weak, dirty, shabbily dressed brahmin done in a former\nbirth, that the lord of the three worlds has treated him with such\ngreat respect?\u201d\n\nO great king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, acquainted with the secrets of the\nheart, knowing the thoughts of them all at that time, began in order\nto remove the perplexities of their minds, to talk to Soodama upon\nsubjects, connected with their spiritual preceptor\u2019s house, \u201cBrother!\ndo you recollect one day, when the preceptor\u2019s wife sent you and me to\nbring wood; and when we had brought the wood from the forest, and\nfastening the bundles on our heads went home, there was a storm and\nrain; and it rained very heavily, wet and dry places were inundated\nwith water; I and you got wet, and suffered great annoyance, and\nremained in the cold all night under a tree; early in the morning, the\ndivine preceptor came to search for us in the forest; and with the\ngreatest kindness, and giving us his blessing took us both with him to\nhis house.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee after this again said \u201cBrother!\nfrom the time you quitted our divine spiritual preceptor\u2019s house, I\nhave not received any tidings of you, where you were, and what you\nwere doing; by coming now and showing yourself, you have made me very\nhappy, and have purified my house.\u201d Soodama replied, \u201cO sea of\ncompassion and brother of the poor! O master! acquainted with the\nsecrets of the heart, you know every thing; there is nothing in the\nworld, which is concealed from you.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXXI.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee,\nacquainted with the secrets of the heart; having heard Soodama\u2019s\nspeech, and understanding what his many wishes were, said laughingly,\n\u201cBrother! what present has your wife sent for me; why do you not give\nit to me, but keep it pressed down under your arm?\u201d\n\nHaving heard this, O great king! Soodama was abashed, and his spirits\nbegan to droop, when Krishn\u00f9 hastily snatched the bundle of rice from\nunder his arm; having then opened it, and eaten two handfuls of rice\nwith the greatest avidity, when he had taken the third mouthful, Shree\nRookmunee Jee laid hold of the hand of Huri and said, \u201cO great king!\nyou have given him two worlds, will you not keep some place for your\nown habitation; this seems to be a brahmin of excellent disposition\nand very good family, a great religious ascetic, and one who has\nabandoned all terrestrial objects, because he has not exulted on\nobtaining wealth, I know, therefore, that he looks upon gain and loss\nalike, rejoices not at obtaining nor sorrows at losing.\u201d When\nRookmunee Jee had thus spoken, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee said,\n\u201cBeloved! this is my best friend, how can I enumerate his many\nexcellent qualities? He remains constantly immersed in the love of me;\nand in comparison with that love looks upon the pleasures of the world\nas grass.\u201d\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja\nPureechit,--O great king! Krishn\u00f9, having addressed many speeches and\nexplanations to Rookmunee Jee, brought Soodama into the house; having\nafter this entertained him with delicacies of all kinds, and given him\nbetel, Huri took Soodama and placed him upon a bed like foam; he was\nfatigued and knocked up by the journey, and enjoyed a pleasant sleep\nupon the bed; Krishn\u00f9 having then sent for Bishokurma, said, \u201cGo now\nand build a very beautiful house for Soodama of gold and jewels, and\nplace in it the eight fruits of ascetic severities, and the treasure\nof Kouver\u00f9, consisting of nine gems, in order that no desire of his\nmay be unsatisfied.\u201d\n\nWhen Krishn\u00f9 had thus spoken Bishokurma went and built the house\ninstantly, and returned; having mentioned to Krishn\u00f9 that he had done\nso, he went home; early in the morning Soodama rose, and went to take\nleave of Krishn\u00f9, after having bathed, and finished his religious\nmeditations, adoration and worship, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee was at\nthat time quite unable to speak; but remained gazing immersed in\naffection, with downcast eyes, and stupified, Soodama, having taken\nleave and made a salutation, went homewards, and on the road began to\nreflect, \u201cI did well in not asking Krishn\u00f9 for any thing; had I asked\nhim he would certainly have given it, but he would have thought me\ngreedy and avaricious, no matter, I shall be able to explain all the\ncircumstances to my wife. Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee treated me with the\ngreatest respect and honour, and considered me as free from avarice;\nthis is for me equal to a lakh of rupees.\u201d\n\nWith these thoughts in his mind Soodama, O great king! came near his\nvillage, and was surprised at not perceiving either his former\nresidence, or broken hut, but a populous city like that of Indr\u00f9\u2019s.\nOn seeing this, Soodama was very much grieved, and began to say,\n\u201cLord! what hast thou done? I had one affliction, and thou has given\nme another: what has become of my cottage, and where has my wife gone?\nFrom whom shall I enquire, and where shall I search for them?\u201d Having\nthus said Soodama went to the gate, and asked the door-keeper, \u201cWhose\nis this very beautiful house?\u201d The door-keeper replied, \u201cIt belongs to\nSoodama, the friend of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund.\u201d When upon hearing this\nSoodama was on the point of speaking, his wife, who had seen him from\nthe inside, came up to her husband, dressed in fine clothes and\njewels, adorned from head to foot, having eaten betel, and applied\nperfumes, and accompanied by her female companions; falling at his\nfeet, she threw down silken cloths for him to walk upon; and, having\njoined her hands, thus spoke, \u201cWhy are you standing there, come into\nthe house, and banish all anxiety from your mind; after you left,\nBishokurma came, who built this house in a second.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Soodama had heard his wife speak thus, he went into\nthe house; and on seeing the great profusion of wealth, was very much\ndejected. The brahminee said, \u201cHusband! people are rejoiced at\nobtaining riches, but you are sad, what is the reason of this? Please\nkindly tell me, that the perplexities of my mind may be removed?\u201d\nSoodama replied, \u201cBeloved! this wealth is very deceptive, it has\ndeceived, is still deceiving and will continue to deceive the whole\nworld. Krishn\u00f9 has bestowed it upon me, not having confidence in my\naffection; when have I asked it from him, that he has given it to me?\nThis is why my mind is sad.\u201d The brahminee said, \u201cHusband! you did not\nask any thing from Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee; but, being acquainted\nwith the secrets of the heart, he knows the thoughts of each\nindividual; in my mind there was a desire for wealth, which Krishn\u00f9\nhas satisfied; do not form any other opinion in your mind upon this\nsubject.\u201d\n\nHaving recited thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja\nPureechit,--O great king! whoever shall hear and repeat this story,\nshall never, having come into the world, suffer any affliction; and in\nthe end shall go to the celestial paradise.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXXII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja! I will now relate the story of\nKrishn\u00f9\u2019s journey to the country about Delhi; listen with attention,\nhow Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and Bulram went to Koorchetr\u00f9 to bathe on\nthe occasion of an eclipse of the sun, accompanied by all the\ndescendants of Judoo. The Raja said, \u201cO great king! be pleased to\nrecite the story; I will listen with attention.\u201d Then Shree Shookdeo\nJee said, O great king! on one occasion, having obtained intelligence\nof an eclipse of the sun, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and Buldeo Jee having\ngone to Raja Oogursen said, \u201cO great king! an eclipse of the sun has,\nafter a long interval, occurred, it will be a very virtuous act, if\nyou go to Koorchetr\u00f9, and hold this festival there; because it is\nwritten in the Shastr\u00f9s, \u2018That whoever shall offer gifts or do acts\nof moral or religious merit at Koorchetr\u00f9, shall be deemed a thousand\nfold excellent.\u2019\u201d On hearing these words, the descendants of Judoo\nenquired from Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee, \u201cO great king! how did\nKoorchetr\u00f9 become so eminent a place of pilgrimage, be pleased to do\nus the favour to explain?\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee replied, \u201cListen,\nJumdugun, the sage, was very wise, given to religious meditation, a\nstrict performer of penance and of a glorious reputation. He had three\nsons, the eldest of whom was Purshooram, who having abandoned the\npleasures of the world, went and dwelt in Chitr\u00f9koot, and began to\nperform penance in honor of Sudashiv\u00f9. On the birth of his children,\nJumdugun, the sage, having given up house keeping and forsaken the\nworld, went into the forest with his wife, and began to practise\ndevout austerity; his wife\u2019s name was Renooka, who went one day to\ninvite her sister, who was the wife of the Raja Suhusrajoorun; when\nshe had given the invitation, Raja Suhusrajoorun\u2019s wife, the sister of\nRenooka, indulging in pride, said laughing, \u2018If sister, you can feed\nme and my army, give the invitation, otherwise do not give it.\u2019 O\ngreat king! having heard this, Renooka was annoyed and rising up\nthence without speaking a word came home. Perceiving that she was in\nlow spirits, Jumdugun, the sage, enquired, \u2018What has happened to-day,\nthat you are out of humour.\u2019 Upon his making the enquiry, Renooka\nshedding tears, mentioned all the circumstances, as they had occurred.\nOn hearing them, Jumdugun, the sage, said to his wife, \u2018Well! go now\nand invite your sister with her army.\u2019 When Renooka received her\nhusband\u2019s order, she went to her sister\u2019s house and invited her. The\nsister said to her husband, \u2018You and I, together with our army, must\ngo to-morrow to eat our food at the house of Jumdugun, the sage.\u2019\nHaving heard and assented to what his wife said he laughed and was\nsilent. Jumdugun rose very early next morning and went to Raja Indr\u00f9,\nand asked for the cow Kamdhenoo, and afterwards went and invited, and\nbrought back with him the Raja Suhusrajoorun; he came with his army,\nand Jumdugun Jee entertained them all with every kind of food they\ndesired. When he and his army had eaten their food, Raja Suhusrajoorun\nwas very much ashamed and began to say to himself, \u2018Whence has he\nobtained the means of feeding so many people during the night, and how\nhe has prepared the food, I cannot understand the secret of all this.\u2019\nHaving thus spoken, and taken leave he went home, and despatched a\nbrahmin, saying to him, \u2018O divinity! go to the house of Jumdugun, and\nbring me information, by whose power he has, in one day, invited and\nentertained me and my army.\u2019 On hearing these words, the brahmin went\noff quickly, and having made his observations came back, and said to\nSuhusrajoorun, \u2018O great king! the cow Kamdhenoo is in his house,\nthrough whose power he has been able to invite, and entertain you in\nthe course of a day.\u2019 Suhusrajoorun said to the brahmin, in reply to\nthis intelligence, \u2018O divinity! go from me, and say to Jumdugun the\nsage, that I beg the cow Kamdhenoo from him.\u2019 The brahmin on hearing\nthese words, went with the message to the sage, and mentioned what\nSuhusrajoorun had said. The sage replied, \u2018The cow does not belong to\nme, that I can give it, it belongs to Raja Indr\u00f9, and I cannot give\nit; go and tell your Raja so.\u2019 Upon his saying this, the brahmin came,\nand said to Raja Suhusrajoorun, \u2018O great king! the sage says that the\ncow Kamdhenoo is not his, but belongs to Raja Indr\u00f9; and he cannot\ngive it to you.\u2019 When the brahmin had thus spoken, Suhusrajoorun sent\nfor several of his warriors, and said to them, \u2018Go now, and loosen and\nbring here from the house of Jumdugun the cow Kamdhenoo.\u2019 The\nwarriors, on receiving their master\u2019s order, went to the sage\u2019s house;\nand when, after having loosened the cow, they carried it off in\npresence of Jumdugun, the sage ran and stopped Kamdhenoo on the road.\nHaving received intelligence of this, Suhusrajoorun was enraged, and\ncame and cut off the sage\u2019s head, Kamdhenoo ran off to Indr\u00f9, and\nRenooka came and stood near her husband\u2019s body, she rolled upon the\nground, tearing her hair, and sat down, laying hold of his feet; she\nstruck her breast, shedding tears; and calling tenderly upon her\nhusband, poured forth lamentations. At that time, the guardian deities\nof the ten quarters trembled, when they heard the cries and weeping of\nRenooka; and the seat of Purshooram, shook, as he was engaged in\npenance, and his meditations were interrupted. On his meditations\nbeing disturbed, Purshooram, having reflected, took his axe, and came\nto the spot, where his father\u2019s corpse had fallen, and where his\nmother was standing, striking her breast. On seeing this, Purshooram\nJee became very wroth; and at the same time, Renooka explained with\ntears to her son all the circumstances of her husband\u2019s slaughter.\nWhen he had heard the account, Purshooram went to where Suhusrajoorun\nwas seated in the midst of his court, having first said to his mother,\n\u2018Mother! I will first slay my father\u2019s enemy, and afterwards come and\ntake up my father\u2019s body.\u2019 On seeing the Raja, Purshooram Jee said\nangrily, \u2018O pitiless, cowardly, malicious enemy of your family! you\nhave killed my father, and brought great grief upon me.\u2019 When having\nthus spoken, Purshooram seized his axe, and advanced in great wrath,\nthe Raja confronted him with a bow and arrows. The two strong men\nbegan a mighty contest. At length, after they had fought about four\nhours, Purshooram Jee killed and overthrew Suhusrajoorun, whose army\nthen attacked him, and which he also destroyed near the Raja\u2019s body;\nhe afterwards came thence, and performed his father\u2019s funeral\nobsequies; and having comforted his mother, Purshooram Jee then\noffered sacrifice to Roodr\u00f9 at that place; and from that time, the\nplace has been called, and become famous as a place of holy\npilgrimage, whoever goes there during an eclipse of the sun, and\noffers gifts, or bathes or performs penance or sacrifice, will receive\na reward of a thousand fold excellence.\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! on hearing this story, all the\ndescendants of Judoo were delighted, and said to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nJee, \u201cO great king! be pleased to go quickly to Koorchetr\u00f9, and do\nnot now delay, because it is necessary to arrive there in time for the\nfestival.\u201d On hearing this, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and Bulram Jee\nenquired from the Raja Oogursen, \u201cWho, O great king! will remain here\nto guard the city if all go to Koorchetr\u00f9?\u201d Raja Oogursen said,\n\u201cLeave Unroodr\u00f9 Jee and go.\u201d Having received the Raja\u2019s order, and\nhaving sent for and explained to Unroodr\u00f9, Krishn\u00f9 said, \u201cSon!\nremain here, defend the cow and the brahmin and protect the subject, I\nand the Raja Jee, and all the descendants of Judoo will return, after\nhaving bathed at Koorchetr\u00f9.\u201d Unroodr\u00f9 Jee replied, \u201cI will act\naccording to your order.\u201d\n\nHaving, O great king! left Unroodr\u00f9 Jee only to guard the city,\nSoorsen, Basoodeo, Oodho, Akroor, Kritbruma, and all the high and low\ndescendants of Judoo with their wives prepared to set out for\nKoorchetr\u00f9. When the Raja Oogursen encamped outside the city with his\narmy, the whole party assembled together; and afterwards Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund Jee joined them, accompanied by his brother\u2019s wife,\neight queens, sixteen thousand eight hundred wives, and their sons and\ngrandsons, Raja Oogursen decamped thence on Krishn\u00f9\u2019s arrival; and\nadvanced with great pomp and bustle, like Raja Indr\u00f9.\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king!\nafter a pleasant and safe journey of some days, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nand all the descendants of Judoo arrived at Koorchetr\u00f9; and having\ngone there, they all bathed during the festival; and, each, to the\nutmost of his means, offered elephants, horses, ruths, palkees,\ndresses, jewels, ornaments, grain or money, and afterwards they all\nencamped there.\n\nO great king! having heard of the journey of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and\nBulram Jee to Koorchetr\u00f9, Rajas from the four quarters came with\ntheir families and armies, and met them. Then all the Kouruv\u00f9s and\nPanduv\u00f9s came there with their relatives and their troops; at that\ntime Koontee and Dropudee went into the female apartments of the\ndescendants of Judoo, and had interviews with their wives; after this\nKoontee having gone into her brother\u2019s presence, said, \u201cBrother! I am\nvery unfortunate, from the very day I was betrothed I have been\nsuffering affliction, you have not thought of me from the time you\ngave me in marriage; and Ram Krishn\u00f9, who is the bestower of\nhappiness upon all, has not shown any kindness towards me.\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, O great king! Basoodeo Jee taking compassion\non her, said, his eyes being filled with tears, \u201cSister! what dost\nthou say to me? I have had no control in these matters, the condition\nor circumstances of fate are not known. The will of Huri is very\npowerful, behold! what griefs I endured at the hands of Kuns; the\nwhole world has become subservient to Krishn\u00f9; behold! whatever\ngriefs one may suffer, the universe is put into circular motion.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, and having entered into explanations\nwith his sister, Basoodeo Jee went to the place, where all the Rajas\nwere seated in the court of Raja Oogursen and Raja Doorjodhun and\nother great Rajas, and the Panduv\u00f9s were doing honour to Oogursen:\n\u201cRaja! you are very fortunate in constantly beholding Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund, and obliterating the sins of each birth; the lord, whom Shiv\u00f9,\nBruhm\u00f9 and all the other gods wander about seeking, continually\nprotects you; the Huri, whose mysteries jogees and sages, or whose\npassions are under complete subjection, and saints and wise men cannot\ndiscover, comes to receive your orders; and he, who is god of the\nwhole world, bows his head to you.\u201d\n\nHaving related thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O\ngreat king! all the Rajas having come were thus applauding Raja\nOogursen, and he, with great propriety, pleased and satisfied them\nall. In the mean while, having heard of the arrival of Shree Krishn\u00f9\nand Bulram Jee, Nund and Oopnund came, accompanied by their relations\nand all the cowherdesses and cowherds, and their children. When they\nwere at leisure after bathing and offering gifts, Nund Jee went to the\nplace, where Basoodeo and Dewukee were living with their son, in a\nstate of ease and enjoyment. On seeing them, Basoodeo Jee rose and met\nthem; and mutually expressing and feeling affection they were as happy\nas a man would be, who had found a lost thing. Basoodeo Jee then\nmentioned to Nund Rae all that had transpired at Bruj formerly, how\nNund Rae Jee had brought up Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram.\n\nOn hearing this account, O great king! Nund Rae Jee\u2019s eyes filled with\ntears, and he remained gazing on the face of Basoodeo. At that time,\nShree Krishn\u00f9 and Buldeo, having, with all becoming propriety,\nperformed obeisance and salutation, first to Nund and Jusodha Jee,\nwent afterwards and had a meeting with the cowherds\u2019 children. The\ncowherdesses came there, and gazed upon the moon-like countenance of\nHuri, and delighted their partridge-like eyes (that is, their eyes,\nwhich gazed at Krishn\u00f9, in the same manner as the eyes of the\nChukoor, or Greek partridge, gazes at the moon, of which the bird is\nsaid to be enamoured) and received the fruit, or the greatest\nenjoyment of their lives.\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! I\ncannot describe the love displayed by Nund, Oopnund, Jusodha, the\ncowherdesses, the cowherds and their children on meeting with\nBasoodeo, Dewukee, Rohnee, Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram; it must have\nbeen witnessed to be understood. At length, seeing that they were all\ngreatly agitated by their affection, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee said,\n\u201cListen! whatever mortal shall have faith in me, shall be fearlessly\ncarried across the sea of existence; you have made an offering of your\nbodies, minds and wealth, and have looked upon me with a never ending\naffection; no one is equal to you in good fortune; not Bruhm\u00f9,\nRoodr\u00f9, Indr\u00f9 or any one else, whoever he be, I have not come into\nthe meditations of Shiv\u00f9, but have dwelt with you, and constantly\nincreased my affection. I dwell in the body of each individual: what I\nnow say is incomprehensible and unfathomable, as light, water, fire,\nearth and air abide in the body, so also my splendour dwells in the\nhuman form.\u201d\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund had\nmentioned all these mysteries, all the inhabitants of Bruj recovered\ntheir confidence.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXXIII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! listen, whilst I give an\naccount of the conversations which passed between Dropudee and the\nwives of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee. One day the wives of the Kouruv\u00f9s\nand Panduv\u00f9s were sitting with the wives of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee,\nand were celebrating the exploits and good qualities of Krishn\u00f9; upon\nsomething being said in conversation, Dropudee said to Shree Rookmunee\nJee, \u201cSay, O beautiful Rookmunee! how didst thou obtain Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund Jee?\u201d Shree Rookmunee replied, \u201cListen attentively, O Dropudee!\nhow Krishn\u00f9 carried his scheme into execution: my father\u2019s wish was\nto give his daughter to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, and my brother had set\nhis mind upon giving me to Raja Sissoopal, who came with a marriage\nprocession to celebrate the marriage; and I sent a brahmin and invited\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee. On the marriage day, as I returned home\nafter having offered adoration to Devee, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee\nhaving carried me off from the midst of the army of the demons, seated\nme on his chariot, and pursued his journey homewards. Having\nafterwards received intelligence of this event, the whole army of\ndemons came and made a violent attack upon Huri, who easily slew and\nput them to flight, he then set out for Dwarka, taking me with him. On\nour arrival there, Rajas Oogursen, Soorsen and Basoodeo Jee married me\nto Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, according to the prescribed injunctions of\nthe Vedas; and, having heard the news of the marriage, my father gave\nme a most liberal dowry.\u201d\n\nHaving recited thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja\nPureechit,--O great king! Dropudee Jee made enquiries, similar to that\nshe had made from Shree Rookmunee, from Sutbhama, Jamwutee, Kalindee,\nBhudr\u00f9, Sutya, Mittrabinda, Luchmuna, and the sixteen thousand and\neight hundred queens of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, and each explained all\nthe circumstances and the history of her marriage.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXXIV.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! listen with attention, while\nI relate the story of the coming of all the sages, and of the\nperforming of sacrifice by Basoodeo Jee: One day Rajas Oogursen and\nSoorsen, Basoodeo, Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram were seated in full\nassembly with all the descendants of Judoo, and the kings of other\ncountries were also present; at this time Byas, Bushisht, Bishwamitr\u00f9\nBamdeo, Purashur, Bhrigoo, Poolusk, Bhurdooaj, Markundey\u00f9 and\neighty-eight thousand other sages, having a desire to see Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy, came there; and Narud Jee also came\nwith them. On seeing them, the whole court rose up; and then, having\nperformed obeisance, and thrown down silken cloths for them to walk\nupon, they conducted all the sages into the assembly, after this Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund having placed them all upon seats, and having washed\ntheir feet drank the water with which their feet had been washed, and\nsprinkled it upon the whole assembly; then having offered sandal,\nunbroken rice, flowers, perfumes, lamps and consecrated food, Bhugwan\nworshipped them all, and went round to the right by way of adoration;\nand, standing in their presence with joined hands, Huri said, \u201cGreat\nis our good fortune that you have come and visited us, and sat in our\nhouse; the sight of a good man is equal to bathing in the Ganges, he\nwho has seen a holy man (or received a visit from a holy man) has had\nthe crime of each birth effaced.\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--O great king! when Shree Bhugwan had thus spoken, then all the\nsages remained reflecting, \u201cWhen the lord, who is in the form of\nlight, and the creator of the universe, says this, what need we care\nwhat any one else may say, or has said?\u201d Whilst the sages thought thus\nin their minds, Narud Jee said, \u201cListen to me all ye of the assembly\nwith attention: the delusive power of Huri cannot be comprehended this\npower, in the form of Bruhm\u00f9, creates; as Vishn\u00f9, it preserves; as\nShiv\u00f9, it destroys: its nature is infinite, beyond the comprehension\nof man\u2019s intellect; but by his favour we know so much, that Vishn\u00f9\nfrequently descends upon the earth to confer happiness upon holy men,\ndestroy the wicked and promote what is eternally right.\u201d\n\nWhen, O great king! having thus spoken, Narud Jee was on the point of\nrising up and leaving the assembly, Basoodeo came before him, and,\nwith joined hands and with submissiveness, said, \u201cO chief of the\nsages! be pleased to favour us by saying, how a man, having come into\nthe world, can escape from fate.\u201d\n\nO great king! when Basoodeo Jee had thus spoken, all the holy men and\nsages remained looking at the countenance of Narud Jee; then Narud\nJee, understanding the wishes of their minds, said to the sages, \u201cO\ndivinities! be not astonished at this speech; the delusive power of\nShree Krishn\u00f9 is mighty, it has overcome and conquered the whole\nworld, and therefore Basoodeo Jee has thus spoken, and some one else\nhas also thus said, \u2018Near whom, whoever remains, he is under the\ninfluence of his good qualities, and subjected to the illusion of his\nglory, without being aware of it.\u2019 As any one living on the banks of\nthe Ganges, who goes elsewhere; and, having abandoned the Ganges,\ndrinks well water, so have the Judoos become unintelligent; and do not\ncomprehend at all the nature of Krishn\u00f9.\u201d Narud Jee having by these\nwords removed the perplexities of the sages, said to Basoodeo Jee, \u201cO\ngreat king! it is written in the Shastr\u00f9s, that the man, who performs\npilgrimage, makes offerings, or performs penance, or fasts or offers\nsacrifice, having escaped from the bonds of the world, will obtain\nsupreme felicity.\u201d On hearing these words, Basoodeo Jee was delighted,\nand immediately procured and made ready all things necessary for a\nsacrifice, and said to the saints and sages, \u201cPlease favour me by\ncommencing the sacrifice.\u201d\n\nWhen, O great king! Basoodeo Jee had thus spoken, all the brahmins\nprepared and arranged a building for the sacrifice. Upon this Basoodeo\nJee went and sat with his wives near the altar; and all the Rajas and\nthe Judoos prepared to assist in the sacrifice.\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja,--O great king! when Basoodeo went and sat at the altar, the\nsages began the sacrifice according to the injunctions of the Vedas;\nand, after reading incantations from the Vedas, they began to offer\noblations with fire to the deities; and the gods in bodily shape came\nrunning to receive them.\n\nWhen, O great king! the sacrifice was begun; above, the celestial\nchoristers and musicians, playing upon pipes and drums, began to sing\nof the excellences of the gods; and bards and panegyrists to celebrate\ntheir praises. Oorbusee and the other celestial courtezans danced; and\nthe gods, seated in their chariots, rained down flowers; and below,\nthe singers and dancers sang and danced, and engaged in festivities;\nand beggars raised cries of exultation and rejoicing, in midst of\nwhich the sacrifice was completed. And Basoodeo Jee, having offered\nthe final oblation and arrayed the brahmins in silken clothes, and\nadorned them with ornaments, presented them with many jewels, and much\nwealth: and they read incantations from the Vedas, and pronounced\ntheir blessing. After this, Basoodeo presented robes to, and\nentertained the kings of different countries, who then offered the\nsacrificial gifts; and taking leave, returned home. On the departure\nof the Rajas, all the sages and saints and Narud Jee also took leave.\n\nIt is not possible to describe the subsequent scene, when Nund Rae Jee\nand the cowherdesses, and the cowherds and their children were about\nto take leave of Basoodeo. The descendants of Judoo, on the one hand,\nmade all kinds of affectionate speeches; and the inhabitants of Bruj,\non the other hand, did so likewise; this happy scene must have been\nwitnessed to be understood, I cannot attempt to describe it. At\nlength, Basoodeo and Shree Krishn\u00f9, and Bulram, having entered into\nexplanations with Nund Rae Jee and the rest of the party, and made\nthem understand, and having arrayed them in honorary dresses, and\nbestowed great wealth upon them, allowed them to take leave.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O\ngreat king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and Bulram Jee returned to the\ncity of Dwarka with the rest of the party, after having bathed during\nthe festival, and offered sacrifice, there were rejoicings and\nfestivities in every house.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXXV.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! one day in the city of\nDwarka, when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and Bulram went to Basoodeo Jee, he,\non seeing the two brothers, rose and stood up, reflecting in his mind,\n\u201cThat at Koorchetr\u00f9, Narud Jee had said, \u2018That Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nis the creator of the world;\u2019\u201d and joining his hands Basoodeo said, \u201cO\nlord! unseen, invisible and imperishable! Luchmee has become your\nhandmaid, and constantly attends upon you; you are the god of all the\ngods; no one understands your nature; your splendour, is in the moon,\nthe sun, the earth and the sky; you shine in every place; your\ndelusive power is very mighty; it has led astray the whole world. In\nthe three worlds, there is no god, man or sage, who can escape from\nits influence.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, Basoodeo Jee again said, \u201cLord! no one comprehends\nthe mysteries of your state, in the Vedas they are described as\nunfathomable, you have neither enemies nor friends; nor are sons,\nfather and brothers dear to you. You have descended upon the earth to\nremove its burthens; and, for the sake of men, have assumed many\ndifferent semblances.\u201d\n\nO great king! having thus spoken, Basoodeo Jee said,--\u201cO sea of\ncompassion and brother of the poor! in the same manner as thou hast\nsaved many sinners compassionately grant me salvation also, in order\nthat having crossed the sea of existence, I may sing of thy excellent\nattributes.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund replied, \u201cFather! you are wise, why\ndo you exalt your sons? Think a little in your mind that the acts of\nBhugwut are infinite; no one has to this day ascertained the limits of\nthem. Behold! he shines in every mortal frame, and therefore the world\ncalls him \u2018The being without passions or human qualities.\u2019 He creates,\nhe destroys, he remains mixed with the world, but can never be bound\nby it. Earth, sky, air, water and fire, the five elements of the body,\nin them all the power of the lord abides. The sacred precepts of the\nVedas have declared this.\u201d\n\nO great king! on hearing these words from the mouth of Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund Jee, Basoodeo, being under the influence of fascination, was\nsilent and remained gazing on the countenance of Huri; then Krishn\u00f9\nwent thence to his mother, and on seeing her son, Dewukee Jee said,\n\u201cO! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy! one grief at times pierces\nme.\u201d Krishn\u00f9 enquired, \u201cWhat is that?\u201d Dewukee Jee replied, \u201cSon!\ngrief for the loss of your six elder brothers, whom Kuns destroyed,\nnever departs from my mind.\u201d\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! on his saying this, Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund Jee went to the regions below, having first said to his\nmother, \u201cMourn not now, I will bring my brothers here immediately.\u201d\nWhen Raja Buli received intelligence of Krishn\u00f9\u2019s arrival, he came\nout to meet him; and, having with great pomp and preparation, spread\nsilken cloths for him to walk upon, escorted him to his own abode;\nhaving afterwards seated him on a throne, and put sandal, unbroken\nrice and flowers upon his forehead, and placed before him perfumes,\nlamps and consecrated food, Raja Buli worshipped Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund,\nthen standing before him with joined hands, and glorifying him\ngreatly, he said, \u201cO great king! why have you come here?\u201d Huri replied\n\u201cRaja! in the age of truth (or in the good age) there was a sage named\nMureech, a great, religious student, wise, a speaker of the truth and\na devout worshipper of Huri; his wife\u2019s name was Oorna, who had six\nsons. One day, the six brothers in their youthful state having gone\nbefore the Raja (the lord of subjects) laughed; observing that they\nlaughed, the Raja was very angry, and pronounced this curse, \u2018Go, and\ndescend upon the earth as demons.\u2019 O great king! on hearing this\ncurse, the sage\u2019s sons were greatly alarmed, and went and fell at the\nfeet of the Raja; and having beseeched him greatly said, with the\nutmost humility, \u2018O sea of compassion! you have pronounced a curse;\nbut be pleased to favour us by saying, when we shall be liberated from\nit.\u2019 Having heard their humble speech, the Raja taking compassion upon\nthem, said, \u2018When you see Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, you will be released.\u2019\nO great king! on his saying this, they gave up the ghost, and became\nthe sons of Hurinakoos; then they were born as the sons of Basoodeo,\nwhom Kuns came and murdered, on their being slain, the delusive power\nbrought them here, and, conferring happiness, placed them in this\nabode; their mother Dewukee mourns for them; for this reason, I am\ncome here, that I may take away my brothers with me and present them\nto my mother, and remove the anxiety of her mind.\u201d\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said, Raja! when Huri had thus spoken, Raja Buli\nbrought and gave him the six children, and placed before him many\npresents; then Krishn\u00f9 came thence with his brothers to his mother;\nwho, on seeing her sons, was highly delighted; when the inhabitants\nheard this, there was joy throughout the city, and the curse\npronounced upon the sons terminated.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXXVI.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja! I will now relate how Urjoon carried\noff Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee\u2019s sister, Soobhudra, from Dwarka; and how\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund went and abode in Mithila, listen with attention:\nwhen Dewukee\u2019s daughter, whose name was Soobhudra, and who was younger\nthan Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee, was marriageable; Basoodeo Jee having invited\nseveral of the descendants of Judoo, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram\nsaid, \u201cThe girl is now of a fit age to be married, to whom shall we\ngive her?\u201d Bulram Jee replied, \u201cIt is said, \u2018That we ought to contract\nmarriage, enmity and friendship with equals;\u2019 one thing occurs to me,\nthat we ought to marry this girl to Doorjodhun, and obtain renown and\ngreatness in the world.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund said, \u201cIn my opinion, we\nshall obtain a high reputation in the world by giving her to Urjoon.\u201d\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! on Bulram\u2019s speaking, no one\nuttered a word; but when Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee had spoken, all\nexclaimed, \u201cIt is most advisable to marry the girl to Urjoon.\u201d Bulram\nJee was offended at hearing this, and rose up and went away; and the\nparty present, observing that he was offended, remained silent; when\nUrjoon afterwards received information of these circumstances, he\nassumed the disguise of a religious mendicant; and, taking a staff and\nwooden pot went to Dwarka; and, having selected a convenient spot\nspread a deer\u2019s skin, and sat upon it: he remained thus for four\nmonths during the whole rains, and no one discovered his secret\npurpose; looking upon him as a guest, they all paid him attention;\nand, for the sake of Vishn\u00f9, entertained affection for him; Krishn\u00f9\nknew all his secrets, but did not reveal them to any one.\n\nO great king! one day Buldeo Jee also invited and brought with him\nUrjoon to an entertainment at his house, when Urjoon sat down to eat,\nhe beheld Soobhudra, with a body like the moon, and eyes like the\ndeer. On seeing her Urjoon was fascinated; and, avoiding the gaze of\nall, began to look upon her with averted glance; and thought to\nhimself, \u201cWhen will Bruhm\u00f9 accomplish what is destined in my fate?\u201d\nWhilst on the other hand Soobhudra Jee, pleased with the brilliancy of\nhis countenance, was saying to herself, \u201cHe is some prince and not a\nreligious mendicant, why is he sad?\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, Soobhudra Jee went into the house and began to\nthink of obtaining a husband; and on the other hand, Urjoon, after he\nhad finished eating, came to his seat, and was occupied with all kinds\nof anxieties as to how he should gain possession of his beloved. Some\ndays afterwards, on the occasion of the festival of Shiv\u00f9rat, all the\ninhabitants of the city, male and female, went outside the city to\nworship Shiv\u00f9. Soobhudra went there also with her female companions\nand attendants. Having heard of her going, Urjoon mounted his chariot,\nand taking his bow and arrows, went there and was ready.\n\nWhilst, O great king! Soobhudra was returning with her female friends\nafter having worshipped Shiv\u00f9, Urjoon at sight of her abandoned all\nreserve and modesty; and seizing her by the hand, lifted her into his\nchariot, and went off. Bulram was greatly enraged, when he heard of\nit; he took his plough and wooden pestle on his shoulder; his eyes\nwere bloodshot, he spoke in a voice of thunder; \u201cI will now go and\nutterly destroy him, and will lift up the world and place it upon my\nforehead, how shall a beggar carry off my beloved sister, Soobhudra?\nWheresoever I may catch this religious mendicant, I will destroy him,\nand search out and utterly destroy all his family.\u201d\n\nO great king! Bulram Jee continued to make many idle and very angry\nspeeches, when, having heard what had occurred, Purdiyomun, Unroodr\u00f9,\nSumboo and other noble descendants of Judoo came into the presence of\nBuldeo Jee, and said with joined hands, \u201cO great king! if you give us\nthe order, we will lay hold of, and bring your enemy here.\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--O great king! when Bulram taking all the descendants of Judoo\nwith him, was ready to go in pursuit of Urjoon, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nwent and explained to Buldeo all the secrets connected with the\ncarrying off Soobhudra; and said in a tone of the greatest\nsubmissiveness, \u201cBrother! Urjoon, in the first place, is the son of\nour paternal aunt; and in the second, he is my greatest friend; he has\ncommitted this act heedlessly, and without due thought; but it is not\nat all right for us to fight with him; this would be contrary to\nreligion, and contrary to the custom of the world; and whoever might\nhear of our fighting would say, \u2018That the friendship of the\ndescendants of Judoo is like a wall of sand.\u2019\u201d On hearing these words,\nBulram Jee beating his head, and being greatly enraged said, \u201cBrother!\nthis is a common custom with you to raise a fire, and then run for\nwater; otherwise, if you had not taken part in the business, what\npower had Urjoon to carry off my sister?\u201d Having thus spoken, Bulram\nJee suffered great regret, and was very angry, and looking at his\nbrother dashed his plough and wooden pestle on the ground, and sat\ndown; and all the descendants of Judoo sat down also with him.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--Raja! whilst Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund entered\ninto explanations with them all, Urjoon went home and married\nSoobhudra, in the manner prescribed by the Vedas. On receiving\nintelligence of the marriage, Shree Krishn\u00f9 and Bulram Jee sent off\nto Hustinapoor, in charge of a brahmin, clothes, jewels, male and\nfemale servants, elephants, horses, chariots and a large sum of money;\nafterwards Shree Moorari, the friend of his worshippers, mounted his\nchariot and went to Mithila, where there were two worshippers of his,\nnamed Sootdeo and Buhoolas, the one a Raja, and the other a brahmin.\n\nO great king! on Krishn\u00f9\u2019s departure, Narud, Bamdeo, Byas, Atri,\nPurshooram, and many other sages came and accompanied Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund Jee; whatever countries Krishn\u00f9 passed through, the Rajas of\nthem came out to meet him, and worshipped him, and gave him presents;\nat length, after a journey of some days, Krishn\u00f9 arrived there; when\nthey heard of Huri\u2019s arrival, the two worshippers rose up, and came\nrunning hastily to him with presents. During their interview with\nKrishn\u00f9, they both placed their presents before him; and, making\nobeisance, and standing in his presence with joined hands, said, with\nthe utmost submissiveness, \u201cO sea of compassion and brother of the\npoor! you have shown great mercy, in having allowed sinners like us to\nsee you, and thereby made us pure, and put an end to our being born\nand dying.\u201d\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O\ngreat king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, acquainted with the secrets of the\nheart, having beheld the sincere faith of those two worshippers,\nassumed two bodily forms, and went and dwelt in the houses of both;\nthey entertained and amused him in an agreeable manner; and Huri made\na stay of some days, and made them exceedingly happy; after this, when\nKrishn\u00f9 having gratified all their wishes, and increased their\nknowledge, went to Dwarka; the sages and saints took leave of him on\nthe road, and Huri went and abode happily at Dwarka.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXXVII.\n\nHaving heard so much of the narrative, Raja Pureechit said to Shree\nShookdeo Jee, \u201cO great king! you said, on a former occasion, that the\nVedas glorified the supreme deity; explain to me, in order that the\ndoubts of my mind may be removed, how the Vedas offered praise to the\nBruhm without passions or human qualities?\u201d Shree Shookdeo Jee\nreplied,--O great king! the lord, who is the author of the intellect,\nof the organs of action and perception, of the mind, soul, religious\nand moral merit, wealth, desire and salvation, constantly remains in a\npassionless form, without human qualities, but when he creates the\nworld, he is possessed of all qualities, and assumes his own natural\nform; for this reason, that one deity is both without, and with\npassions and qualities.\n\nHaving thus said, Shookdeo, the sage, added, Raja! Narud Jee on one\noccasion asked Nurnarain the question you have now asked me. Raja\nPureechit said, \u201cO great king! please explain this subject to me, that\nthe perplexities of my mind may be removed.\u201d\n\nShookdeo Jee replied, Raja! once on a time during the age of truth,\nNarud Jee went into the world of truth (that is, the world of the\nvirtuous age) to the place where Nurnarain was sitting engaged with\nmany other sages in devout religious austerities, and enquired, \u201cO\ngreat king? be pleased to do me the favour to say, how the Vedas\nglorify the incorporeal Bruhm.\u201d Nurnarain said, \u201cHear me Narud! the\nperplexity, which you have asked me to explain, is the same as\noccurred in the world of mortals, at a place where Sunatun and other\nsages were seated, occupied with religious penance. Sunundun, a sage,\nthen narrated a story, and entirely removed the doubts of all\npresent.\u201d Narud Jee said, \u201cO great king! I also dwell there, and if\nthis story had been told, I should have heard it.\u201d Nurnarain said,\n\u201cNarud Jee! this story was told, when you had gone to the white island\nto visit Bhugwut and, therefore, you did not hear it.\u201d Having heard\nthis, Narud Jee said, \u201cO great king! kindly inform me what story was\nrelated there,\u201d Nurnarain replied, \u201cListen! Narud, when the sages\nasked this question, Sunundun, the saint, began to say to them,\n\u2018Listen to me! at the time of the general destruction, when fourteen\nworlds became the semblance of water, then the complete Bruhm remained\nalone asleep, when Bhugwan wished to create the world, the Vedas\nhaving come forth from his breath and joined their hands, sang praises\nto him, just as bards, by singing songs of eulogy of his renown very\nearly in the morning, might awaken a Raja, who was asleep in his own\nhouse; in order, that being awake, he might quickly perform any\nbusiness he had to do.\u2019\u201d\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the story, Nurnarain added, \u201cListen to\nme, O Narud! the Vedas having come forth from the mouth of the lord\nwere saying, \u2018O lord! awake quickly and create the world, and remove\nyour deceptive power far from the minds of animated beings; then they\nwill recognize your appearance; your deceptive power is predominant,\nand deprives all beings of intelligence; the being who escapes from\nit, will have knowledge to understand you. O lord! no one except you\ncan reduce this power to subjection; he, in whose breast you dwell in\nthe form of knowledge, overcomes this deceptive power; otherwise, who\nhas ability to escape from the influence of this power? You are the\ncreator of all; all animated beings, having derived their origin from\nyou, are contained in you; just as many things being produced from the\nearth, are again mixed up in the earth; whoever worships or glorifies\nany god whatsoever, worships and glorifies you, just as a man may make\nmany ornaments of gold, and give them various names, but it is still\ngold; so you have many forms; and consider this point, that not one of\nthose forms is any thing, and that on what side soever we look, there\nyou are presented to our sight. O lord! your deceptive power is\ninfinite; this power becoming the three qualities of truth, passion\nand darkness; having assumed three forms, and created the universe,\npreserves and destroys it; no one has discovered its mystery, and no\none ever will discover it; wherefore, it is right for an animated\nbeing to abandon all desires and meditate upon you; his welfare\ndepends upon his doing so.\u2019\u201d\n\nO great king! having proceeded thus far in his story, Nurnarain said\nto Narud, \u201cNarud! when Sunundun, the sage, having related this history\nof a former age, had removed the perplexities of all their minds, then\nSunuk and the other sages offered worship to Sunundun according to the\nsacred precepts of the Vedas.\u201d\n\nHaving related thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee\nsaid,--Raja! whoever shall hear this conversation of Narain and Narud,\nshall without doubt obtain the fulfilment of all his desires, and be\nsaved hereafter. The account of the complete Bruhm, which the Vedas\nsang of, Sunundun, the sage, recited to Sunuk and other saints, then\nNurnarain related it before Narud; and Byas obtained it from Narud;\nand Byas explained it to me, and I have now mentioned it to you;\nwhoever shall hear or relate this history, shall obtain whatever\nbenefits he desires, whatever virtue there is in penance, sacrifice,\ngifts, fasting and pilgrimage, there is the same merit in reciting and\nhearing this history.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXXVIII.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! the works of Bhugwut are\nwonderful; every one knows this, whoever worships Huri will be poor;\nand by serving other gods, a man will be rich. Compare the state and\nhabits of Huri and Muhadeo; one is the husband of Luchmee, the other\nof Devee; the one wears a garland of flowers, the other, a necklace of\nskulls; the former has a quoit in his hand, the latter a trident; one\nsupports the earth; the other, the Ganges; one plays upon a pipe, the\nother, upon a cow\u2019s horn; one is lord of the celestial paradise, the\nother, an inhabitant of Keilas, the former besmears his body with\nsandal, the latter rubs ashes on it; one wears cloth, the other, a\ntiger\u2019s skin; one reads the Vedas, the other, the science of\nAstrology; one rides upon the sovereign of the feathered race, the\nother, upon the bull Nundee; one dwells among cowherds\u2019 children, the\nother, amongst ghosts and goblins. The habits and nature of each of\nthe two lords are the reverse of those of the other. Fix your\naffections on either of the two according to the nature of your\ndesires.\n\nHaving recited thus much of the history, Shree Shookdeo Jee said,--O\ngreat king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 said to the Raja Joodisthur,--\u201cO\nJoodisthur! I destroy by degrees all the wealth of him, to whom I show\nfavour: because brothers, wives, sons and relations abandon the poor,\nand then a spirit of devotion springs up in their minds; and, from\nbeing occupied in religious devotion, they, having abandoned the\nfascinations of riches and the world, become free from all\nattachments, and worship me with zealous attention, and through the\nglory of their adoration, obtain an everlasting emancipation from\nmatter, and a reunion with the deity.\u201d After having thus spoken,\nShookdeo Jee added,--O great king! by worshipping other gods, the\ndesires of the mind are fulfilled, but final salvation is not\nobtained.\n\nAfter having related this story, the sage said to Raja Pureechit,--O\ngreat king! on one occasion as Bikasoor, the son of Kusyp, came out of\nhis house, desiring to perform penance, he met Narud, the sage, on the\nroad. On seeing Narud Jee he made a salutation; and, standing before\nhim with joined hands, enquired, with the utmost humility, \u201cO great\nking! which of the three deities Bruhm\u00f9, Vishn\u00f9 or Muhadeo grants\nboons most quickly, do me the kindness to say, in order that I may\npractice devout austerities in his honour?\u201d Narud Jee\nreplied,--\u201cListen Bikasoor! amongst these three deities, Muhadeo is\nthe greatest granter of boons, he neither loves delay, nor is he\neasily angry. Behold! Shiv\u00f9 Jee, being delighted at the performance\non his part of a slight penance, gave a thousand arms to\nSuhusrajooraun, and destroyed him, being enraged at a slight fault he\nhad committed.\u201d\n\nNarud, the sage, having thus spoken went away; and Bikasoor began,\nwhen he came home, to perform severe penance and offer up sacrifice in\nhonour of Muhadeo. In the course of seven days, he cut off with a\nknife, and offered as a burnt offering all the flesh of his body; on\nthe eighth day, when he resolved to cut off his head, Bholanath came,\nand having laid hold of his hand said,--\u201cI have been highly pleased\nwith thee, ask from me whatever boon thou desirest, and I will now\ngrant it to thee.\u201d When Shiv\u00f9 Jee had thus spoken, Bikasoor, with\njoined hands, replied,--\u201cBe pleased, O lord! to take compassion upon\nme, and now grant me this boon, that on whose head soever I may place\nmy hand, he may be reduced to ashes instantaneously.\u201d On his uttering\nthese words, Muhadeo Jee granted him the boon he had asked; which when\nhe had obtained, he went to put his hand upon Shiv\u00f9\u2019s head; Muhadeo\nwas alarmed, and quitted his seat and fled, and the demon also ran\nafter him, and carried on a close pursuit of Sudashiv\u00f9. At length\nMuhadeo went in a state of very great agitation to Vishn\u00f9\u2019s heaven;\nseeing, that he was greatly afflicted, Shree Moorari, the friend of\nhis worshippers, the lord of paradise, the abode of mercy, took\ncompassion upon him, and assuming the appearance of a brahmin went\nbefore Bikasoor and said, \u201cO prince of demons! explain to me why you\ntoil in pursuit of Shiv\u00f9?\u201d On hearing this question, Bikasoor\nexplained all that had occurred, then Bhugwan said, \u201cO chief of\ndemons! it is very strange that an intelligent person like you should\ncommit error, who believes any thing to be true, which this naked, mad\njogee says, who eats bhang and thornapple; he constantly dwells in\ncemeteries, rubbing his body with ashes, and having snakes twisted\nround him; assuming a terrifying appearance, and accompanied by ghosts\nand goblins, who will believe what he says?\u201d Shree Narayun proceeded\nto say, \u201cO chief of demons! if you think that what I have said is\nuntrue, place your hand on your own head and see.\u201d\n\nO great king! on hearing the lord speak thus, when Bikasoor, who was\ndeprived of sense through the influence of the delusive power, placed\nhis hand upon his own head, he was burnt up, and became a heap of\nashes; there were musical rejoicings in the capital of Indr\u00f9 on the\ndeath of the demon; and the gods, raising shouts of victory and\nexultation, began to rain down flowers; the celestial dancers,\nmusicians and choristers celebrated in songs the excellent attributes\nof Huri, who, having at that time, greatly glorified Muhadeo, allowed\nhim to take leave, and granted Bikasoor salvation.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! whosoever shall hear or recite\nthis story, shall doubtlessly obtain beatitude by the favour of Huri\nand Muhadeo.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER LXXXIX.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! on one occasion all the\nsages and saints were sitting on the banks of the Suruswutee engaged\nin devout austerities and religious sacrifice, when one of them asked\nthe others to do him the favour to say, which was greatest of the\nthree divinities, Bruhm\u00f9, Vishn\u00f9 or Gunesh\u00f9. Upon this one said\nShiv\u00f9; another, Vishn\u00f9; and a third, Bruhm\u00f9; but they did not all\nagree in pointing out one of the three as the greatest. Then several\ngreat saints and sages said, \u201cWe will not be satisfied with any\nopinions thus expressed; but if any one will go and make trial of\nthese three deities, and pronounce one of them to be virtue, religion\nand justice personified, we will believe what he says to be true.\u201d\nThey all assented to this proposal, and directed Bhrigoo, the son of\nBruhm\u00f9, to make trial of the three deities and return. When Bhrigoo,\nthe sage, had obtained the order, he went first to the world of\nBruhm\u00f9, and sat in silence in Bruhm\u00f9\u2019s court; he did not make any\nsalutation, nor did he offer praises, nor go round to the right hand\nby way of adoration. When Bruhm\u00f9, O Raja! saw the impropriety of his\nson\u2019s conduct, he was very angry, and on the point of cursing him; but\nabstained through a feeling of natural affection for his son. Then\nBhrigoo, having seen Bruhm\u00f9 powerless through the property of\npassion, rose up thence, and went to Kuelas, and remained standing at\nthe abode of Shiv\u00f9 and Parbutee. Shiv\u00f9 Jee rose on seeing him, and\nwhen he extended his arms to embrace him, Bhrigoo sat down; at which\nShiv\u00f9 Jee was greatly enraged, and took up his trident to kill him.\nShree Parbutee then interceded very earnestly for him; and having\nfallen at the feet of Muhadeo Jee explained to him, and said, \u201cThis is\nyour younger brother, be pleased to forgive his fault. It is said, \u2018If\na child commits a fault, a holy man will not think any thing of it.\u2019\u201d\n\nO great king! when Parbutee Jee had cooled the anger of Shiv\u00f9 by her\nexplanations, Bhrigoo, having seen Muhadeo Jee, absorbed in the\nproperty of darkness, rose up and went away. He then went to Indr\u00f9\u2019s\nheaven, where Bhugwan was sleeping with Luchmee on a bed of flowers,\nspread on a bedstead of gold, with curtains and covered with jewels.\nOn going there Bhrigoo gave Bhugwan such a kick in the breast that he\nstarted up from sleep, when Huri saw the sage, he left Luchmee, and\ncame down from his couch; and fixing his eyes upon the head and feet\nof Bhrigoo Jee began to rub them, and thus address him, \u201cO chief of\nthe sages! be pleased to forgive my fault, I have unintentionally hurt\nyour soft lotus-like feet with my hard breast, be pleased not to think\nof this offence of mine.\u201d When Vishn\u00f9 (the lord) had thus spoken,\nBhrigoo Jee was highly delighted, and having glorified Bhugwan took\nleave and came thence to the banks of the Suruswutee, where all the\nsaints and sages were sitting. On his arrival Bhrigoo Jee related\nevery circumstance exactly as it had occurred, in his visits to the\nthree deities:--\u201cBruhm\u00f9 clings to the property of passion; Muhadeo is\nimpregnated with the property of darkness; Vishn\u00f9 is chief amongst\nthe virtuous; no other god is greater than he.\u201d The doubts of the\nsages disappeared on hearing this; and joy was in the minds of all.\nAll applauded Vishn\u00f9 and established in their breasts a faith in him\nnot to be shaken.\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! I will relate an intermediate\nstory, listen with attention: Raja Oogursen ruled justly and\nvirtuously in the city of Dwarka, and Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and Bulram\nwere obedient to his orders; under the government of the Raja all were\nattentive to their own duty, and carried on business with\nintelligence, and lived happily and agreeably; a brahmin dwelt there\nalso, who was a very well disposed and virtuous man; it so happened\nthat one of his sons died, and he took his dead son and went to the\ngate of Raja Oogursen, and began to say whatever came uppermost: \u201cYour\nsubjects are oppressed by the acts of your government, and my son has\nalso died through your sin.\u201d\n\nHaving, O great king! made many speeches of this kind, and left the\ncorpse of his son at the Raja\u2019s gate, the brahmin came home; he\nafterwards had eight sons, and in like manner left all the eight at\nthe Raja\u2019s gate; when the ninth was about to be born, the brahmin went\nagain to the court of Raja Oogursen, and standing up in the presence\nof Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee, calling to mind his grief for the death\nof his sons, and shedding tears began to say, \u201cThere is a curse on the\nRaja and on his government, and accursed are they who minister to this\nunjust tyrant; and there is a curse upon me for living in this city\nhad I not dwelt in the country of these sinners my sons would have\nescaped, through their want of religion and virtue my sons have died,\nand no one has protected them.\u201d\n\nHe, O great king! uttered many expressions of this kind, standing up\nin the court and weeping; but no one made any reply; at length Urjoon,\nsitting near Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, and hearing what was said was\nperplexed in his mind, and said, \u201cO deity! in whose presence have you\nthus spoken, and why are you thus afflicted? There is no archer in\nthis court, who can drive away your grief; modern Rajas are selfish,\nand not men, who prevent the afflictions of others, and confer\nhappiness on their subjects, and protect the cow and brahmin.\u201d Urjoon\nproceeded to say to the brahmin, \u201cO divinity! go now, and remain in\nyour house, free from all care; when your child shall be about to be\nborn come to me, and I will go with you, and will not allow the child\nto die.\u201d On hearing these words, the brahmin was angry and said, \u201cI do\nnot see any powerful man in this court, with exception of Shree\nKrishn\u00f9, Bulram, Purdiyomun and Unroodr\u00f9, who could rescue my son\nfrom the hand of death.\u201d Urjoon replied, \u201cBrahmin! thou dost not know\nme, that my name is Dhununjye, I make a compact with thee, that if I\ndo not rescue thy son from the hand of death, I will bring from\nwhatever quarter I may find them thy deceased sons, and show them to\nthee; and if I do not obtain them, I will burn myself in fire together\nwith the cow Gandeeb.\u201d\n\nWhen, O great king! Urjoon having made this compact, had thus spoken,\nthe brahmin was satisfied, and went to his home; afterwards when the\nchild was about to be born, the brahmin came to Urjoon, who rose up\nand went with him, taking his bow and arrows and having gone to the\nbrahmin\u2019s house, so thatched it with arrows, that even air could not\nhave access between the arrows, and he began to walk round the house\nhimself in every direction, with his bow and arrows in his hand.\n\nHaving proceeded thus far in the narrative, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to\nthe Raja Pureechit,--O great king! Urjoon formed many plans for saving\nthe child, but it was not saved. On another day he was weeping at the\ntime of the child\u2019s expected birth; on that day the child did not even\nbreathe, but came forth dead from the womb. Urjoon having heard of the\nchild having come forth dead was ashamed, and went to Shree Krishn\u00f9\nChund, and the brahmin went after him; the brahmin came crying, and\nbegan to say, \u201cUrjoon! a curse is upon thee, and thy life for showing\nthy face in the world, after having spoken falsely; O eunuch! if you\ncould not save my child from death, why did you make an agreement to\ndo so, and to bring and show me my other deceased sons, if you could\nnot save this one?\u201d\n\nOn hearing these words, O great king! Urjoon rose up, and taking his\nbow and arrows, went thence, to the capital of Jum to Dhurumraj, who\nstood up on seeing him, and joining his hands, and eulogizing Urjoon,\nsaid,--\u201cO great king! for what reason have you come here?\u201d Urjoon\nreplied, \u201cI have come to take away with me the sons of a certain\nbrahmin.\u201d Dhurumraj said \u201cThose children are not here.\u201d When Dhurumraj\nhad thus spoken, Urjoon departed thence, and wandered over all places,\nbut did not find the brahmin\u2019s children. At length, he came to the\ncity of Dwarka in a state of grief and regret; and, having erected a\nfuneral pile, prepared to be burnt upon it with his bow and arrows\nhaving then lighted the pile, when Urjoon was about to sit down upon\nit, Shree Moorari, the destroyer of pride, came, and laid hold of his\nhand, and said laughing, \u201cUrjoon! do not burn thyself, I will fulfil\nthy compact, and will bring that brahmin\u2019s sons from whatever place\nthey may be in.\u201d The lord of the three worlds having thus spoken and\nascended his chariot, went to the eastward, taking Urjoon with him;\nand, having crossed the seven seas, arrived at the mountainous belt,\nbounding the world. Having on arrival there descended from the\nchariot, they entered a very dark cave. Then Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee\ngave an order to the quoit Soodursun, who, having created a light,\nequal to the splendour of hundred million of suns, went in advance of\nKrishn\u00f9 and dispelled the great darkness from before him. Having left\nthe darkness they proceeded a short distance, and then they went into\nwater; there were great waves into which they entered, shutting their\neyes, Krishn\u00f9 and Urjoon swam to the abode of the king of the serpent\nrace, who upholds the world.\n\nHaving opened their eyes on going there, they beheld a large, long,\nbroad, lofty, very elegant golden house, covered with jewels; and\nthere, upon the head of the king of the serpent race was an ornamented\nthrone, upon which, in the form of a black cloud, of an elegant shape,\nwith a moon-like body, eyes like the lotus, wearing a diadem and\near-rings, dressed in yellow, with a yellow silken cloth bound on him,\nhaving on a garland of flowers reaching to his feet, and a necklace of\npearls, the lord himself of a fascinating appearance dwelt; and\nBruhm\u00f9, Roodr\u00f9, Indr\u00f9 and all the gods standing up in his presence,\nwere glorifying him.\n\nO great king! having beheld this handsome figure, Urjoon and Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Chund Jee went into the presence of the lord; and, having\nperformed obeisance, and joined their hands, mentioned all the reasons\nof their journey. On hearing their speech the lord had all the\nbrahmin\u2019s children brought there, and given to them; and Urjoon was\ndelighted at seeing and receiving them. Then the lord said, \u201cYou are\nboth portions of my body, behold Huri and Urjoon to whom my heart\ndesires; you went upon the earth to remove its burthens, and have\nconferred great happiness on holy and virtuous men; you have destroyed\nall the demons and evil spirits, and adjusted the affairs of gods, men\nand sages; you both are parts of me; your business has been\naccomplished.\u201d Having thus spoken, Bhugwan allowed Urjoon and Shree\nKrishn\u00f9 Jee to take leave, who came to the city, bringing the\nchildren with them; and the brahmin received his children; there were\nrejoicings and festivities in every house.\n\nHaving recited thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to Raja\nPureechit,--O great king! whoever shall hear this story, and reflect\nupon it, his sons shall be prosperous.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XC.\n\nShree Shookdeo Jee said,--O great king! Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\nconstantly dwelt in the city of Dwarka, where increase and plenty\nflourished in the houses of all the descendants of Judoo; the men and\nwomen were decorated with jewels and ornaments, and had a lively\nappearance; they applied scents, sandal and perfumes to their bodies;\nthe mahajuns had places cleanly swept and sprinkled with water in the\nmarkets, roads and cross-roads, where traders of different countries\nbrought all kinds of articles of merchandize for sale. Here and there\nthe inhabitants of the city amused themselves. In different places\nbrahmins read the Vedas, and in every house persons recited the\nPooran\u00f9s; holy and virtuous men sung the praises of Huri during the\neight watches. Charioteers brought chariots, horses and bullocks,\nharnessed to the royal gate. Brave, bold, resolute, powerful\ndescendants of Judoo in chariots and carriages, and mounted on\nelephants and horses came to pay their respects to the Raja. Persons\nof skill amused him by dancing, singing and playing upon musical\ninstruments. Bards and panegyrists received elephants, horses,\ndresses, arms, grain, money and golden ornaments, studded with jewels,\nfor celebrating his renown.\n\nHaving narrated thus much, Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja, O\ngreat king! whilst Raja Oogursen engaged thus in various diversions in\nthe metropolis of his empire, Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the root of joy,\nconstantly amused himself with his sixteen thousand one hundred and\neight wives. Sometimes the wives being overcome by their passion, made\na figure in the likeness of Krishn\u00f9; and sometimes Huri, powerless\nfrom love, dressed his wives; and the sports and diversions they\ncarried on together cannot be described. I cannot speak of them, they\nrequired to be seen. Shookdeo Jee after this said,--O great king! one\nnight Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund was amusing himself with his women, when\nthe celestial musicians and choristers, having beheld the various\npastimes and diversions of Krishn\u00f9, played upon lutes, timbrels,\npipes and kettle-drums, and sang of his excellent attributes; there\nwas an harmonious concert, when, upon a thought occurring to Krishn\u00f9,\nwhilst engaged in diversion, he took them all with him, and went to\nthe banks of a tank, and going into the water began to sport and carry\non pastimes in it; after this, his wives, whilst thus amusing\nthemselves in the water, were overjoyed with love for Krishn\u00f9, and\nforgetting every thing, said, on seeing a ruddy goose and its mate,\ncalling out to each other from opposite sides of the tank, \u201cO Chukwee!\nwhy do you call out mournfully, and not sleep during the night, whilst\nseparated from your mate? You call upon him in a very troubled and\nrestless manner, you discourse of your beloved to us, we have become\nKrishn\u00f9\u2019s slave girls.\u201d Having thus spoken they went on. They then\nbegan to say to the sea, \u201cO sea! thou who heavest deep sighs and\nremainest awake day and night, art thou afflicted at being separated\nfrom any one or grieved for the loss of thy fourteen jewels?\u201d They\nthen addressed the moon, \u201cO moon! why dost thou continue emaciated and\nin low spirits, what! hast thou consumption, that thy form diminishes\nand increases daily, and thy body and mind are fascinated, as ours are\non beholding Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund.\u201d\n\nHaving recited thus much Shree Shookdeo Jee said to the Raja,--O great\nking! the women, in like manner, addressed all kinds of speeches to\nthe air, clouds, cuckoos, hills, rivers and geese. Afterwards all his\nwives diverted themselves with Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, and constantly\nattended upon him and sang of his excellences, and obtained whatever\nthey desired and Krishn\u00f9 carried on his domestic affairs in the\nmanner prescribed for all virtuous house-keeper.\n\nO great king! the sixteen thousand one hundred and eight wives of\nShree Krishn\u00f9 Chund whom I mentioned before, had each ten sons and\none daughter, and their progeny was numberless, I have not the power\nto describe it; but I know so much, that there were three crores,\neighty-eight thousand one hundred schools for instructing the\noffspring of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and the same number of schoolmasters.\nNone of Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund\u2019s sons or grandsons was deficient in\nbeauty, strength, physical power, wealth or moral and religious merit,\neach one excelled and surpassed the other, how shall I attempt to\ndescribe them? The sage proceeded to say, O great king! I have sung of\nthe games of Bruj and Dwarka, which confer pleasure upon all. Whoever\nshall sing of them with affection, shall undoubtedly obtain supreme\nand eternal happiness, and salvation. Whatever benefit is derived from\nreligious penance, sacrifice, gifts, fasting, pilgrimage and bathing\nat holy places, the same benefit is derived from hearing, and reciting\nthe history of Huri.\n\n THE END.\n\n\n\n\n TRANSCRIBER\u2019S NOTES II.\n\nThe _Prem Sagur_ (\u201cOcean of Love\u201d) is Lallu Lal\u2019s Hindi translation\nof Chaturbhuja Misra\u2019s Braj Bhasa translation of the tenth chapter\nof the Sanskrit _Bhagavata Purana_. It recounts the legends of\nKrishna, the hero identified as an incarnation of Vishnu.\n\nThe D\u2019Rozario & Co. reprint (Calcutta, 1863), the Edward Eastwick\ntranslation (Stephen Austin, London, 1851), and Pincott/Eastwick\nedition (Archibald Constable & Co., London, 1897) were consulted for\nsome of the changes listed below.\n\nMinor spelling inconsistencies (coss/koss, ecstacy/ecstasy, etc.),\nobsolete spellings (noctural (nocturnal), staid (stayed), etc.), and\nphonetic variants of names (Krishn\u00f9/Krishnu/Krishn\u00fa, etc.) have been\npreserved.\n\nAlso, the number of Krishna\u2019s wives varies between 16,100, 16,108, and\n16,800.\n\nAlterations to the text:\n\nAdd TOC.\n\nFix some quotation mark pairings and nestings. Note: the narrator\u2019s\ndialogue is often _not_ inside quotation marks.\n\n[Chapter I]\n\n\u201c4. Whilst the Raja Pureechit was drowned in this sea of\u201d delete _4._.\n\n(\u201cO son! what is this thou hast done why have you pronounced a curse\non the Raja, under whose government we lived at ease; not a bird, nor\na beast even was afflicted.) Add question mark after _done_ and change\nthe semicolon to a question mark.\n\n(to say, \u201cO abode of compassion you have shown great mercy in) add\nexclamation mark after _compassion_.\n\nChange \u201chow their pride brought _Kawun and Koonbhkurun_ to such\ndestruction\u201d to _Rawun and Koombhkurun_.\n\n\u201cyou destroyed the great demon, _Kawun_: and whenever devils\u201d to\n_Rawun_.\n\n[Chapter II]\n\n\u201cOn the hearing this, the Raja Pureechit said to Shookdeo\u201d delete the\nfirst _the_.\n\n[Chapter III]\n\n\u201cjoining its hands, came before him Vishn\u00f9 said to it\u201d add period\nafter _him_.\n\n[Chapter VI]\n\n\u201cthe lucky moment, and exact, ray of light, and having considered\u201d\ndelete the comma after _exact_.\n\n\u201con their foreheads, and given them pawn, (_betle_ leaf,) dismissed\u201d\nto _betel_.\n\n\u201cthe lines of fate cannot _he_ effaced by one. For this reason\u201d to\n_be_.\n\n[Chapter X]\n\n\u201cwent and saved the milk; _Whilst_ Krishn\u00f9, having broken the vessels\u201d\nto _whilst_.\n\n[Chapter XII]\n\n\u201cof the trees falling, exactly as they had _occured_\u201d to _occurred_.\n\n[Chapter XIII]\n\n\u201cBrother! this is some very _frighful_ cave, do not let us go inside\u201d\nto _frightful_.\n\n[Chapter XIV]\n\n\u201cBrothers! this is a nice place, why need _We_ go farther?\u201d to _we_.\n\n[Chapter XVI]\n\n\u201cShree _Shoodeo_ said,--O great king! when Shree Krishn\u00f9\u201d to\n_Shookdeo_.\n\n\u201cof a kudum tree, placing, his head on the thigh of a companion.\u201d\nDelete the second comma.\n\n[Chapter XXIV]\n\n(where the wives were cooking, and _said them_, \u201cShree Krishn\u00f9 has) to\n_said to them_.\n\n[Chapter XXXI]\n\n(began to say,--\u201cTell me friend! where has Mohun gone) add comma after\n_me_.\n\n[Chapter XXXVII]\n\n(touch other persons.\u201d _Krihsn\u00f9_ replied, \u201cI will summon all the) to\n_Krishn\u00f9_.\n\n\u201cand the _cowherdessess_ and cowherds, to celebrate with songs\u201d to\n_cowherdesses_.\n\n[Chapter XLVI]\n\n\u201cWe will accomplish, whatever you may order us to perform.\u201d Delete the\ncomma.\n\n\u201cFirst of all send an invitation to all their _brethen_\u201d to _brethren_.\n\n\u201cthere is a demon, named _Sunkasoor_, in the form of a shell\u201d to\n_Sunkhasoor_.\n\n[Chapter XLVII]\n\n\u201cI will give an account now how Shree _Kishn\u00f9_ Chund brought\u201d to\n_Krishn\u00f9_.\n\n(whether they still continued to love him Nund added, \u201cGive me) add\nperiod after _him_.\n\n\u201calthough other bees _buz_ over it during the whole night\u201d to _buzz_.\n\n[Chapter L]\n\n\u201cO lord of the earth! when Shree _Khrishn\u00f9_ Jee heard these words\u201d to\n_Krishn\u00f9_.\n\n[Chapter LI]\n\n\u201cthe descendants of Judoo with you, _proctect_ the fort.\u201d to _protect_.\n\n[Chapter LII]\n\n(be released from it.\u201d Shree Krishn\u00f9 Jee; said, \u201cListen,) delete the\nsemicolon.\n\n[Chapter LIII]\n\n\u201cThere is a saying, that it most fitting to contract marriages\u201d add\n_is_ after _it_.\n\n\u201cRaja _Rheekmuk_ was at first very sad, when he heard these\u201d to\n_Bheekmuk_.\n\n\u201cRookum has given thee to Sissoopal; and now Rookmunee, you have\nbecome a queen.\u201d add comma after _now_.\n\n\u201cpillars formed of sprouting _plaintain_ were fixed in the earth\u201d to\n_plantain_.\n\n[Chapter LIV]\n\n\u201cShree _Kishn\u00f9_ Chund, having thus inspired the brahmin\u201d to _Krishn\u00f9_.\n\n\u201cto receive them: and having, met the bridegroom with great honour\u201d\ndelete the comma.\n\n\u201cfor the reception of the _bridegroon_ and his train, entertained\u201d to\n_bridegroom_.\n\n[Chapter LV]\n\n(performing the ceremony \u201cArta,\u201d _showerd_ down flowers) to _showered_.\n\n\u201cwhere Rajas _Oorgursen_, Soorsen, Basoodeo and all the grandees\u201d to\n_Oogursen_.\n\n[Chapter LVII]\n\n\u201cconferring happiness and wealth; _Worship_ it continually,\u201d to\n_worship_.\n\n\u201cand suffering great _afflction_, they began to weep and lament\u201d to\n_affliction_.\n\n(explained all his anxieties to his wife His wife said, \u201cO husband!)\nadd period after the first _wife_.\n\n[Chapter LVIII]\n\n\u201cwent thence to Akroor, joining his hands bowing his head,\u201d add comma\nafter _hands_.\n\n\u201cand came to Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund, the _extirpater_ of grief\u201d to\n_extirpator_.\n\n\u201cand there was abundance All the distress and want that had been\u201d add\nperiod after _abundance_.\n\n[Chapter LX]\n\n\u201cTell me what answer I am to take back from you to this _requst_\u201d to\n_request_.\n\n\u201che ate up all the _sweatmeats_ and other confections\u201d to _sweetmeats_.\n\n[Chapter LXI]\n\n\u201cabandoning your worship, _medidation_, prayers, penance and guidance\u201d\nto _meditation_.\n\n[Chapter LXIII]\n\n(at hearing Banasoor, thus address him, and began to say himself, \u201cI\ngranted) delete the first comma and add _to_ after _say_.\n\n\u201cShree _Krishu\u00f9_, will descend upon the earth in the family of Judoo\u201d\nto _Krishn\u00f9_.\n\n(Chitrekha replied, \u201cHow shall he escape me?\u201d _Chitreka_ proceeded to)\nto _Chitrekha_.\n\n[Chapter LXIV]\n\n\u201cBanasoor worshipping calling to mind, and meditating upon Shree\nMuhadeo Jee\u201d add comma after _worshipping_.\n\n[Chapter LXV]\n\n\u201cas to reckon the number of cows Raja _Narug_ gave away\u201d to _Nurug_.\n\n[Chapter LXVI]\n\n\u201call the cowherds\u2019 _chidren_ came running out, when they saw the flag\u201d\nto _children_.\n\n\u201call the materials, necessary for the festival were immediately\nproduced.\u201d Delete the comma.\n\n[Chapter LXIX]\n\n\u201cand all the _Kuoruv\u00f9s_ rose haughtily and went to their homes\u201d to\n_Kouruv\u00f9s_.\n\n[Chapter LXXII]\n\n\u201ccame Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund Jee; _Wherever_ they encamped, a handsome\u201d\nto _wherever_.\n\n[Chapter LXXIII]\n\n(I have still one desire.\u201d Krishn\u00f9 enquired, \u201cWhat _it is_?\u201d) to _is\nit_.\n\n\u201cthe world has been deceived by your delusive power you behave towards\nus as a mortal\u201d add exclamation mark after _power_.\n\n\u201cthe money you have given me to whom shall I go now, and ask for\nmore?\u201d add comma after _me_.\n\n\u201cmy business is to keep watch in a _cemetry_, and to receive a tax\u201d to\n_cemetery_.\n\n\u201cand died from excess of the hunger _het hen_ endured, and afterwards\u201d\nto _he then_.\n\n[Chapter LXXV]\n\n\u201cDo not use your _amrs_ against him, stand here and look on\u201d to _arms_.\n\n[Chapter LXXVI]\n\n\u201cclearing away what food was left, and the _treachers_, formed of\nleaves\u201d to _trenchers_.\n\n\u201con the contrary, their character was _enchanced_\u201d to _enhanced_.\n\n[Chapter LXXVII]\n\n\u201cwhen Shree Krishn\u00f9 Chund and Bulram Jee were at _hustinapoor_\u201d to\n_Hustinapoor_.\n\n\u201che constantly rose up and _eat_ a handful of sand; and performed\ndifficult penance\u201d to _ate_.\n\n[Chapter LXXVIII]\n\n\u201cthis man is without good _qualites_, avaricious and proud\u201d to\n_qualities_.\n\n[Chapter LXXIX]\n\n\u201cO great king! when Sounuk and all the saints, and sages having\nreceived Bulram Jee\u2019s order\u201d delete the comma after _saints_.\n\n[Chapter LXXX]\n\n\u201cand he had nothing to eat, One day Soodama\u2019s wife being\u201d change the\ncomma to a period.\n\n[Chapter LXXXII]\n\n\u201cand Renooka _came stood_ near her husband\u2019s body, she rolled upon the\nground\u201d to _came and stood_.\n\n\u201cI have had no _controul_ in these matters, the condition or\u201d to\n_control_.\n\n[Chapter LXXXIII]\n\n\u201cO great king! listen, whilst I _gave_ an account of the\nconversations\u201d to _give_.\n\n[Chapter LXXXV]\n\n(Krishn\u00f9 enquired, \u201c_What it was_?\u201d Dewukee Jee replied, \u201cSon! grief)\nto _What is that_.\n\n\u201cwhen the _inhabitatns_ heard this, there was joy throughout the city\u201d\nto _inhabitants_.\n\n[Chapter LXXXVI]\n\n\u201cexplained to Buldeo all the _secreets_ connected with the carrying\noff Soobhudra\u201d to _secrets_.\n\n\u201chaving beheld the sincere faith of of those two worshippers\u201d delete\none _of_.\n\n[Chapter LXXXVII]\n\n\u201cfor this reason, that one _diety_ is both without, and with passions\u201d\nto _deity_.\n\n\u201cwhen fourteen worlds became the _semblence_ of water\u201d to _semblance_.\n\n\u201cand that on what _sidesoever_ we look, there you are presented\u201d to\n_side soever_.\n\n[Chapter LXXXIX]\n\n\u201cprepared to be burnt upon it with his bow and _arows_ having then\u201d to\n_arrows_.\n\n\u201cupon the head of the king of the serpent _face_ was an ornamented\nthrone\u201d to _race_.\n\n\u201cflowers reaching to his feet, and a _pearl of necklace_\u201d to _necklace\nof pearls_.\n\n[Chapter XC]\n\n\u201choly and virtuous men sung, the praises of Huri during the eight\nwatches\u201d delete the comma.\n\n\u201csurpassed the other, how shall I attempt to describe them.\u201d change\nperiod to question mark.\n\n\u201cWhatever benefit is derived from, religious penance, sacrifice,\ngifts, fasting, pilgrimage\u201d delete comma after _from_.\n\n [End of text]","title":"The Prem sagur","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":131079}