When the sages heard that the Raja Pureechit had gone to the bank of the Ganges to die, in consequence of Shringee’s curse, Byas, Bisist, Bhurdooaj, Kalyayun, Purasur, Narud, Biswamittrù, Bamdeo, Jumdugun, and eighty-eight thousand sages came, and sat down in rows, and thinking upon their Shastrùs began to explain various kinds of religious observances to the Raja—In the meantime, having seen the Raja’s faith, Shree Shookdeo Jee came also, with a book under his arm, and naked. On seeing him, all the sages rose up, and the Raja Pureechit rising up in a supplicating posture, and making an obeisance began to say, “O abode of compassion! you have shown great mercy in remembering me at this time.”
When the Raja had thus spoken, Shookdeo the sage also sat down, when the Raja said to the sages, “O great kings! Shookdeo Jee is the son of Byas Jee, and the grandson of Purasur Jee, on seeing whom you, who are saints of high rank, rose up, which I do not think right: explain the reason of this, that the doubts of my mind may be dissipated.”
Purasur the sage said, “Raja! all of us saints, however high in degree, are inferior in understanding to Shook, and, therefore, we have all treated him with such respect; some in this hope, that he is the Saviour of the saved, because from the time of his birth he has spent his life in sadness in the desert; and Raja! all your great excellencies have been increased by the coming of Shookdeo Jee. This will be pronounced the greatest and best of religious and virtuous acts, (dhurum) by means of which having been freed from life and death, you will cross over the sea of the world.” On hearing this, Raja Pureechit having prostrated himself before Shookdeo Jee, said, “O great king! explain the duties of religion to me; how shall I escape from the noose of fate, what shall I do in seven days? My impiety has been very great, how shall I cross over the sea of the world?”
Shree Shookdeo Jee replied, “Raja! do not think the time short, as release can be obtained by religious meditation for an hour, just in the same way that Narud the sage imparted understanding to the Raja Ruktangool, and he obtained release in two hours; seven days are quite sufficient time for you; if you will meditate attentively, you will understand all; what the body is, whose abode it is, and who manifests light in it.”
On hearing this the Raja enquired with great delight, “O great king! which is the most excellent Dhurum, kindly explain to me.” Shookdeo Jee said, “The Vishnù Dhurum is the greatest amongst the Dhurums, and the Shree Bhagwut amongst the Pooranùs; wherever the worshippers of Vishnù recite this history, there all religious observances, and pilgrimages will come together: Among all the Pooranùs, there is none equal to the Bhagwut, for which reason I will recite to you nine parts of the great Pooranù, in which Byas the sage has instructed me; listen with faith and joy.”—Upon this the Raja Pureechit began to listen with pleasure, and Shookdeo Jee according to his promise to recite.
When the sage had recited nine parts of the history, the Raja said, “Kind to the poor! have the goodness now to explain to me the history of the descent upon earth of Shree Krishnù, because he is our supporter and the object of worship of our family.” Shookdeo Jee said, “You have conferred great pleasure on me in asking for this account; I shall most joyfully relate it. In the family of Yudoo the first Raja was named Bhugwan, whose son was Prithikoo, and Prithikoo’s son was Bidooruth, Bidooruth’s son was Soorsen, who, having conquered nine divisions of the earth, obtained celebrity. Bidooruth’s wife’s name was Mirkya, who had ten sons and five daughters; the eldest son was Basoodeo in whose wife’s eighth pregnancy Shree Krishnù Chund Jee was born. When Basoodeo Jee was born, the gods had musical rejoicings in the heavens.
“And amongst the five daughters of Soorsen, Koontee was the eldest, who married Pandoo, whose story has been sung in the Muhabharut; and Basoodeo Jee married first Rohnee, the daughter of Raja Rohun, and afterwards seventeen other wives—After he had married eighteen times, he married at Muttra, Dewukee, the sister of Kuns, upon which there was a voice from heaven, that in the eighth pregnancy of this girl the destroyer of Kuns shall be born. On hearing this Kuns had his sister and her husband shut up in a house, and Shree Krishnù was born there.” On hearing thus much of the story, the Raja Pureechit said, “O great king! how was Kuns born, who conferred a great blessing upon him, and in what manner was Krishnù brought into the world, and how did he arrive in Gokool:—please explain these circumstances to me.” Shree Shookdeo Jee said, “There was a Raja of Muttra named Ahuk, who had two sons, one named Dewuk, the other Oogursen. After some time, Oogursen became Raja, who had only one wife, named Paourekha, very beautiful and chaste, and at all times obedient to the commands of her husband. One day she had the menses, and by permission of her husband had gone out on a party of pleasure to the jungle, in company with her female attendants; there on trees of many kinds, all sorts of flowers were blossoming; a cool gentle breeze filled with perfume was blowing; cuckoos, pigeons, parrots and peacocks were pouring forth sweet and pleasing notes, and on one side under a hill, the Jumna was flowing apart. The Ranee, on viewing this scene, descended from her car, and whilst walking along alone, suddenly lost her way. By accident, a demon named Dromullik, came there, and remained gazing in astonishment at her youth, and beautiful appearance; and he began to say to himself, I must have connexion with her. Having resolved upon this, and immediately assuming the form of the Raja Oogursen, he went into the presence of the Ranee, and said to her, embrace me. The Ranee replied, “O great king! it is not right to indulge in amatory pleasures in the day-time, because by so doing the good and religious qualities of the mind are destroyed. What are you not aware of this, that you have thought of such a vicious act?”
When Paourekha had thus spoken, Dromullik having seized the Ranee by the hand drew her towards him, and accomplished what he wished. After he had connexion with the Ranee through the artifice of the disguise, he assumed his own proper form; upon which, the Ranee, being exceedingly grieved and afflicted, exclaimed, “O unjust, vile sinner! what tyranny have you committed in destroying my virtue! there is a curse on your father, mother and spiritual preceptor in thus having formed your understanding. Why was not thy mother barren, rather than produce a son like thee? O devil! all men, who destroy the virtue of women, fall into hell in each successive birth.”—Dromullik said, “Ranee, do not curse me, for I have given you the fruit of my excellence: seeing your womb closed, I suffered great anxiety of mind, which is now gone: from to-day there is a hope of your pregnancy, and you shall have a son in the tenth month:—and from the good properties of my body, thy son having conquered the nine divisions of the earth shall be a king, and shall fight with Krishnù—My first name was Kalnem: then I had an encounter with Billoo: in my present birth I am called Dromullik; I have given thee a son, dismiss all anxiety from thy mind.”
After having thus spoken, when Kalnem had gone away, the Ranee was restored on reflection to patience of mind.
“Whatever our fate may be, our understanding will be fashioned in accordance with it—What is to be, will dwell in the mind, all memory and consciousness will vanish.”